Ward (Mormonism)
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- For the term used for congregations in other Latter Day Saint denominations, see Branch (Mormonism).
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). A ward is presided over by a bishop, the equivalent of a pastor in other religions. Two counselors serve with the bishop to help with administrative duties of the ward and also preside in the absence of the bishop. A branch is presided over by a 'branch president' who may or may not have counselors (depending on the size of the branch).
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[edit] Wards and branches
[edit] Wards
A ward-sized congregation typically consists of 200 to 500 (sometimes more) active church members within an area that is a reasonable travel time of the meetinghouse. ("Reasonable" will vary between countries and regions.) A stake may be organized if there are at least three ward-sized congregations in adjacent areas. Once the stake has been organized, the ward-size congregations are organized into wards. If there are not sufficient congregations in an area to form a stake, a district (analogous to but smaller than a stake) is formed to oversee local congregations. Where there are greater numbers of active church members (such as Utah), the area of a ward can be as small as a fourth or a fifth of a square mile.
[edit] Singles Wards
Singles wards are set up in areas with high populations of single adults. There are two varieties of single adult ward: Young Single Adult (YSA) wards for single members 18 - 30, and Single Adult (SA) wards for single members over 30. These wards primarily exist to give single adults an enhanced opportunity to meet other church members of the opposite sex.
Singles wards are different in that they overlap several other wards geographically, even crossing stake boundaries. Single adult members may choose to attend the singles ward or their regular "home" ward; otherwise, the church strongly discourages the regular attendance of, and disallows the transfer of membership records to, regular wards other than the one to which the member's residence is assigned.
YSA wards come in two varieties: college/university wards and others. College/university wards are for young single adults that attend the college/university for which they are set up. Other YSA wards are for those young single adults in a stake or multi-stake area. Young single adults in an area served by a YSA ward who are attending college/university are encouraged to attend the YSA ward rather than the college/university ward, but they have the option of attending either or their "home" ward. Young men are encouraged to serve a mission or be 21 years old before joining a YSA ward. Singles and YSA wards have distinct cultures all their own. A YSA ward is portrayed in a 2002 movie titled The Singles Ward.
Another issue with singles and YSA wards is that since it is a doctrinal requirement the bishop and his counselors be married[1], these men are called from other wards from the stake hosting the YSA ward. Men to fill the other positions in the bishopric (executive secretary and one or more ward clerks) may also be called from other wards in the stake or may be called from the members in the singles or YSA ward. Since some universities have enough YSA wards to become their own stakes, the ward bishoprics and the stake presidencies will be filled by men called from adjacent stakes.
[edit] Language Wards
Much like singles wards, special foreign-language wards are set up in areas with a high population of immigrants or other members whose native language is different from the local language (such as adjacent to U.S. military bases). There are even "foreign language" wards for deaf members. Services are conducted entirely in the target foreign language. Such a ward may be called a "Spanish ward" or "Chinese ward", for example. The designations refer solely to the language spoken, and not the race or ethnicity of the members welcome (e.g. there are no "Mexican wards").
[edit] Branches
Congregations in districts (smaller than a stake) or too small to be wards are organized as branches. Branches may be organized in stakes, but wards may not be organized in districts. Branches in a district typically fall under the jurisdiction of the mission president.
Branches may also be formed for single adults, young single adults (YSA), foreign-language or jail/prison/half-way house inmates where there is a need for such special interests but there are too few to form a ward. As in the ward, the branch president and his one or more counselors in single adult, YSA and prison branches will be called from the stake in which the branch is organized. Because of the nature prison branches, all positions of authority will be called from outside of the branch. Some branches are set up in nursing homes with meetings held on-site for people who cannot travel to a meetinghouse. In these branches, leaders are also called from the local stake.
[edit] Organization
The main organizations (called auxiliaries) of a ward that are overseen directly by the Bishop are the Relief Society (the LDS Women's organization), the Young Men and Young Women's organizations, the Primary Association (the children's organization) and the Sunday School. In branches, these organizations are filled as there are sufficient active members to fill these positions.
Those men ordained to the priesthood are organized in to quorums, by priesthood office. The offices of the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood (typically males 12 to 18 years of age) are organized and overseen by the bishop of the ward (or branch president in a branch). Offices of the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood (Elders and High Priests) within individual wards and branches are advised by the Bishop but overseen by the Stake President. Within districts, offices of the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood within individual branches are advised by the Branch President but overseen by the District President. Within a branch, priesthood quorums may be formed or all priesthood holders may meet together, as numbers permit.
The priesthood is central to, and directs the Church and its auxiliaries. All auxiliaries are considered appendages to the priesthood.
[edit] References
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