Returned Missionaries With a Balance

I have a action item of "Returned Missionaries With a Balance" of $800. Not sure what to do with this amount? As the Bishop, can I transfer it to the ward missionary funds, to another missionary, or will it default and be sent to HQ?

bird.scott@gmail.com wrote: Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:57 pm I have a action item of "Returned Missionaries With a Balance" of $800. Not sure what to do with this amount? As the Bishop, can I transfer it to the ward missionary funds, to another missionary, or will it default and be sent to HQ?

The excess funds can be done as you stated. The excess funds can be transferred to the parent category, Ward Missionary, or to another missionary category. If your stake needs the funds to support another missionary in another ward/branch within the stake, then the funds can be transferred to the stake in their "Ward Missionary : Ward Missionary" category. If you have any questions were those funds could best be used to support stake missionaries, then counsel with the stake president. Don't send the funds to church headquarters unless the stake president instructs that action. Rather than you making the transfer, instruct your clerk or finance clerk to do it, since that is their function and responsibility. Then you can be the second approval on the transfer.

bird.scott@gmail.com wrote: Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:57 pm I have a action item of "Returned Missionaries With a Balance" of $800. Not sure what to do with this amount? As the Bishop, can I transfer it to the ward missionary funds, to another missionary, or will it default and be sent to HQ?

The funds need to stay within the overall Ward Missionary category but as bishop you have desecration on the specifics. You can transfer it to another missionary within your ward or you can transfer it to the top level Ward Missionary category. Less commonly you could transfer it to another ward's Ward Missionary category (within your stake) or to the stake's Ward Missionary category. It won't ever to go HQ directly from the ward. If you have surplus ward missionary funds you can transfer your surplus to the stake and the stake can transfer it to CHQ if they don't have need elsewhere in the stake.

So based on the guidance:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/too ... abee9b0000

My only question is what is concidered an Excessive Ward Missionary Fund? We have very generous ward members so it is not uncommon to have enough to fully fund a few missionaries. We are also blessed with a lot of serving missionaries. So I'm guessing the reason they leave this open is because it can depend Ward. Something I plan to bring up with the Bishop on Sunday.

Looks like we can only use for full time missonaries serving from our ward. If determined excessive it gets sent to the stake and to the CHQ from there.

Nothing is automatic, and if your in my shoes it is helpful to let the Stake Clerk know if you need some time to work through some of it so the money does not get transferred out before you get a chance to work with your bishop. For example We have one family that has a return missionary with a positive balance, and they have a new missionary, we transfered the ammount to the Ward mission fund, and will tranfer the ammount to the new missionary when that account is available.

It does look like there is a lot of flexibility left up to the Bishop.

pcardelli wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 9:45 am So based on the guidance:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/too ... abee9b0000

My only question is what is concidered an Excessive Ward Missionary Fund?

Quite a few years ago they sent out guidance that anything over 3 months worth for each missionary should be considered excess. I think it was in an MLS message. But I wouldn't consider it binding nowadays because I'm not aware of the same policy being anywhere in current documentation. But it still seems like fairly good advice. So when I analyze the balances in the wards in our stake, I usually first subtract out any amount that has obviously been pre-paid for a missionary in the field and then I look at how many missionaries they have out, multiply by the monthly amount and then by 3. If their balance is significantly over that, then I consult with the stake president on whether to ask them to send us the excess. Of course, we also check with them about any situations like you mention where funds are being held for an upcoming missionary. If they have good reason for keeping the excess, then we don't mess with it.

pcardelli wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 9:45 am Looks like we can only use for full time missonaries serving from our ward. If determined excessive it gets sent to the stake and to the CHQ from there.

If another ward in the stake is in need, the stake can transfer excess to them. But otherwise it should be sent on to CHQ.