Policy for Stake High Priest Quorum meetings?

In planning for our upcoming Stake High Priest Quorum meeting, the Stake Presidency seems to recall previous guidance from Church HQs regarding the conduct of this meeting.

Again, this is the Stake level meeting for all High Priests...

The question is whether we can incorporate a social as part of this meeting...a meal or social activity, along with a period of instruction.

Is their a policy that deals with this, or letter from the 1st Presidency? I could not locate anything, but we just wanted to double check.
thank you

colbyj wrote:In planning for our upcoming Stake High Priest Quorum meeting, the Stake Presidency seems to recall previous guidance from Church HQs regarding the conduct of this meeting.

Again, this is the Stake level meeting for all High Priests...

The question is whether we can incorporate a social as part of this meeting...a meal or social activity, along with a period of instruction.

Is there a policy that deals with this, or letter from the 1st Presidency? I could not locate anything, but we just wanted to double check.

The Church Handbook of Instructions says what is to be done at this meeting. I don't have a handbook with me, but basically it says that the meeting should provide quorum instruction. It doesn't say anything about what can't be done, so it would be up to each stake presidency to make a local decision regarding a meal or other social activity.

The Handbook provides the only authoritative guidance that I know of, since I am certain that there has been no policy adjustment on this topic since the 2006 Handbook was released, and the 2006 policy would supersede any statements from the more distant past.

In our stake the Stake presidency hold a short meeting while the wives wait in the cultural hall. After his meeting we join the others in the hall and a dinner and a some sort of short program is provided. Two different meetings, no problem.

colbyj wrote:In planning for our upcoming Stake High Priest Quorum meeting, the Stake Presidency seems to recall previous guidance from Church HQs regarding the conduct of this meeting.

Yes. Church Handbook of Instructions. The purpose of the stake high priests quorum meeting is to conduct quorum business and instruct quorum members in their duties.

In our stake we hold this annual meeting just prior to one of our two stake general priesthood meetings during the year.

We have a separate annual high priests social on a Friday or Saturday evening where the wives and single sisters for whom the high priests are responsible are invited for food and fun.

great, thank you for the responses.

My questions deals with what is to be discussed in an open priesthood meeting. Can leaders state the problems and talk about the failures on one of it members in an open meeting before the group. Sickness of member and/or family members, travels, callings all seem OK, but is it appropriate to labor on the perceived short comings of one of its members in a general meeting?

brantleyassoc wrote:My questions deals with what is to be discussed in an open priesthood meeting. Can leaders state the problems and talk about the failures on one of it members in an open meeting before the group.

If the purpose of the stake high priests quorum meeting is to conduct quorum business and instruct quorum members in their duties, it does not sound to me as if that would be on the agenda. It seems to me that the item you mention would be handled in a more confidential manner.

Your quorum president (the stake president) holds the keys to decide what will be presented at the meeting and, with his counselors, plans the agenda.

Any examples of possible quorum business that would be conducted in this meeting?

tbarron wrote:Any examples of possible quorum business that would be conducted in this meeting?

Things I have seen:

- Welcoming new quorum members
- Introducing new group leaders and assistants
- A brief discussion of the upcoming quorum social
- Stake conference assignments
- Any special assignments for service projects, caring for the widows, etc.

That's very helpful, thank you!