Programs of the Church Educational System
The Church Educational System (CES) consists of four programs:
Church Board of Education
The Church Board of Education is composed of the First Presidency and other General Authorities and Church officers. The board oversees the operation of seminaries, institutes of religion, adult and continuing education, and elementary and secondary education programs of CES. It defines the objectives of these programs and approves the policies under which they operate.
Church Boards of Trustees
A Church Board of Trustees is established for each Church-sponsored institution of higher education: Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Ricks College, and LDS Business College. Each board is composed of the same General Authorities and officers as the Church Board of Education but functions separately in guiding each institution as an independent legal corporation.
CES Administrative Personnel
Under the direction of the Church Board of Education, the Church's religious, elementary, and secondary education programs are supervised by the CES administrator of religious education and elementary and secondary education. Under his direction, full-time CES representatives, such as zone administrators and coordinators, are assigned to geographic areas throughout the world. Priesthood leaders should direct requests or questions about CES programs to their local CES representative.
CES personnel are authorized to request name, address, and age information about potential seminary and institute students from ward records. If a ward uses the Member Information System (MIS) software, a clerk may download this information on a diskette or print a copy for official CES use. CES personnel use this information to recruit and enroll youth in the Church's seminary and institute programs.
Area Presidency
The Area Presidency ensures that priesthood leaders fulfill their responsibilities for Church education as outlined in this section. The Area Presidency also coordinates Church education matters with the CES zone administrator and area directors.
If a seminary serves more than one stake, the Area Presidency appoints a stake president to be chairman of a local CES board of education.
If an institute serves more than one stake, the Area Presidency appoints a stake president to be chairman of an institute of religion advisory council (see page 116).
Stake Presidency
The stake presidency encourages and monitors the seminary and institute participation of eligible stake members. High councilors and the stake executive secretary may assist.
The stake presidency regularly includes Church education matters on the agendas of stake leadership meetings. The local CES representative should be invited to attend the Church education portion of these meetings.
Where needed, the stake presidency confers with bishops to recommend members to be appointed as early-morning and home-study seminary teachers, volunteer institute teachers, and stake supervisors. A member of the stake presidency, a high councilor, or the bishop makes these recommendations to the local CES representative, who appoints, supervises, and releases these members in consultation with priesthood leaders. Membership records of those who are recommended for such service must currently be in the ward.
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Where CES has not been authorized to rent or build facilities, the stake presidency ensures that facilities are provided for early-morning seminary, home-study seminary, and institute classes.
The stake presidency ensures that CES satellite firesides are included on the stake calendar, that facilities are provided for viewing them, that they are publicized throughout the stake, and that nothing is planned for members ages 18 through 30 that would conflict with these firesides. High councilors and the stake executive secretary may assist.
The stake president presides at seminary and institute graduation exercises (see pages 115 and 116-17). He may also be assigned by the Area Presidency to serve on a local CES board of education or to serve as chairman of the institute of religion advisory council (see page 116).
The stake president or one of his counselors interviews stake members who seek approval to enroll at Church universities or colleges (see page 117).
High Councilors
The stake president may assign one or two high councilors as seminary and institute advisers. They help encourage and monitor enrollment, arrange for meeting facilities, publicize CES firesides, and may act as liaisons between the stake president and the local CES representative.
Bishopric
The bishop and his counselors personally encourage (1) all youth ages 14 through 18 to participate in seminary and (2) all young single adults and married college students ages 18 through 30 to participate in institute classes. Members of the bishopric also oversee the registration of those who are eligible. The ward executive secretary may help with this registration. The local CES representative provides registration materials for seminary and institute.
The bishopric regularly includes Church education matters on the agendas of ward leadership meetings.
Where needed, the bishop confers with the stake presidency to recommend members to be appointed as early-morning and home-study seminary teachers and volunteer institute teachers.
The bishop or an assigned counselor interviews seminary and institute students to certify their worthiness for graduation. The bishop also interviews members who seek approval to enroll or continue attendance at Church universities or colleges (see page 117).
Worthiness of CES Employees and Volunteers
Each employee and volunteer of the Church Educational System and of Church universities and colleges must be worthy to have a temple recommend. A stake president (or in some cases a bishop) completes an annual ecclesiastical clearance form to confirm the worthiness of each full-time employee within the stake.
Religious Education
Objective
The objective of religious education in the Church Educational System is to assist the individual, the family, and priesthood leaders in accomplishing the mission of the Church by:
The Church's seminary program offers weekday religious instruction for youth ages 14 through 18 throughout the world. Students who do not attend public schools may enroll in seminary if the school certifies that the student is at least in the ninth grade (or equivalent) and will turn 14 years of age or older during the school year.
Courses of instruction, in a four-year cycle, include the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants-Church History.
Released-Time, Daytime, and Early-Morning Seminary
Released-time seminary (during school) and daytime seminary (after school) are established in areas where Church membership is sufficiently large and local public education policies permit. If these conditions are not present, early-morning seminary (before school) is established.
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Students in released-time, daytime, and earlymorning seminary meet each day that public school is in session.
Home-Study Seminary
Home-study seminary is organized where students cannot attend a daily class because of distance or other factors. It usually is organized within the ward. Students are provided materials to enhance their daily scripture study. They are required to study the scriptures daily and attend a weekly class with a CES-appointed teacher. This class should not be held on Sunday.
Home-study students from several wards meet together at least four times a year for instruction under the direction of a CES coordinator or stake supervisor. An activity under the direction of stake or district priesthood leaders may be held in conjunction with these meetings.
Seminary for Home-School Students
Students ages 14 through 18 who are involved in home schooling attend the seminary class that is available in their area (released-time, daytime, earlymorning, or home-study seminary).
Funding and Activities
CES pays all costs for approved seminary programs. There is no fee charged for seminary enrollment. However, students are to obtain their own copies of the scriptures. Wards may assist students by ordering scriptures or having them available to purchase.
CES provides a limited budget for some activities. Seminary fund-raising projects are not authorized.
Seminary activities are to comply with the policies and guidelines on pages 276-80 in Book 2.
Facilities, Materials, and Equipment
Released-time seminary and daytime seminary are held in Church-owned or rented buildings near public schools. Early-morning seminary is held in meetinghouses or other facilities approved by local priesthood leaders.
The local CES representative orders all seminary materials except scriptures.
When seminary is held in a meetinghouse, curriculum materials are stored in the meetinghouse library. The meetinghouse library also supplies the audiovisual equipment needed for these seminary classes.
CES videocassettes and audiocassettes have been produced primarily for seminary students. However, other Church members may use them if (1) the materials are not used where youth of seminary age or younger are present and (2) the seminary teacher does not need them for lesson preparation or presentation.
CES has produced special religious education materials for students who have reading problems or other disabilities. The Church Educational System Publications Catalog lists these materials.
Seminary Graduation Exercises
Stake presidents preside over seminary graduation exercises. A member of the stake presidency works with the seminary principal or local CES coordinator to plan these exercises. Limited funds are available from CES to assist with expenses. For additional information, see A Guide to Quality Seminary Graduation Exercises or contact the local CES representative.
Institutes of Religion
Institutes of religion provide weekday religious instruction for all young single adults and married college students ages 18 through 30. Independent study classes are also available.
In addition to religious instruction, institutes provide opportunities to serve, enjoy social interaction, receive leadership training, and grow spiritually. Institutes assist local priesthood leaders in encouraging youth to serve missions and marry in the temple.
Institutes of religion are established under the direction of CES in selected locations adjacent to colleges and universities where sufficient numbers of Church members are enrolled. Institute classes may also be organized away from college campuses at the stake or multistake level, making it easier for nonstudent young single adults to participate.
For a class to qualify as an institute class, it must be an approved CES course. The teacher must be approved by the stake president and appointed and
supervised by CES. Approved CES curriculum materials must be used, and the class must meet for a prescribed amount of time per credit unit. Credit earned for classes that meet these criteria may be transferred to other institutes. Under certain circumstances it may also be transferred to Church universities and colleges.
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The stake presidency or bishopric may organize gospel study classes for young single adults. However, these classes are not institute of religion classes.
Organization of Institutes
For information or charts about the organization of institutes, contact the local CES representative.
Institute of Religion Advisory Council
The institute of religion advisory council consists of a stake president, an institute director, and a student council presidency. The stake president is the chairman of the council. In institutes that serve multiple stakes, the Area President appoints one of the stake presidents as chairman of the council.
The advisory council directs the institute of religion student council. It also ensures correlation of recruitment and of activities and service projects that affect students and nonstudent young single adults who participate in the institute program.
Institute of Religion Student Council
Presidency. The institute of religion student council presidency is composed of a president, vice president(s), and secretary. The presidency may be composed of students and nonstudent young single adults who are recommended by priesthood leaders or CES personnel. Members of the presidency are approved, called, and set apart by or under the direction of the chairman of the advisory council.
Presidency members direct the student council in fulfilling the responsibilities outlined below.
Adviser. The institute director appoints an institute faculty member to advise the student council.
Council Members. The institute of religion student council is composed of students and nonstudent young single adults who are enrolled in institute and who represent various organizations (such as LDSSA) and interests (such as single members). Members of the student council are recommended by priesthood leaders or CES personnel. They are approved, called, and set apart by or under the direction of the chairman of the advisory council.
Responsibilities. Members of the institute of religion student council plan and implement all institute activities as approved by the advisory council. Members of the student council also encourage students and nonstudent young single adults to enroll in institute classes. They also foster spirituality.
Coordination with Stake Activities. The institute of religion student council does not replace stake leaders' responsibilities for young single adults. However, the two groups can coordinate their activities. This coordination usually occurs in institute student council meetings. It also could take place in the stake if an institute has not been established.
Organization in Stakes and Districts. In addition to being organized at institutes, student councils may be organized in stakes or districts where institute classes are removed from an established institute.
Funding and Activities
Institute students purchase their own scriptures. They also may purchase student manuals and pay a modest institute activity fee.
Funding for institute activities may come from the following sources as approved by the advisory council: (1) institute fees, (2) minimal charges for individual activities, and (3) stake, ward, or branch budgets. (Funding policies may vary in areas outside of North America.)
All institute activities must have the approval of the advisory council. The student council plans and implements approved activities. These activities are to comply with the policies and guidelines on pages 276-80 in Book 2.
Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA)
The Church Educational System administers the Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA). The LDSSA gives Latter-day Saint college students formal recognition, a legal presence on campus, and the organization to render campus service. At the local level, the institute director supervises the LDSSA through the institute of religion student council.
Facilities
Where available, institute buildings are the primary facilities for institute classes. Seminary buildings also may be used. If institute and seminary buildings are not available or are not conveniently located, CES personnel, under the direction of the stake president who is chairman of the institute advisory council, schedule classes in meetinghouses or other suitable facilities.
Institute Graduation Exercises
The stake president who is chairman of the institute advisory council presides over institute of religion graduation exercises. A member of the stake presidency works with the institute director or local CES coordinator to plan these exercises. He also consults with other stake presidents as appropriate.
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Seminary and Institute Enrollment
Enrollment of youth and young adults in seminary and institute is to be a joint effort by priesthood leaders and CES representatives throughout the year. Recruitment is not complete until every potential student is enrolled.
Literacy
CES assists priesthood and Relief Society leaders in the literacy effort by providing literacy materials, giving instruction in the use of those materials, and giving ongoing support as requested.
Church Universities and Colleges
The Church sponsors several institutions of higher education. Information about admissions and academic programs can be obtained from the local CES representative and from the schools' admissions offices:
Church schools are centers of higher education but, more important, are communities of faith and commitment where firm testimonies of the restored gospel are developed and nurtured. To help ensure that those who attend Church schools are living by Church standards and will continue to do so, prospective and continuing students must receive endorsements from priesthood leaders as outlined in the following paragraphs.
Endorsement to Enroll at a Church School
Students who plan to enroll at Brigham Young University, BYU-Hawaii, Ricks College, or LDS Business College must receive endorsements from their bishop and a member of their stake presidency to be eligible for admission.
Endorsement to Continue Enrollment at a Church School
After being admitted to a Church school, students must receive an annual endorsement from the bishop of the ward they attend while in school. Students who do not have this endorsement may not register for the next academic year.
Instructions for Endorsement Interviews
The bishop or member of the stake presidency conducts a private, detailed interview with each student. He determines whether the person is active in the Church and living by Church standards. He commits the person to continue doing so, explaining that these are requirements of members who attend a Church university or college. He also commits the person to abide by the school's honor code and dress and grooming standards.
Interviewers of prospective students use the information from this interview to complete the confidential section of the application for admission. Interviewers of continuing students complete an ecclesiastical clearance form available from the school.
Leaders should not endorse members who are less active, unworthy, or under Church discipline. Leaders should work with these members to help them qualify for an endorsement in the future.
Adult and Continuing Education
Listed below are some of the adult and continuing education programs that are available through CES in many areas:
Elementary and Secondary Education (in Some Areas outside the United States)
Where Church members contribute taxes to support their local, state, and national governments, and where local governments provide secular education for their citizens, those members are entitled to the benefits of their government's systems of education and should participate fully in those systems. In a few areas of the world and at the discretion of the Church Board of Education, some Church elementary and secondary schools have been established to give young Church members an opportunity to receive both secular and religious instruction.
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