#hearLDSwomen: My Voice Is Not Valued in Ward Council Meetings
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A friend joked that they let women talk all they want in Ward Council because all of the decisions are made in PEC (Priesthood Executive Committee). It wasn’t a joke.
– Rachel
The Ward Council was all men except representatives from the Relief Society presidency, and it was made clear that the women were just a token. The men make the final decisions. The women carry them out.
– Heidi Alsop
As Young Women president, I was frequently shut down in Ward Council. From being deliberately passed over for comment, to “sorry, sister, we are out of time,” to noticing when I was ruffling feathers that it was time to stop talking.
– Natalie Ware Gowen
Every time I’ve suggested something in a Ward Council meeting, I get a few nods with no feedback. And then, a few minutes later, my exact idea will be restated by a man in the room and everybody says what a great idea it is. Every. Time.
– Lorraine
Pro Tip: Listen to and elevate women’s voices in leadership meetings. Don’t ever joke about silencing women or about women talking too much.
Click here to read all of the stories in our #hearLDSwomen series. Has anything like this happened to you? Please share in the comments or submit your experience(s) to participate in the series.
“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:23)
These are all so painfully familiar. And we older women could tell even scarier tales than these. Good heavens why do we even show up? We need a women’s council and a representative who delivers our decisions to the men. They can either act on what we decide or try to get stuff done without us. Hah.
What are they going to do, fire us? Good luck running that nursery and primary without us, fellas
Every time I’ve suggested something in a Ward Council meeting, I get a few nods with no feedback. And then, a few minutes later, my exact idea will be restated by a man in the room and everybody says what a great idea it is. Every. Time.
– Lorraine
I can tell you that this happens across all religions, not just LDS…..! Infuriating !!
Also work.
Priesthood Executive Committee no longer exists.
Ward Council is supposed to include the YW President and the Primary President, not just the Relief Society President.
Yes, but that is a very recent change. These stories happened in the last few years, and these attitudes are still rampant in the Church.
No it isn’t. *Welfare* meeting used to be made up of the RS presidency and PEC. The OP is either confused about a meeting that ended over a decade ago, or she’s lying.