Creating, or Changing Church Units

Church units include stakes, districts, wards, and branches. They are created or changed only when the need is clearly demonstrated.

Stakes and Districts

Stakes are created from mission districts or by dividing existing stakes. In the United States and Canada, stakes generally should have a minimum of 3,000 members and five wards. In all other countries, stakes generally should have a minimum of 1,300 members and five wards. There is no fixed minimum number of members or branches needed to create a district.

To propose creating a stake or district, changing its boundaries, changing its name, or discontinuing it, the stake or mission president completes a Stake/ District Organization Application form and marks any proposed boundary changes on a map. In the United States and Canada, stake and mission presidents can obtain an application form and a unit map from the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee support staff at Church headquarters (telephone 1-801-240-1102 or 1-800-453-3860, extension 1102). In other countries, stake and mission presidents can obtain application forms from their area office. They should obtain locally two standard, detailed maps with street or town indexes and use them to clearly identify unit boundaries.

A stake president who is proposing a stake change or a mission president who is proposing the creation of a stake from a mission district gives the completed application and maps to the Area Presidency. The proposal must have the written endorsement of the presidents of each affected stake or mission.

The Area Presidency reviews all applications to ensure that instructions and guidelines have been followed. If the Area Presidency endorses the proposal, the application and maps are submitted to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Wards and Branches in Stakes

Wards and branches in stakes are created from existing wards or from branches in stakes or missions. The stake president uses the same procedures for creating a branch as he does for a ward.

In the United States and Canada, wards generally should have at least 300 members. In all other countries, wards generally should have at least 150 members. There is no fixed minimum number of members needed to create a branch.

To propose creating a ward or branch in a stake, changing its boundaries, changing its name, or discontinuing it, the stake president completes a Ward/ Branch Organization Application form and marks any proposed boundary changes on a map. Instructions for obtaining the application form and maps are provided under "Stakes and Districts" on this page.

The stake president gives the completed application and maps to the Area Presidency. The proposal must have the written endorsement of the presidents of each affected stake or mission.

The Area Presidency reviews all applications to ensure that instructions and guidelines have been followed. If the Area Presidency endorses the proposal, the application and maps are submitted to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

When new wards are created, the stake president should also complete a Recommendation for New Bishop form for each bishop being recommended. This form should be submitted with the proposal. In the United States and Canada, this form can be obtained from the Office of the First Presidency. In other countries, it can be obtained from the area office.

Branches in Missions

To propose creating a branch in a mission, changing its boundaries, changing its name, transferring it, or discontinuing it, the mission president completes a Ward/Branch Organization Application form and marks any proposed boundary changes on a map. Instructions for obtaining the application form and maps are provided under "Stakes and Districts" on this page. The mission president gives the completed application and maps to his Area Presidency.

The Area Presidency may give final approval or denial of a proposal to (1) create a branch in a mission, (2) discontinue it, or (3) change its boundaries if the change does not affect an adjacent district, mission, or stake. The Area Presidency must send copies of approved applications and maps to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee at Church headquarters before a unit number can be assigned.

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The Area Presidency may endorse but not give final approval of a proposal to (1) change the name of a branch in a mission, (2) transfer it to another district, mission, or stake, or (3) change its boundaries if the change would affect an adjacent district, mission ' or stake. If the Area Presidency endorses the proposal, the application and maps are submitted to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

The Area Presidency may endorse but not give final approval of a proposal to create or change a mission branch for young single adults, single adults, students, members who speak nonnative languages, members who have special needs, or members in the military. If the Area Presidency endorses the proposal, the application and maps are submitted to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Nonnative Language Wards and Branches

Priesthood leaders should carefully foster the welfare of members within their boundaries who do not speak the predominant language. In circumstances where the conventional ward cannot provide for the needs of a nonnative language group, and when a language barrier exists among a sufficient number of members in a stake, the stake president may recommend that a nonnative language ward or branch be created. Such a ward generally should have at least 250 members. There is no fixed minimum number of members needed to create a branch.

Nonnative language units are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Single Member Wards and Branches

Young Single Adult Wards and Branches

Creation. Most young single adults are best served as members of conventional wards. In some exceptional situations, units for young single adults may be created. If a stake includes 125 or more single members ages 21 through 30 who want to attend a young single adult ward, the stake president may recommend that such a ward be created. He may recommend that a young single adult branch be created if 50 or more unmarried members ages 21 through 30 live in the stake and want to attend.

If there are too few members to create a young single adult ward in one stake, stake presidents may recommend creating a young single adult ward with membership from more than one stake. If the First Presidency approves the recommendation, the ward may include young single adults who are members of two or more (usually limited to four) stakes. These stakes must be contiguous to the stake where the young single adult ward is located. The ward will be the responsibility of one of the participating stakes, as assigned by the Area Presidency.

Young single adult units are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Membership. Generally, young single adult wards should not have more than 250 members. Membership is restricted to those who live within the stake(s) authorized to participate in the ward.

Members who are eligible to attend a young single adult ward may choose to be members of that ward or remain in their conventional ward. Membership records should be in the ward the person is attending.

Membership in a young single adult ward should be viewed as a temporary preparation for serving in a conventional ward. Members of young single adult wards normally should return to a conventional ward when they are married, when they reach the age of 31, or when warranted by other circumstances.

Single parents with children at home normally remain in their conventional ward so the children will have the benefit of Primary and youth programs. However, the parents may attend the activities of the young single adult ward.

Unmarried members ages 18 through 20 who live with their parents normally remain in their conventional ward. If they live away from home, they may attend the young single adult ward.

Single Adult Wards

Creation. In the exceptional circumstance that a stake includes 150 or more single adults ages 31 and older who want to be members of a single adult ward, the stake president may recommend that such a ward be created. Single adult wards are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Membership. Members who are eligible to attend a single adult ward may choose to be members of that ward or remain in their conventional ward. Membership records should be in the ward the person is attending.

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Single parents with children at home normally remain in their conventional ward so the children will have the benefit of Primary and youth programs. However, the parents may attend the activities of the single adult ward.

Student Stakes, Wards, and Branches

Creation. A stake president may recommend that a student stake be created when 1,500 or more members, married or single, attend a college or university located in his stake.

A stake president may recommend that a student ward be created when 125 or more members, married or single, attend a college or university located in his stake and want to attend a student ward.

Student units are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Membership. Single students who live in housing that is located on campus or owned by a university should be members of a student ward if one exists at the institution. Single students who live away from home but off campus may choose to be members of a student ward or of the conventional ward where they reside. If there is more than one student ward in the area, and if students choose to attend a student ward, they should be members of the ward that includes their living quarters in its boundaries.

Unmarried students who live with their parents normally remain in their conventional ward.

Unmarried members who are not students do not normally attend student wards. Exceptions may be made in stakes that do not have a single member ward if the bishop of the home ward feels that it would be in the member's best interest to belong to a student ward. Such exceptions must be approved by the parents (where appropriate), by both bishops, and by both stake presidents.

Married students may choose to be members of a student ward or of the conventional ward where they reside.

Special Needs Wards and Branches

Wards or branches may be created for groups of members who have special needs, such as hearing impaired members or members in care centers, residential treatment programs, or prisons. These units are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

Military Wards and Branches

Members in military service should participate in the wards or branches at or near their military installation. When there are sufficient numbers of military personnel in an area, military wards or branches may be organized to meet their needs. These units are created through the usual procedures. Approval is given only by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.

For information about military service groups, see page 120.

Naming Church Units

When necessary as new units are created, local leaders are invited to submit unit names to their Area Presidency. The Area Presidency reviews all proposed unit names to ensure that the instructions and guidelines have been followed. If the Area Presidency endorses the proposal, it is submitted to the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee for review. AR final decisions for naming Church units are made by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

Stakes and Districts

The name of a stake or district should uniquely identify it from other stakes or districts. Generally, names of existing stakes and districts should not be changed.

The first word of the stake or district name is the name of the city where the headquarters of the stake or district is located. In the United States and Canada, the second word is the state or province in which the stake or district is located. In other countries, the second word is the name of the country.

When more than one stake or district is in the same city, the third word is an identifying characteristic, such as a compass direction (North, South, East, or West), the name of a community, or the name of a geographical feature that is within or adjacent to unit boundaries. Other directional terms (such as Southwest), names of people, numbers, or segregating terms (such as Spanish or Hearing Impaired) should not be used.

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Wards and Branches

The name of a ward or branch should uniquely identify it so that people in the community can recognize and locate it. The name should be chosen carefully so it will not need to be changed later. Generally, names of existing wards and branches should not be changed.

The ward or branch should be named after a city, subdivision, neighborhood, street, or geographical feature that is within or adjacent to unit boundaries. The name of only one city, subdivision, neighbor-

hood, street, or geographical feature should be used in the unit name. If there is more than one ward or branch with the same name, a number should be added as part of the name, such as Montevideo First Ward, Montevideo Second Ward, and Montevideo Third Ward. The name of the ward or branch should be in the language of the area. If the language does not use the Roman alphabet, a translation using Roman characters should be included. Compass directions (such as East or Northwest), names of people, and segregating terms (such as Spanish or Hearing Impaired) should not be included in the name.

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