quychang said:
In a debate, it would have been unconscionable to make such a statement without supporting facts. Luckily this is not a debate, but a conversation. And I thank you for pointing out the error in my thinking.
Indeed it is a conversation. And an enjoyable one at that.
The lay nature of LDS Clergy is a matter of scriptural doctrine for the church, of course. And while LDS clergy are not usually formally trained in theology or counseling it is common for them to receive a fair bit of "on the job training" prior to being called to a presiding position. One of the interesting dichotomies of the LDS church is that a man may serve as a Bishop or Stake President one day, and the next be called to work in the nursery even as it is rare to be called as Bishop (and unheard of so far as I am aware) or a Stake President without having previously served in some other leadership responsibilities in the church. When it comes time to release a Bishop and call a new Bishop, it is a safe bet that the new guy will have served as a counselor, clerk, or secretary to a Bishop, served in a Stake High Council, or perhaps served as an Elders' Quorum President, Young Men's Adviser, etc.
For those of us who believe in divine revelation and inspiration, the true value of a Bishop's ability to counsel comes in the mantle of his calling, his right to receive revelation, to act on behalf of the church and the Lord. That said, as the church has grown, as it has developed additional resources, and as it has realized the extent to which its members are affected by the same ills as everyone else, it has provided professionally trained counselors, mental health professionals, legal counsel (clergy are now subject to most all the same reporting requirements when it comes to child welfare and other issues as would be any other adult), 12 step programs, and even financial and other counselors on whom Bishops may call and to whom they can refer members. In a number of different areas there is a recognition that there is a difference between sinful conduct that needs repentance, and the addiction that needs professional help to overcome. There are also a host of other issues that clearly require professional counseling and mental health services that are beyond the capability of most clergy. Perhaps the greatest change in the last generation is the understanding throughout society that mental health problems are not much different than physical health problems...indeed in some cases are caused by physical ailments that affect the brain or hormonal system. LDS clergy and members have never been adverse to using doctors for physical ailments of the body. The various fields of mental health are much younger, much less well developed, and frankly, for quite some time far too often took approaches that were contrary to LDS doctrine. But as both the understanding of mental health and the practice of mental health medicine have both improved, it is possible to find professionals whose methods are not offensive to LDS values. So they get used more now.
Bishops and other clergy are still human and subject to all the same human errors as anyone else. I recall some years ago when that local church leader who handled my mission return with less tact that I thought proper was called into one of the quorums of the 70. It is the only time in my life when I've paused in raising my hand to sustain church officers. His conduct toward me (and some others) had been less than sensitive. In one instance of which I was aware, I even sensed some hypocrisy. But I'm not aware of any evidence of malicious intent. And over his many years of service as a bishop and stake president most who had interacted with him spoke fondly of the good he had done. In the moment of reflection I decided I could forgive and sustain just as I hoped the Lord would forgive me.
Since then, I've heard a great story and a fine conference talk that both bear on the situation. A recent speaker in general conference observed how very frustrating it must be for God to have to make use of imperfect people to run his church. But that is all He has to work with. A friend recently told me of paying a visit to the home of a Stake President in a remote area of Wyoming. As he pulled up the driveway he saw the Stake President on the front porch. As he walked up onto the porch he realized his local church leader was enjoying a cup of coffee in the early morning calm. Seeing his taken back expression, the Stake President simply said, "Son, this is Wyoming. I'm the best they've got."
I wonder how many decent, but very imperfect people are serving in various church positions simply because they are the best that are available at the time. J. Golden spoke of "Revelation, Inspiration, and Relation." I would add "Desperation" with a grin. Or as someone observed relative to J. Golden serving where he did, "Well, it must have been revelation, nobody else would have considered it." I'm pretty sure that in a couple of different positions, I've been called largely because there was just no one else better and willing available.
That all said, it would interesting if there were someway to determine if clergy in one church or another are any more likely to really mess up when it comes to counseling with or assisting their parishioners. Formal training or not, does a celibate priest have the same understanding of the challenges of marriage and child rearing as might a married minister or bishop? Does a professional clergyman have the same level of empathy over job loss as might a lay minister whose in the same volatile job market as those he shepherds? I honestly don't know. I know some of the books written by experts on how to raise children are clearly complete bunk being in the throws of that endeavor myself. Dr. Spock has quite likely helped ruin big chunks of two more generations with his professional theories.
What I do know is that in my adult life I've served closely under 4 different Bishops, been good friends with another due to shared interests, and my wife has served as Primary President under yet another. Six different men, 6 different professions. These in addition to a couple of Bishops from my adolescence. None of them trained in counseling, mental health, nor theology. Two or 3 very distinct "management" styles; some more personally agreeable to me than others. All human and subject to human fallibility. But all are the best of men, the kind of men whose association makes those around them better. They are the kind of men I should be more like. It is a position I hope never to hold. But I've been greatly enriched by the opportunities to serve closely enough to have some understanding of the burdens they bear without earthly compensation, and the service they render. With some 20,000 wards in the world and a typical term of service of about 5 or 6 years, there must be exceptions. I just haven't met any myself with the possible exception of one stake president that I've realized I don't know well enough to pass any judgement.
Charles