Do you congratulate someone over a Church calling? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Runner Coug · 08-21-2008, 05:25 AM

I got called as 2nd Counselor in the EQ last week. I'll do my best to serve, but the truth is, I don't want to do it. The guy they called as Pres. admitted to my wife tonight that he called me as a counselor because I'm one of a whole two people that actually talk to him at Church. He called the other guy as secretary. I was digging being YM secretary and I'm sad to leave.

Anyway, there must have been 10 people tell me congratulations on my new calling, which struck me as very weird. What do they mean? I didn't aspire to or work for the calling, and there's any number of guys more worthy. I thought it was strange.

Archaea · 08-21-2008, 05:36 AM

A tradition, nothing more, nothing less.

The_Tick · 08-21-2008, 06:08 AM

I typically do that.

I am excited for someone to have the experiences and blessing that come with the calling.

fusnik11 · 08-21-2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

A tradition, nothing more, nothing less.

I think there is more to it than filiopietistic norm.

Entry into the old boys club is validation of a life lived congruent to the principles of the gospel. So when we congratulate we state, 'you've been accepted by the club and I aspire to one day gain acceptance.'

SoCalCoug · 08-21-2008, 07:22 AM

I don't. I congratulate people when they accomplish something. I don't congratulate when they receive an assignment. It's a conscious choice, as I don't want to foster the belief that callings are solely merit-driven.

DrumNFeather · 08-21-2008, 12:23 PM

I suspect it's their relief in not getting the calling (at least for some) that is driving their congratulatory back pats...but maybe that's just for callings like Bishop or EQ President.

I received a number of congratulations on my calling as Ward Mission Leader from people who I know were just glad that they had dodged that bullet.

Indy Coug · 08-21-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runner Coug

I got called as 2nd Counselor in the EQ last week. I'll do my best to serve, but the truth is, I don't want to do it. The guy they called as Pres. admitted to my wife tonight that he called me as a counselor because I'm one of a whole two people that actually talk to him at Church. He called the other guy as secretary. I was digging being YM secretary and I'm sad to leave.

Anyway, there must have been 10 people tell me congratulations on my new calling, which struck me as very weird. What do they mean? I didn't aspire to or work for the calling, and there's any number of guys more worthy. I thought it was strange.

Congratulating someone is a fairly transparent way to say "I'm glad it's you and not me".

beelzebabette · 08-21-2008, 03:41 PM

I generally offer sympathy/condolences.

MikeWaters · 08-21-2008, 04:00 PM

I congratulate those that get hard callings that have been skating under the radar. I always do it with a smirk.

minn_stat · 08-21-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runner Coug

I got called as 2nd Counselor in the EQ last week. I'll do my best to serve, but the truth is, I don't want to do it. The guy they called as Pres. admitted to my wife tonight that he called me as a counselor because I'm one of a whole two people that actually talk to him at Church. He called the other guy as secretary. I was digging being YM secretary and I'm sad to leave.

Anyway, there must have been 10 people tell me congratulations on my new calling, which struck me as very weird. What do they mean? I didn't aspire to or work for the calling, and there's any number of guys more worthy. I thought it was strange.

I sometimes offer condolences.

08-21-2008, 05:25 AM	#1
Runner Coug Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 945	Do you congratulate someone over a Church calling? I got called as 2nd Counselor in the EQ last week. I'll do my best to serve, but the truth is, I don't want to do it. The guy they called as Pres. admitted to my wife tonight that he called me as a counselor because I'm one of a whole two people that actually talk to him at Church. He called the other guy as secretary. I was digging being YM secretary and I'm sad to leave. Anyway, there must have been 10 people tell me congratulations on my new calling, which struck me as very weird. What do they mean? I didn't aspire to or work for the calling, and there's any number of guys more worthy. I thought it was strange.

08-21-2008, 05:36 AM	#2
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	A tradition, nothing more, nothing less. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

08-21-2008, 06:08 AM	#3
The_Tick Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 626	I typically do that. I am excited for someone to have the experiences and blessing that come with the calling. __________________ Spooooooon

08-21-2008, 07:22 AM	#5
SoCalCoug Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 3,059	I don't. I congratulate people when they accomplish something. I don't congratulate when they receive an assignment. It's a conscious choice, as I don't want to foster the belief that callings are solely merit-driven. __________________ Get your stinking paws off me, you damned, dirty Yewt! "Now perhaps as I spanked myself screaming out "Kozlowski, say it like you mean it bitch!" might have been out of line, but such was the mood." - Goatnapper "If you want to fatten a pig up to make the pig MORE delicious, you can feed it almost anything. Seriously. The pig is like the car on Back to the Future. You put in garbage, and out comes something magical!" - Cali Coug

08-21-2008, 12:23 PM	#6
DrumNFeather Active LDS Ute Fan Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nantucket : ) Posts: 2,566	I suspect it's their relief in not getting the calling (at least for some) that is driving their congratulatory back pats...but maybe that's just for callings like Bishop or EQ President. I received a number of congratulations on my calling as Ward Mission Leader from people who I know were just glad that they had dodged that bullet.

08-21-2008, 03:41 PM	#8
beelzebabette Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 30	I generally offer sympathy/condolences.

08-21-2008, 04:00 PM	#9
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	I congratulate those that get hard callings that have been skating under the radar. I always do it with a smirk.