Members of agent stake operating committees will better understand their roles in providing guidance and support to Church welfare operations.
(Note: For more information on welfare operations, see Church Welfare Operations.”)
A copy of “Duties of Agent Stakes for Welfare Operations” (accompanying this lesson) for each participant
A copy of “Sample Agenda: Agent Stake Operating Committee Meeting” (accompanying this lesson) for each participant
Church Welfare Resources: For Use in the United States and Canada (34475)
Invite a participant to read the following statement:
The Area Presidency or a member of the Presidency of the Seventy assigns an agent stake to each welfare operation (storehouse, cannery, employment center, production project, or Deseret Industries) with paid or volunteer managers. When a stake is assigned to oversee a Church welfare operation, the stake president organizes an agent stake operating committee composed of himself, the stake bishops’ welfare council chairman, the stake Relief Society president, the manager of the operation, and other specialists as needed. The stake president is the chairman of this committee, which should meet frequently (at least quarterly) to provide priesthood guidance and support to the operation by: (1) ensuring that the operation serves needy members appropriately, (2) arranging for the needed volunteer labor for the operation, (3) assisting with the maintenance of the operation’s physical facilities, and (4) representing the operation in coordinating council meetings. (See Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics [2006], 9).
Ask the participants the following questions:
Help participants understand the following points, and discuss them as needed:
1. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Saints should be organized to regulate and establish the affairs of a storehouse for the poor of His Church (see D&C 78:3).
2. Church welfare operations are part of the storehouse established to care for the poor and needy. These operations may have either paid or volunteer managers.
Invite participants to share an experience in which a member of their ward or stake benefited from the services of a Church welfare operation. (Remind participants not to disclose confidential information.)
3. The agent stake operating committee should meet at least semiannually, but preferably quarterly or more often as needed. The committee is responsible to:
Give a copy of “Duties of Agent Stakes for Welfare Operations” (accompanying this lesson) to each participant, and review with participants the specific duties of the agent stake.
If desired, give a copy of Sample Agenda: Agent Stake Operating Committee Meeting” (accompanying this lesson) to each participant, and review with participants the items that should be discussed during a committee meeting.
4. The stake bishops’ welfare council chairman, who serves on the operating committee, should regularly discuss the welfare operation’s management and services during stake bishops’ welfare council meetings (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1, 63). He shares with the agent stake operating committee the input received from the bishops regarding the operation.
5. The stake Relief Society president, who serves on the operating committee, should regularly discuss the welfare operation’s management and services during stake Relief Society presidency meetings and stake Relief Society leadership meetings. She provides the Relief Society’s input regarding the operation during agent stake operating committee meetings.
6. Many welfare operations have equipment and machinery that can cause injury if improperly used. The agent stake operating committee should ensure the safety of those who work in or patronize the operation.
As needed, explain the following points:
7. A stake may be assigned to support a welfare production project. The stake president calls and organizes a project committee. The committee reports to the stake president and is composed of the following members:
8. An agent stake is not assigned to LDS Family Services agencies. Each agency has an advisory board chaired by a local stake president who is appointed by the LDS Family Services board of trustees with concurrence of the Area Presidency or a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. The chairman of the stake bishops’ welfare council and the stake Relief Society president are members of the advisory board.
Arrange for participants to visit and tour their assigned welfare operation to become better acquainted with the services and products it provides.
Bear testimony that the work they do as members of the agent stake operating committee helps their assigned Church welfare operation be an effective resource in helping members become self-reliant, caring for the poor and needy, and encouraging service to others.
Ensure that the operation is serving needy members appropriately. The agent stake president and the operating committee become familiar with all the activities performed within the operation through reports from the manager of the welfare operation and visits to the welfare operation regularly. They should be alert to the quality of service provided and ensure that those who are served go away edified and helped. In operating committee meetings, they regularly review the following:
Arrange for needed volunteer labor. The agent stake operating committee helps arrange and coordinate the volunteer labor that the operation needs as estimated by the manager of the operation. The committee submits a request for volunteer labor through the agent stake president to the area welfare manager. The area welfare manager assists in balancing the assignments among stakes in the walfare operation's service area. Once a stake accepts an assignment, the agent stake helps coordinate and monitor fulfillment of assignments. Sources of volunteer labor in a welfare operation may include those called as full-time or Church-service missionaries and those asked to assist as temporary or one-time volunteers. If Church-service missionary coordinators have been called, the agent stake should cooperate with them in arranging volunteer labor.
Assist with the maintenance of the operation’s physical facilities. Members of the agent stake operating committee should visit the welfare operation regularly and help assess safety and maintenance needs, including care of the grounds. Facility upkeep provides many work opportunities for those who are receiving welfare assistance. The facility should be clean, orderly, and free of safety hazards.
Represent the operation in coordinating council meetings. The agent stake president represents his assigned welfare operation at regional operation in coordinating council meetings. During these meetings the agent stake president may discuss and invite feedback on the available programs, services, and products of the operation; new programs, services, and products as they become available; the performance, effectiveness, and quality of the operation in serving the poor and needy; the approval and fulfillment of volunteer labor assignments among stakes; and the coordination of the services of the welfare operation in response to emergencies in the coordinating council's geographic area.