Ministering - Spouse companion

[cchang]

Does anyone know if the system now allows you to add your spouse as your Ministering companion? From what we've been told, this wasn't available until recently. This was what was holding us up from updating Ministering companionships and assignments in the system.

[russellhltn]

Does anyone know if the system now allows you to add your spouse as your Ministering companion?

I believe this has been available for some time. You first have to add the person appropriate to the group. (The husband for EQ, the wife for RS). Then you can add the spouse. Note that the marriage must be properly recorded, meaning that on the membership record, the spouse is a link and not just a name. (Often, when a non-member spouse joins the church, the marriage record gets strange and suppose has to fix it. No not record a false divorce to try and fix it.)

Someone else might have some tips to pull up the spouse in the companionship.

[davesudweeks]

You first have to add the person appropriate to the group. (The husband for EQ, the wife for RS). Then you can add the spouse.

This is exactly correct. If this is a husband-wife companionship the Elder's quorum leader sets the husband as the first companion and then he can select the wife as the second companion. If this is a wife-husband companionship, the Relief Society leader sets the wife as the first companion and then she can select the husband as the second companion.

If they are the same in both EQ and RS, both EQ and RS will have to make the assignments. There is no requirement that they be the same (the EQ could have a husband-wife companionship for the family and the RS could have the wife and another sister as a companionship to the wife in the same family, for example).

[cchang]

You first have to add the person appropriate to the group. (The husband for EQ, the wife for RS). Then you can add the spouse.

This is exactly correct. If this is a husband-wife companionship the Elder's quorum leader sets the husband as the first companion and then he can select the wife as the second companion. If this is a wife-husband companionship, the Relief Society leader sets the wife as the first companion and then she can select the husband as the second companion.

If they are the same in both EQ and RS, both EQ and RS will have to make the assignments. There is no requirement that they be the same (the EQ could have a husband-wife companionship for the family and the RS could have the wife and another sister as a companionship to the wife in the same family, for example).

Do you feel this responsibility of setting it up in LCR falls upon the EQ and RS or did you have a Clerk do this? Seems like it might be a little harder for the less tech savvy individuals to do this unless the Clerk helps get it started.

[davesudweeks]

As the clerk, I am always willing to help if asked. We have a pretty tech savvy RS presidency and a very tech savvy EQ presidency so they have not asked. I believe one of my roles as clerk is to help organization presidencies understand the technology, not necessarily do it for them. When I find out something new, I use the Send a Message tool to broadcast it to the Ward Council. I stay out of their business unless they request help.

[cchang]

I stay out of their business unless they request help.

How do you determine what is "their business" vs. what is your Clerk responsibilities? Since this is an update of system records, would it fall under the Clerk's duties and responsibilities? I agree that this should fall under the EQ and RS responsibility to update it with the Clerk's help if asked. Thanks for providing your experience.

[davesudweeks]

I stay out of their business unless they request help.

How do you determine what is "their business" vs. what is your Clerk responsibilities? Since this is an update of system records, would it fall under the Clerk's duties and responsibilities? I agree that this should fall under the EQ and RS responsibility to update it with the Clerk's help if asked. Thanks for providing your experience.

Ministering assignments are their business. I will help with the technical aspects, but the decision of who is assigned to minister to whom is between the Bishop and the respective RS or EQ presidents (in my opinion). I don't know exactly what you are referring to as "system records."

[lstinger]

I have a question. Not tech related, but our ward has many couples. I see the value of that as well as some men companionships and sister companionships depending on needs. I have been ministering with my husband for 20years. Just recently our stake president said that this was wrong and must be changed and that there always needs to be 2 priesthood holders. I find nothing in the handbook that says that what we are doing is wrong. Much prayer and thought goes into making companion assignments. Is it wrong to have husband wife ministering companionships? Then why is the system set up to easily accommodate husband wife companionships?
So confused. Where do I get clarification because I don’t find according the handbook that it is discouraged.

[russellhltn]

I have been ministering with my husband for 20years. Just recently our stake president said that this was wrong and must be changed and that there always needs to be 2 priesthood holders. I find nothing in the handbook that says that what we are doing is wrong.

This forum is primarily user-to-user, so what you're going to get is reference to published guidelines and personal experiences. It's not a route for clarification or ruling on Handbook issues. We don't have any contacts to the higher decision-makers.

General Handbook - 21.2.1 Making Assignments (emphasis added)

They normally assign two brothers or two sisters as companionships

I'm guessing that the stake president was seeing too much reliance on couples rather than using them in special situations. It may be something to ask on the next temple recommend interview. Beware of the "telephone game" where what you hear is not the full story. It's entirely possible this doesn't originate from the stake president, but is a result of an interview with the area authority or something brought up in a high-level training sessions he attended.

Where do I get clarification because I don’t find according the handbook that it is discouraged.

General Handbook - 0.4 Questions about Instructions

When questions arise that are not addressed in the scriptures, the words of the living prophets, or this handbook, Church members should rely on their covenants with God, the counsel of their local leaders, and the inspiration of the Spirit for guidance.

If leaders have questions about information in this handbook or about issues it does not address, they counsel with their immediate presiding authority.

[BrianEdwards]

Just for clarity (I know @russellhltn knows, but for others reading the thread), GHB 21.2.1 also states

A married couple may be assigned to minister together to a person or family.

The language definitely says it's an option, but as previously mentioned it also does state that the normal method is assigning two brothers or two sisters together. And as usual, the Handbook leaves interpretation up to local leaders. I completely agree that it's most likely there was a miscommunication somewhere, and follow-up with your local leaders hopefully clarifies your situation.