Branch President
Encyclopedia
A branch president is a leader of a "branch
" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop
, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch
. The branch president is directly responsible for the smooth operation of his branch and the well-being of its patrons. The branch president usually has two counselors to assist him in his duties. These three comprise the branch presidency. Like almost all callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the branch president is not paid and must support himself and his family.
A branch president must hold the Melchizedek priesthood
and be ordained an elder. Unlike a bishop, a branch president is not required to be married or be high priest but the enforcement of these stipulations will depend largely on whether the branch in question is part of a district or a stake. Branches within stakes that house a pool of Priesthood holders will usually necessitate a Branch President to be already married and in most cases to be ordained to the office of High Priest (if he is not a holder of that office already). In branches where no resident member is a worthy priesthood holder, a full-time missionary
may be called to be branch president. This will usually be the case for branches in districts where local priesthood holders maybe be in short supply.
A branch president does not hold the same keys of the priesthood that a bishop holds. For example, a branch president may convene a disciplinary council
only upon direction of the stake or mission president
who presides over him, whereas a bishop may convene a disciplinary council at any time on his own volition.
Branch presidents are given the honorific
title "President"
.
Branch (Mormonism)
In denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement , a branch is the term used for what is called a congregation in other Christian denominations.-See also:*Bishop*Stake*Ward...
" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop
Bishop (Mormonism)
Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. A bishop is usually the leader of a local congregation of church members. The Latter Day Saint concept of the office differs significantly from the role of bishops in other Christian denominations,...
, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch
Branch (Mormonism)
In denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement , a branch is the term used for what is called a congregation in other Christian denominations.-See also:*Bishop*Stake*Ward...
. The branch president is directly responsible for the smooth operation of his branch and the well-being of its patrons. The branch president usually has two counselors to assist him in his duties. These three comprise the branch presidency. Like almost all callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the branch president is not paid and must support himself and his family.
A branch president must hold the Melchizedek priesthood
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
and be ordained an elder. Unlike a bishop, a branch president is not required to be married or be high priest but the enforcement of these stipulations will depend largely on whether the branch in question is part of a district or a stake. Branches within stakes that house a pool of Priesthood holders will usually necessitate a Branch President to be already married and in most cases to be ordained to the office of High Priest (if he is not a holder of that office already). In branches where no resident member is a worthy priesthood holder, a full-time missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
may be called to be branch president. This will usually be the case for branches in districts where local priesthood holders maybe be in short supply.
A branch president does not hold the same keys of the priesthood that a bishop holds. For example, a branch president may convene a disciplinary council
Disciplinary council
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a disciplinary council is an ecclesiastical trial during which a member of the church is tried for alleged violations of church standards. If a member of the LDS Church is found guilty of an offence by a disciplinary council, he or she may be...
only upon direction of the stake or mission president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
who presides over him, whereas a bishop may convene a disciplinary council at any time on his own volition.
Branch presidents are given the honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
title "President"
President (LDS Church honorific)
President is an honorific title in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is given to certain men who hold priesthood leadership positions.- General leaders :...
.