Group Leader Access

I am a group leader and really could use access to LCR. In my case I fall under a ward, but I know there are a number of groups that would likely just fall under a mission or district. Regardless, group leadership is not listed anywhere on the access list. Is there a way that group leaders can be added to the access list? (In case you weren't aware, a group is a unit similar to a branch, but smaller) If not, is there a way that my ward leadership can give me custom access to the records of the members of my group or something? Thanks.

jwnuttall wrote:is there a way that my ward leadership can give me custom access to the records of the members of my group or something?

The only way to grant access is to place you in a standard position (calling) that gives access. There is no accommodation for custom assignments or access.

The only group leader listed on the Access List is High Priests Group Leadership. If you are, for example, a military service group leader, I don't think such callings appear on the Access List. I know my stake once called Melchizedek Priesthood Group Leaders in branches that were too small to support both an Elders Quorum and a High Priests Group (because the branch president was the only HP in the branch). My stake discontinued MPGLs several years ago, perhaps around the time the new handbooks were published in 2010.

jwnuttall wrote:I am a group leader and really could use access to LCR. In my case I fall under a ward,

With permission from the stake president, your ward would have to give you a standard calling that will allow you access to the information you seek. One possible calling would be Ward Assistant Clerk. That would give you access to the entire ward, but it would also give you almost complete access to the information for members in your group.

lajackson wrote:One possible calling would be Ward Assistant Clerk.

That's really broad with administrative access to a number of things far beyond what's needed.

I wonder about organizing a second EQ with members added to that quorum. That would give some added access that seems more in line with what's needed.

russellhltn wrote:

lajackson wrote:One possible calling would be Ward Assistant Clerk.

That's really broad with administrative access to a number of things far beyond what's needed.

I wonder about organizing a second EQ with members added to that quorum. That would give some added access that seems more in line with what's needed.

But it would not give him access to information about the sisters. He needs access to the membership information for all of the brothers and sisters who live in the city where his group is located.

If the group is very small, he might just get a copy of the IOS from the ward for each of the families in his group. Talk about old-fashioned, but sometimes a simple piece of paper is the best way to go, at least for the moment.

lajackson wrote:But it would not give him access to information about the sisters.

Are you sure about that? As a member of the ward council, I think he would be able to see the contact information for everyone.

lajackson wrote:He needs access to the membership information for all of the brothers and sisters who live in the city where his group is located.

He does? From what I'm reading in the Handbook, a group is extremely basic. I'm not so sure as it includes that level of stewardship. The BASIC UNIT PROGRAM indicates that the minimum level for a branch is two families and a worthy Priest. If that level of stewardship is desired, then perhaps it's best to form a branch. A branch president does have rights.

I think the proper course of action is for the stake president to discuss the situation with the area authority.

russellhltn wrote:

lajackson wrote:But it would not give him access to information about the sisters.

Are you sure about that? As a member of the ward council, I think he would be able to see the contact information for everyone.

He already has directory information as a regular member. He does not need to be a member of the ward council, and in this case, he is not a member of the ward council anyway.

russellhltn wrote:

lajackson wrote:He needs access to the membership information for all of the brothers and sisters who live in the city where his group is located.

He does? From what I'm reading in the Handbook, a group is extremely basic. I'm not so sure as it includes that level of stewardship.

You have found outdated information superseded by Handbook 1, 9.1.2 regarding the requirements for a branch. The requirements outlined in the Branch Guidebook have changed since the small unit program was established in the 1980s.

The group leader needs enough membership information about all of the members of his group, adult and child, to preside and lead them under the direction of the ward that supervises the group. Note I said membership information, not membership records, which are kept in the supervising ward.

So the bishop needs to determine how best to provide that information to the group leader. Working with the stake, he can provide the information electronically, or working without the stake he can provide it on paper. The bishop might also assign an assistant clerk to provide any information to the group leader about members of his group, if he does not wish for the group leader to have access to that same information for other members of the ward.

Hopefully, the group will soon grow to the size required to become a branch. Then all of these challenges and workarounds go away.