Move Missionary Funds

We recently had a family, who had a son on a mission, move to another unit. We have funds still showing in the Missionary account for him. Is it as simple as writing a check to the new ward in the missionaries name?

Yes. Even easier is, if it is a unit in your stake, you can transfer funds electronically.

showseason wrote:We recently had a family, who had a son on a mission, move to another unit. We have funds still showing in the Missionary account for him. Is it as simple as writing a check to the new ward in the missionaries name?

Writing a check will not solve the overall issue since your unit will still be the financially responsible unit. Because your unit is still financially responsible his account will remain in your unit and the family and other donors will not be able to donate to the missionary in the missionary's home unit. They can still donate but must send the donations to your unit either physically through the mail or online.

When the family of a currently serving missionary moves to a different ward or branch, financial responsibility for the missionary is not automatically transferred to the new unit. The bishops of the wards involved need to discuss the transfer of financial responsibility. Note that the bishop of the former ward cannot transfer financial responsibility for the missionary's support to the new ward unless the bishop of the new ward agrees and willingly accepts responsibility for the support. Once they have agreed on the transfer of support and the timing, either one of the bishops or their designated representative who knows the necessary details should contact the Church to make the arrangements.

To transfer financial responsibility:

1. The Missionary Department will need the new contact information for the missionary's parents so they can keep their records up to date. Call the Missionary Department (801-240-2222 or 800-453-3860 x22222) and they will update the unit and address for the missionary. They will also create a Ward Missionary subcategory for the missionary in the new ward's MLS.
2. Contact Local Unit Support about the transfer of financial responsibility through a phone call (the Missionary Department can transfer the phone call for you) or an MLS message and provide the following information:
   • Full name of the missionary
   • Unit number and name of the new unit
   • Effective date of the change (may be a past date)
   • Indication that the two bishops have agreed upon the change

There is a simpler way to transfer the financial responsibility. Once the bishops have spoken to each other and agreed to transfer, oneneeds to go in to the missionary online recommendation system to initiate the transfer, and then the other bishop simply needs to accept it.

bballrob wrote:There is a simpler way to transfer the financial responsibility. Once the bishops have spoken to each other and agreed to transfer, oneneeds to go in to the missionary online recommendation system to initiate the transfer, and then the other bishop simply needs to accept it.

Can you provide detailed instructions on how that is done? As a ward clerk I am unable to make any changes to a missionary unit from within MORS whether it be the home unit, the submitting unit, the funding unit, or the membership unit. I can only view that data. My bishop cannot make changes to any of those units either. I can change the membership unit by using LCR to either move a record in or out of the ward, but that is it.