Covenant Path Progress is a new tool for leaders and returning members to help returning Church members come back to and stay on the covenant path.
This feature in the Member Tools app and in Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) on ChurchofJesusChrist.org is similar to how the New Member feature in Covenant Path Progress helps new members begin on the covenant path. The Returning Member feature connects ward leaders with returning members and helps them note key milestones along the member’s return to the covenant path. They can track receiving a calling or assignment, attending sacrament meeting, making meaningful Church friendships, and performing proxy baptisms and confirmations for deceased ancestors.
This feature is available to stake and ward council members and the returning member. It can be found in Member Tools app by choosing the Covenant Path Progress tile and then selecting Returning Members.
Additionally, to assist leaders as they help returning members, videos and other information are available in the Strengthening New and Returning Members section in the Gospel Library. This section can be found by selecting Handbooks and Callings, then Ward or Branch Callings, and then Strengthening New Members.
I understand the purpose of this new app /program are filled with good intentions.
But I see it as potentially problematic. The Savior more than anything wants to get members away from this checklist mentality.
Truly getting on the covenant path has nothing to do with numbers. You can be a member of the church and have every dot checked off and think just because you have all your holes punched in you are eligible to enter the kingdom of God. It can give some members of the church a false sense of security.
God is not recording the numbers of every time we prayed or read our scriptures. He cares about where are hearts are and who we are becoming.
The whole point and purpose of getting on the covenant path is really about someones personal level of conversion and their relationship with Christ.
You don’t push your spiritual goals and agenda on another person. I found this app just encouraged church leaders to push and pressure my son onto the next step. Instead of letting my son progress further on the covenant path at his own pace.
This is man’s way of (ministering) and tracking ones spiritual progress. Instead of being lead by the spirit. The spirit knows exactly and precisely what each new member needs. And the spirit will lead and guide you in your efforts of retaining new or less active members. The Lord knows exactly where they are at and whether they need an invite, or are in need of some encouragement, or when they might need some space. Their is a delicate spiritual timing involved and it’s about us becoming more in-tuned to the spirit.
You can’t measure one’s spiritual progress on paper. It’s an internal thing that can’t be externally measured.
I do not think it is proper to stalk a members progress. Every new member of the church should be allotted the same amount of privacy as every other member of the church is given.
From my personal experience I felt like their were times the missionaries and local church leaders were so focused on filling in the holes and recording the dates that they didn’t even see my son. All they saw was this progress report and dots that need to be filled in.