organizational chart of an LDS ward

8 postsstarted by mikkeanandrea 2014-01-05 00:11 UTC3,762 viewsoriginal topic

New Member

#1
2014-01-05 00:11 UTC

I am trying to find a ward organization chart that list what responsibility and auxiliaries the Bishop, 1st counselor, HP, EQ... can anyone help?

russellhltn

Community Administrator

#2
2014-01-05 00:18 UTC

I don't think the organization is that detailed. There's a number of responsibilities the bishop can and can't delegate. So the chart depends on what the individual bishop decides to do. Particularly which councilor a given responsibility is assigned to.

For example, a quick glance at the Singles program show that "a councilor" is involved, but does not specify which one.

The starting point for anything would be the Handbook.

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dbollard99

New Member

#3
2017-03-16 23:40 UTC

I would also like to see this in chart format...

archerytom6

New Member

#4
2025-03-08 14:49 UTC

I would like to see one of these as well, I am trying to develop a thorough Emergency Preparedness Plan for our Ward and need to be able to include this PER Church counsel. I realize that not EVERY single position can be realistically included, however the Priesthood LEADERSHIP positions remain the same. Things like WHO as in which quorum and auxiliary falls under the purview of the EQ President? RS Presidency? Who does the Primary President report directly to for guidance within the Ward. Then what about the Stake break down? No, I do not mean to imply that I want to know WHO the people are, but rather, what callings fall under whose authority, from the Area Presidency all the way down to the Ward/Branch levels.

russellhltn

Community Administrator

#5
2025-03-09 02:49 UTC

I don't think it's that complex. The members report to their EQ or RS leaders. Quorum and auxiliaries report to the bishopric. The bishops report to the stake presidents. Stake presidents report to the area authorities.

Others, such as high council, may be assigned tasks but they're typically there as support and training, not a direct line of authority unless specifically assigned.

If in doubt, consult the Handbook. Where there are multiple lines for support and training, there's only one line of authority. But in an emergency, there might be instructions coming down that change it.

dbollard99

New Member

#6
2025-03-12 21:59 UTC

It's not a matter of complexity. It is a desire to have an automatically generated VISUAL tool to better make decisions around callings in the ward.

russellhltn wrote: Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:49 pm I don't think it's that complex. The members report to their EQ or RS leaders. Quorum and auxiliaries report to the bishopric. The bishops report to the stake presidents. Stake presidents report to the area authorities.

Others, such as high council, may be assigned tasks but they're typically there as support and training, not a direct line of authority unless specifically assigned.

If in doubt, consult the Handbook. Where there are multiple lines for support and training, there's only one line of authority. But in an emergency, there might be instructions coming down that change it.

BrianEdwards

Senior Member

#7
2025-03-12 23:27 UTC

dbollard99 wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 3:59 pm It's not a matter of complexity. It is a desire to have an automatically generated VISUAL tool to better make decisions around callings in the ward.

We can agree on the benefits here in the User Forum, but a Church-approved visual tool seems unlikely to happen -- although as they say, a picture would definitely be worth a thousand words. The Feedback tool is the way to get enhancement requests like this into the Church's system for their consideration.

Another benefit of posting this here in the Forum, is that there's a possibility somebody has a nifty personal solution they can share. Nobody has posted anything about that since the O.P. in 2014, but there's always hope.

russellhltn

Community Administrator

#8
2025-03-12 23:30 UTC

I was answering archerytom6 who was asking in the context of a Emergency Preparedness Plan.

But as far as general purpose organization chart, how would you graph the Relief Society president? Consider the following:

9.3.2.1 - Calling a Relief Society Presidency
"The bishop calls a woman to serve as the ward Relief Society president."

9.3.1 - Bishop
"The bishop meets with the Relief Society president at least monthly. They discuss God’s work of salvation and exaltation, including the service of ministering sisters. They also discuss (1) the progress and needs of sisters in the ward and (2) Relief Society meetings, instruction, and activities."

9.3.2.2 - Responsibilities
"The Relief Society president has the following responsibilities: ... Serve on the ward council."

29.2.5 - Ward Council Meeting
"The bishop plans, presides over, and conducts ward council meetings."

6.7.1 - Stake Relief Society, Young Women, Primary, and Sunday School Presidencies
"The stake president calls and sets apart a sister to be the stake Relief Society president."
responsibilities:
"Orient newly called ward organization presidencies."
"Offer ongoing support and instruction. Communicate with ward organization presidencies regularly to learn of their needs, discuss the needs of the members they serve, and communicate information from the stake presidency. Arrange with ward leaders to visit their meetings and classes periodically."
"Instruct ward organization presidencies during stake leadership meetings"

To try to graph that, you'd have a line going from RS President to the Bishop, a sideways line to the Ward Council with a upline to the Bishop, and then a dotted line to the Stake Relief Society President who reports to the Stake President.

And that's just for the RS President. See how complex the chart gets when you add in all the other organizations and quorums.

Personally, I'd be leery about a chart for another reason - members are likely to look to the chart rather then understand the nuance found in the Handbook.