birmingham stake

Europe Area Plan

Gérald Caussé Erich Kopischke José A. Teixeira

Area Presidency

Europe Area Plan“As we retain our convert baptisms,

save our youth and continue to reactivate the less- active we will be

able to double the active membership of the Europe Area by the end of 2020”

• Sincerely• Erich Kopischke, Gérald Caussé and José A. Teixeira• Area Presidency

• Our ultimate goal is to prepare all children of our Heavenly Father to go to the temple of the Lord and there make the necessary ordinances and covenants for their salvation and the salvation of their families.

Purpose or Mission of ChurchPurpose or Mission of Church

• Gather Israel through missionary work

• Help members live the gospel and care for the poor and needy

• Enable the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinancesPage 9 - 2.2 (Administering the Church Handbook 2)

“This new handbook restores the original emphasis on one foundation of spiritual doctrine” (Elder Oaks WWLT)

HarvestHarvest

HarvestHarvest

64

24

93

% Competancy Levels (surveyed for familysearch)

BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedExpert

Beginner Intermediate Advanced Expert0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% members using familysearch

competancyusing FS

Bishop’s SurveyBishop’s Survey

For first time able to map to wards’ family history submission data to Bishops’ answers to new questions on Family History Compare high submitter activity units to

others

State of Family Member SubmissionState of Family Member Submission

Typical ward at 2.7% for year

Red = person sitting in sacrament meeting who has submitted name to temple

Top driver …Top driver …

Ward has structured program

Next behavior …Next behavior …

Ward has structured program

Monthly ward council reports

Third behavior …Third behavior …

Ward has structured program

Monthly ward council reports

New members assigned

Last two …Last two …

Ward has structured program

Monthly ward council reports

New members assigned

Class > 3 months3+ consultants

And now compare …And now compare …

New Family Search AccountsNew Family Search Accounts

BIRMINGHAM STAKE 3rd Quarter 2011NFS Accounts % Submitters

Stourbridge 24 14 5 (2.8%)

Redditch 35 17 4 (1.9%)

Woodsetton 28 11 5 (1.9%)

Sheldon 49 21 4 (1.7%)

Solihull 51 32 10 (6.2)

Harborne 82 14 4 (0.7%)

Kidderminster Br 23 19 1 (0.8%)

TOTAL 292 18.2% 33 (2.3%)

Priesthood Direction

Family History Positions

“This revision has focused on the salvation of the children of God and the strengthening of their families.” Elder Oaks WWLT

The Work of Salvation

The Work of Salvation• Member Missionary Work

• Convert Retention• Activation • Temple & Family History Work• Teaching the Gospel

(Administering the Church Handbook 2 - Section 5)

“The primary effort of the ward council is the work of salvation in the ward.” Elder Cook (WWLT)

Temple and family Temple and family history work can history work can help the ward help the ward council in the many council in the many aspects of the aspects of the work of salvation. work of salvation.

The Work of Salvation

WARD COUNCILWARD COUNCIL

They may discuss ways to use family history work to find people for the full-time missionaries to teach and to reach out to new members and less-active members.

Page 28 - 5.4.2 (Administering the Church Handbook 2)

Member Missionary Work

Member Missionary Member Missionary WorkWork

The Ward Mission LeaderThe Ward Mission Leader

The ward mission leader works closely with full-time missionaries, ward missionaries, and the ward council in considering other means of using family history in missionary work (see Preach My Gospel, 163–165).

“I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so

often place between missionary work and temple

and genealogical work, because it is the same great

redemptive work!” Spencer W. Kimball – PMG p164

Improving retention

Invite NEW MEMBERS to visit the Temple soon after baptism to perform ordinances for their own ancestors

Family History Plan

Rescuing less active members

ActivationActivation

Consultants may be asked to focus on those individuals and families recommended by the priesthood executive committee and the ward council through the high priests group leader. They may be less active members who ward leaders feel would be especially blessed through participation in family history

THE WORK OF SALVATION

Section 5 (Administering the Church Handbook)

TEMPLE AND FAMILY TEMPLE AND FAMILY HISTORYHISTORY

Members who participate in family history activities and provide temple ordinances for their ancestors are likely to live gospel-centred lives.

These members are likely to hold a current temple recommend and attend the temple regularly.

Temple and Family History Temple and Family History WorkWork

Your Responsibilities:

The family history organization in stakes,

wards, and branches exists to help members:

                Identify their ancestors.                 Link them into families.                 Ensure that temple ordinances are

performed for them

Teaching the GospelTeaching the Gospel

Leadership Training Emphasis

Adults Encourage each adult to be worthy to receive the ordinances of the temple. Teach all adults to identify their ancestors and perform vicarious temple ordinances for them.

Page 14 - 3.4 (Administering the Church Handbook 2)

Teach the DOCTRINES

Temple and Family History Class

Elder Boyd K. Packer said: “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior”

Administering the Administering the Church Church

Handbook 2Handbook 2

THE WORK OF SALVATION IN THE WARD AND STAKE

High Priest Group Leader

Page 28 - 5.4.3 (Administering the Church Handbook 2)

Family History Consultants Family History Consultants

Teach members in their homes

Staff Family History Centres

Teach Temple and Family History Course

Choosing a ConsultantChoosing a Consultant

Consultants do not need to be experts in family history research Consultants are good teachers who can work patiently and

communicate well with members Consultants are comfortable using computers and the Internet to

help members with their family history Consultants are willing to reach out to members of the ward to help

them with their family history. Adults of all ages and mature youth could be considered to serve as

family history consultants. Couples could be called to serve together. They can go as

companions when visiting members in their homes.

Saving Youth and YSAs

Europe Area Plan page 13Europe Area Plan page 13

“In order to increase the number of missionaries we will direct our family history efforts towards involving Youth and Young Single Adults in seeking out their kindred dead and submitting names to the Temple.

Family History Plan

Invite ALL active members over the age of 12 to register on NewFamilySearch

Make CENTERS FOR YOUNG ADULTS a place where YSAs receive guidance to search for their ancestors and participate in the indexing program

Doing so will draw on their computer skills and help them feel the Spirit

Family History Plan

Attending the temple

Indexing

NewFamilySearch

FamilySearch FamilySearch IndexingIndexing

INDEXING

A tool to assist in the

WORKS OF SALVATION

https://indexing.familysearch.org

Progress on IndexingProgress on Indexing

BIRMINGHAM STAKE INDEXING BIRMINGHAM STAKE INDEXING

2011

Stourbridge - 7,122

Redditch - 96

Woodsetton - 387

Sheldon - 44,576

Solihull - 1,904

Harborne - 2,004

Kidderminster Br - 8,580

Total 77,143

2010 - 18,691

Boyd K. Packer to new Stake Presidents – August 1993

“Do all you can to see that no member of your stake goes through the veil at the end of their mortal existence without all of their ordinances in place and in order. As you do that, the process of getting them there will help you filter that which is of most worth”

Family history centres are gathering Family history centres are gathering places for classes, workshops, one-places for classes, workshops, one-on-one assistance, and access to on-one assistance, and access to genealogical resources. genealogical resources. (‘To Turn the Hearts’ p 10)(‘To Turn the Hearts’ p 10)

Preston Temple – F H CentrePreston Temple – F H Centre

Bringing Souls to ChristBringing Souls to Christ

Salem West Stake was chosen as a ‘test location’ for Familysearchindexing in 2006

Before ‘rolling it out’ to the members of the Stake- President Green and his wife Diane became

indexersStake High Council became indexersBishops became indexers“How could a bishop bear testimony of this work if he hadn’t done it?” asked President Green

RESULTS- Salem West StakeRESULTS- Salem West Stake

Sacrament attendance increasedTalks became more scripture based and gospel

orientatedFast and Testimony meeting spirituality increased, it

focused more on the SaviourNumber of full tithe payers increasedNumber of Temple recommend holders increased

substantiallyMore young people chose to serve missionsIncrease in activity of indexing less-activesNon-member friends began indexing

Edinburgh (Scotland) Stake - IndexingEdinburgh (Scotland) Stake - Indexing

A less active previous Bishop being involved and having contact with the church again

Families who do indexing together at Family Home Evenings (teaching and creating good habits)

Individuals who feel they are able to serve in the Gospel (when their health may not allow in more physical ways)

Leaders who strive in units to lead by example New members being able to be involved (and learn about

family history) Specific invites extended and witnessing the positive

response of individuals

President Patterson (Stake Presidency Counsellor)

Europe Area PlanEurope Area Plan“As we retain our convert baptisms, save

our youth and continue to reactivate the less- active we will be

able to double the active membership of the Europe Area by the end of 2020”

Sincerely Erich Kopischke, Gérald Caussé and José A. Teixeira Area Presidency