Report on creating Mid-Singles wards in the Portland area

The following is an email to Chris Bentley, formerly of the Mt Hood YSA Ward, who asked me to inquire about the possibility of creating a Mid-Singles Ward (for those 31-45 years of age) in the Portland area. I sent the following response on February 9, 2016:

Chris,

Sorry it’s taken so long to report back, but you’ll find interesting that your efforts have brought a renewed discussion at the general authority level. Apparently there were some Areas 70s who didn’t even know there were mid-singles units within their areas. The links you sent me listing all the units in the country was an eye-opener for many.

Bottom line: It appears the Church plans to update the handbook and authorize the creation of single adult wards, for singles without children at home 31 to 45 years of age. There must be 150 or more in a stake for a stake president to give consideration to applying to SLC for approval.

BTW…Singles with children at home are to remain in their traditional ward to make sure the children have access to the church’s full programs.

Also…the Brethren do not use the term “mid-singles.” And, since only single adult wards for those ages 31-45 are being authorized, they reference wards for those 31-45 as Single Adult wards.

Thanks to your inquiry, this additional guideline was given for our area:

A Single Adult Ward can be created overlaying multiple stakes, but not to exceed four stakes.

So…

If you still want to pursue this, I think it’s going to take a groundswell effort on your part to see if you can identify enough singles without children (31-45 years of age), who are interested in seeing such a unit created. Then all of you communicate with your stake president and let him know of your desires. You’ll want to keep it within mission boundaries, which complicates it a bit in Portland, as you know, and keep within four (or less) adjacent stakes.

I know you were hoping something could be done for the Portland metro area. Whether you can even arouse enough interest within a 4-stake group (of adjacent stakes) to have at least 150 prospective members wanting to see a Single Adult (31-45) ward created will be a challenge. But at least it’s a foot in the door.

I hope this helps. 

President Lewis

503-667-5843

P.S. By the way…"magnet wards" (a traditional ward designated as a “gathering place” for members across stake boundaries) are not allowed.