Seeking answers to change the entitlement expectation among those receiving welfare assistance

25 November 2015

Bishop Hokanson,

This morning in my personal study I had a feeling come to me to ask about how the bishops of our stake are managing the welfare assistance—specifically are those receiving assistance being given the opportunity to serve as a way of allowing them to demonstrate their gratitude and to maintain their dignity?

Would you please accept the assignment to survey the bishops and ask them a few questions like…

…what % of those receiving assistance are asked to serve?

…what are the type of things bishops ask them most often to do?

…how do bishops administer the service opportunities to ensure it happens?

…how much is the ward council engaged in the welfare assistance process?

…what could the stake do to help the bishops more in either training, idea-sharing or even working through the Stake JustServe Committee to create service opportunities?

I would welcome a report (email or in person) by early December with your thoughts on what more can we be doing, if needed. I appreciate your leadership and your experience that serves you and our entire stake so well.

Thanks so much,

Pres Lewis