Posts
Here's a screen print from the church's new MLS 2.9 system. (somewhere out there is a ward clerk not following the rules...) As you can read, members are not to have their own records. Why not?
fMh Anniversary
8 months ago
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Good Point. Why wouldn't we be entitled to our own information (and our children's)? What exactly is written in them that can't be seen?
Molly,
My take on this may surprise you. As a private, unregulated entity, the LDS church may keep records on its members and do with them what they please with complete impunity. The same can be said for dozens of organizations. For example, any of the large "data aggregators" that gather financial and other data such as credit information, addresses, phone numbers, legal information (like child support status, etc.), are not required by law to turn over their "files" on you when asked. Government records, however, are in a different class. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows any citizen to request ANY record or information held, generated, or processed by a federal agency or departement with the exception of HIPPA and specifically individually identifiable information (III), and any information deemed pertinent to national security. With such freedoms protected by law, we often get a sense of entitlement to information that we may not have had a few years ago.
Now to the point of the LDS church and its records: Do you know what happens when you ask to have your name "removed" from the records?
1 - Your record is flagged, but not destroyed, redacted, or removed.
2 - You are still counted in overall membership numbers. The church does not subtract resignations each year when calculating membership numbers.
3 - If you decide to rejoin the church, your record is unflagged and reinstated. Have you ever wondered why you don't have to be reordained, reinitiated into the temple, re-sealed to spouse and family? All those records are still there.
Now, as a former ward clerk, one reason they do not want members to have their records is that there are often notes attached which relate any previous disciplinary actions taken. This is to prevent someone who has been excommunicated or even disfellowshiped from being called to certain positions. Sometimes Bishops and SPs include specific details of transgressions and repentance actions.
Anyway, sorry to write a book.
Good info Doug!
I agree, as a private organization they have a right to those records (which I hear are becoming more detailed with this new program). However, I ask you the question whe ask kids-- What would Jesus do? Would he give you unfettered information about yourself, or would he refuse to let you know?
In working for the church, I saw time and time again that they tried to keep the public/members from receiving information and in my mind that is not Christian behaviour.
Post a Comment