Can we send a members membership file in MLS to them by emai

Can we send a members membership file in MLS to them by email? And if we can how do we do this?

Thanks in advance for any help!

BY1624 wrote:Can we send a members membership file in MLS to them by email?

If you are speaking of the Individual Ordinance Summary, that is intended to be given to a member, it is normally printed out and handed to them.

If a member asked me to email their IOS I would print it to a pdf file, then attach it to an email and send it to the member.

Only a clerk or bishop or branch president is authorized to have a copy of a member's actual membership record.

BY1624 wrote:Can we send a members membership file in MLS to them by email? And if we can how do we do this?

First, I'm assuming you want to send them their Individual Ordinance Summary since the actual membership record printout should never be shared with anyone but the bishop or a clerk. From a technical standpoint, it isn't difficult. You can download their IOS as a PDF using Leader and Clerk Resources and email it as an attachment. Just use the member lookup search box and select the Print IOS button. Or you can print the IOS as a PDF using a PDF printer like CutePDF as lajackson mentioned.

On the other hand, the wisdom and acceptability of sending sensitive membership information via email is less certain. I don't have access to point you to a specific section in the handbook but there is a responsibility to be careful about confidential information and email is not a secure means of communication. But I'm not aware of a specific prohibition. So it's probably up to the local leaders to decide after considering the policies in the handbook and making sure they understand the risks of email communication.

And be VERY sure you're sending it to the member, and you're not being "social engineered" by a scammer looking for info on someone.

For that reason alone, I think it would be preferable to hand it to the member directly.

Thanks for the feedback on this. This was a request from my Bishop to do.

BY1624 wrote:Thanks for the feedback on this. This was a request from my Bishop to do.

If you are unsure of the email address, you could also print it out and mail it to the member. I think the key is that you have spoken with the member and know that the IOS is going to get there and not somewhere else. And maybe the bishop did that.

lajackson wrote:I think the key is that you have spoken with the member ...

Provided you know you've spoken with the member and not someone pretending to be the member.

russellhltn wrote:Provided you know you've spoken with the member and not someone pretending to be the member.

And in this case, it would appear that the bishop has done that. And the clerk should be able to query the bishop to make certain that is the case.

Or another idea comes to mind. Put it in a sealed envelope from the bishop and have the home teachers deliver it to the member.

Wouldn't it be nice if folks would just come to Church from time to time? [smile]