Yikes! That was my response when I read about a new website in Germany that allows members of Roman Catholic congregations to rank their pastors. Essentially, it is Yelp! for Priests. Members can rate their priests on how good their sermons are, how well they relate to the youth, how up to date they are, etc. They are then given a score. (The Pope has a 3.87 out of 6 – so it is a pretty tough crowd.)
I am so glad that there was not a web-based “Bishop Barometer” in the Church while I was serving as a Bishop. I mean it’s bad enough when I want to see if anyone “liked” my FaceBook comment – I can’t imagine how unsettling it would be to know that people were rating my job performance – I’m afraid I would be compelled to constantly keep track of my score.
It could also cause problems in other areas – for example, a temple recommend interview:
“Sis. Jones do you sustain the other General Authorities as well as your local leaders”
“Why yes, of course I do”
“Well, it says here you gave me a 1.5 out of 6 on the Bishop’s Barometer.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that – it was right after you called me to be in nursery.”
The reason the German site claims to be valuable, is that it puts pressure on the priests to perform better, and it gives the members more information to shop for a congregation they might like. Can you imagine the can of worms that would be opened if we could shop for our wards? Some years back I attended a leadership training meeting where the visiting General Authority made the point that two of the most important characteristics of our church structure is that a) we have a lay ministry, and b) we attend where we live. I have learned over the years how true that is.
If a Bishop’s congregation – and thusly the size of his paycheck – depended on being popular and keeping the people happy, he would be completely hamstrung. How could he ever ask the saints to do “hard things” or call anyone to repentance if the result might be a ward-hopper? Frankly, I would rather not know how many people would have wanted to attend a different ward when I was Bishop. I know, for a fact, that I offended some – which makes me sad. (but at least you won’t find a review online!)
Over the years I did hear two sayings about being a Bishop that apply:
1) If someone isn’t mad at you, you’re not doing your job.
2) A Bishop usually serves just long enough to offend every member of the ward at least once. It usually takes about five years.
Instead of a score on a website, we simply raise our hands once a year in Ward Conference to sustain our local leaders, and then are expected to show it the rest of the year. I much prefer this method.
Shepherd’s Barometer website (in German) here: http://hirtenbarometer.de/
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Crystal; Don’t feel to bad for the bishops. A lot of us really enjoyed it.
I feel so badly for you men who are called as Bishops. WAY too much pressure and the pay stinks. 🙂 Blessing though, right? Windows of heaven and all…
Yikes! is right. Fortunately, the Lord’s church isn’t a personality contest … at least it’s not supposed to be. Over the years I have found that if a Bishop or other church leader says/does something that I disagree with, it’s usually me that needs the attitude adjustment.
I have never once been offended by a Bishop. Maybe I’m not doing my job right?!?! Give it time, I am sure it will happen – is what I keep telling myself.
“A bishop usually serves just long enough to offend every member of the ward at least once. It usually takes about five years.”
🙂
A bishop I served with years ago pointed out that when he was called a certain number of members (not a small number) came to him to confess / discuss / sort out things they felt they could not discuss with his predecessor. He freely admitted that a similar number would likely do the same with his successor.
I found that counsel to be wise and helpful during both my turns in that chair.
That is weird. And yes, it would be very hard being a bishop as sometimes you just have to be tough and mean….kind of like being a parent but the ward members aren’t related and totally dependent upon you.
I was recently talking to a friend who moved to a much larger area. She had no idea that in an area with several wards you don’t get to pick your ward! She has lived in our small town her whole life with just one ward. Except for one city in our stake, there is only one ward per town and our ward even encompasses several towns! I have a firm testimony in attending where you live and have always found it odd for other Christian friends to “find” a church when they move somewhere new.
I’m with you, I dread to think what my score would have been when I served as a Bishop !! Probably not very high!
That Italian priest(DiFrancesca?) that was teaching from the Book of Mormon would be making the big bucks if they had that rating system back then!
1.5 for putting her in nursery sounds about right. hahaha
Performance reviews!
Something to be said for that. I mean, if you’re getting paid, then there’s bound to be perceptions regarding how well the job is being done…
🙂
Pearl