Bishop,
Following up to our visit on the phone this evening…
So you’re aware, had I known what I know now about President (name)'s tithing status, we would have delayed the call or gone in another direction. You don’t need to share that with (name) when you meet with him, but I want you to know that It’s that important that an EQ president be temple worthy so he he speaks with moral authority when he counsels his quorum members.
What concerns me most is that there appears to be an attitude in the (family) that a "delayed confession” is acceptable. They knew all along that they weren’t full tithe payers and likely knew they wouldn’t be by the end of the year. I saw Jay in the temple just last month so he was using his recommend even though he knew he was not worthy.
For them to keep that from you suggests that they had convinced themselves they’d write off the year, make a token effort at the end of the year, confess their failure in tithing settlement and promise to be full tithe payers going forward…and promptly get their temple recommend renewed.
That’s akin to breaking the Word of Wisdom all year long, confess at the end of the year and promise never to break the commandment again and expect to considered worthy for a temple recommend. I don’t think either you or I would accept that. I believe you and I would issue some level of informal probation (restriction on membership privileges) until he proved that he could keep the Word of Wisdom over a period of several months.
That’s why, in your meeting with (name) and possibly (wife), you determine their level of understanding of repentance…and their intentions all along. Besides helping them understand (1) how important it is, when we can’t pay tithing, to notify the bishop and seek financial help, if needed, so they can pay tithing, but (2) for him/them to also understand that in lieu of a restriction on their membership privileges, there is an expectation that they work closely with you (even to be humble enough to receive assistance, if necessary) for them to get right with the Lord, i.e. find a way to catch up on all or most of their tithing for 2017.
In his priesthood leadership position, it’s important for him to not only understand what the Lord expects us to do when we feel we can’t pay tithing (acknowledge immediately and work with our bishop), but that repentance in this case should include more than just a delayed confession of “I’m sorry.”
Because of his calling and his having received a temple recommend, we now have the expectation that he will make a good-faith effort to get right with the Lord for 2017. Surrendering his temple recommend and resigning his calling for a period is not an option. He has been called and received priesthood keys. We need him now to step up and earn the moral authority he needs in the calling by working with you to establish a plan to get right with the Lord for 2017.
I look forward to your report back.
Thanks,
PrL
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