This document describes the broad responsibilities of those who work with Church technology found in meetinghouses. Individual areas may adjust roles to meet the needs of their specific requirements.
The roles defined in this document apply globally unless otherwise stated.
Where ward and stake callings are referred to, the same roles and responsibilities also apply to the equivalent branch and district callings.
The Presiding Bishopric has the responsibility for providing technology and communications systems in the Church globally. The Presiding Bishopric directs the ICS Department, which is responsible for architecting, implementing, and supporting these systems.
The ICS Department architects, implements, and supports technology used in meetinghouses globally and develops usage standards and guidelines.
The GSD is a centrally managed service center located in Salt Lake City, Utah. This group works with Church employees, the facilities management group (FMG), technology specialists (TSs), and other priesthood leaders to troubleshoot processes or technology problems.
3.1 The TS may contact the GSD for troubleshooting and support help with items related to meetinghouse technology that they cannot solve on their own and that are not the responsibility of the FMG.
3.2 If the GSD determines that a problem relates to something that the FMG is responsible for, they will ask the TS to contact the FMG through the physical facilities representative (PFR).
3.3 In cases where the GSD does not support the language spoken by a TS, the TS enlists the assistance of a translator.
The Meetinghouse Facilities Department (MFD) oversees FMGs throughout the world. They coordinate FMG efforts to ensure all technology is properly installed in meetinghouses.
FMGs have the following responsibilities:
4.1 Work with stake presidents, TSs, and/or PFRs to ensure meetinghouses have approved and working technology equipment.
4.2 In compliance with MFD standard plans:
4.3 For computers and other technology equipment provided during new building construction or later by the FMG:
4.4 Select and pay for an internet service provider.
4.5 Receive requests from stakes on desired locations for wired and wireless access.
4.6 Outside of the US and Canada, consult with area ICS managers.
Outside the United States and Canada, the Area Presidency uses approved technologies to further the work of the Church in their area. The Area Presidency also ensures that Church leaders follow standards when using technology and communications systems. When necessary, the Area Presidency may approve the use of nonstandard technologies to help solve specific issues that arise in their area.
5.1 Help plan and monitor the area’s budget and expenses for technology and communications systems. The director for temporal affairs assists the Area Presidency in these responsibilities.
5.2 Consider factors such as the needs of units, the readiness of people to use technology, the availability of member expertise for technical support, and the effectiveness of the technology in meeting important needs to determine which approved technologies are to be made available in meetinghouses throughout the area.
5.3 Consider local economic and social conditions, which often affect the availability and acceptability of reasonably priced technologies and the infrastructure to make them effective.
Outside the United States and Canada, the director for temporal affairs works with the Area Presidency, the ICS Department, and the area ICS manager to implement approved technologies in the area. Church headquarters determines what technology resources will be used to support the work throughout the world.
6.1 When technology standards and guidelines are not appropriate in specific areas, the technology can be adapted to meet the needs of the local leadership within meetinghouse technology standards and with approval of the area ICS managers.
Outside the United States and Canada, the area ICS manager, under the direction of the director for temporal affairs, ensures that technology and communication needs in the area (including those in administrative offices, missions, meetinghouses, and other Church business locations) are understood and fulfilled by providing standard support services for approved technologies and customers as defined in the area ICS support model.
7.1 Area ICS managers maintain a thorough working knowledge of approved Church technologies and facilitates implementation and support throughout the area. When technology standards and guidelines are not appropriate in specific areas, area ICS managers should work with ICS headquarters to discuss how the technology can be adapted to meet the needs of local leadership.
7.2 In addition to supervising the area ICS staff, the area ICS manager gives training, support, and guidance to technology staff in other Church organizations in the area as well as to TSs and the FMG as needed. He or she works closely with area leaders and other managers to understand requirements and needs and communicates these to the ICS Department at Church headquarters.
Area technology specialists are missionaries called to work with stake presidents to encourage the use of technology specialists. They provide training to technology specialists as needed to ensure they understand the resources which are available to assist them in their calling. In the US and Canada, this role is performed under the direction of the Area Seventy who calls the couple to the calling. Outside of the US and Canada, ATSs perform this role under the direction of the area ICS manager.
8.1 Coordinate temporary technology committees to set up and run multistake events.
8.2 Receive additional technology support responsibilities as directed by the Area Seventy or area ICS manager.
9.1 Oversee proper use of technology within a stake.
9.2 Work with the FMG to acquire needed technologies, ensure that local needs are met, and determine when adaptations are needed.
9.3 Understand and enforce meetinghouse technology standards.
9.4 Call one or more TSs to help meet the technology needs in all buildings in the stake.
9.5 Determine who has keys to access meetinghouse technology equipment and spaces.
9.6 Approve the budget for purchases of approved Church products not covered by the FMG, including the following:
9.7 Determine how technology should be used for receiving Church broadcasts, transmitting stake conference or other stake meetings, conducting virtual interviews, and facilitating instruction during meetings and conferences to bless the lives of the members.
9.8 Determine the level of filtering needed to enable members to accomplish Church-related work and to minimize internet use for non-Church-related purposes.
10.1 Train clerks and other local leaders on Church applications such as MLS (Member Leader Services), LCR (Leader Clerk Resources) and those available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
10.2 Train clerks and other local leaders on the proper use and care of membership data.
10.3 Ensure that a person called by the stake as a TS is accurately recorded in MLS (Assistant Stake Clerk—Technology Specialist). This gives the TS access to online tools for managing meetinghouse technology which is not available to general Church membership. This also makes it possible for the Meetinghouse Technology Coordination Team to communicate directly with the TS.
10.4 Oversee the work of assistant stake clerks, including the TS.
This is an assignment given to a member of the stake high council.
11.1 Work with the TS to coordinate technology issues and needs with the FMG.
11.2 Act as primary stake contact for the FMG.
11.3 Communicate requests for repairs or replacements to the FMG.
11.4 Work with the FMG on technology issues that may impact a building’s structure, functionality, or aesthetics.
11.5 At the discretion of the stake president and FMG, a TS and FMG may work directly together.
Technology specialists have a specialized responsibility to support technology in meetinghouses. They can be anyone (including non-priesthood holders) over the age of 12. There may be one or more TS per unit as directed by leadership. They work under the direction of the priesthood leaders that call them.
12.1 Responsibilities of technology specialists:
12.1.1 Stay current on meetinghouse technology products, services, and standards.
12.1.2 Provide technology training and support as needed to ward and stake leaders, teachers, and family history center personnel on the standards and usage of meetinghouse products and services. TSs do not have responsibility for training and support of financial and membership applications.
12.1.3 Set up, test, operate, secure, manage, support, and troubleshoot the use of meetinghouse technologies, including the following:
12.1.4 Maintain inventory of meetinghouse technology purchased with local unit funds. This includes hardware and software—including date of acquisition, warranty, and licensing information. All technology purchased and installed by the FMG will be inventoried by that group.
12.1.5 Identify unused and outdated equipment, and properly dispose of it by following standard procedures.
12.1.6 Make recommendations to the priesthood leaders regarding the use of approved technology to better enable teachers, leaders, and members to strengthen testimonies and bless lives.
12.2 Additional responsibilities for those called by the stake president:
12.2.1 Technology specialists who are called by the stake are assistant stake clerks.
12.2.1 Coordinate with the Facilities Management Group (FMG) through the stake physical facilities representative (PFR) to ensure meetinghouses have approved technology equipment.
12.2.2 Provide input to the FMG through the PFR on internet service provider selection and desired locations for wired and wireless access.
12.2.3 Act as primary contact for requesting technical help through Family History Center Support.
12.2.4 Set up, test, operate, secure, manage, support, and troubleshoot the use of stakewide meetinghouse technologies, including the following:
13.1 Back up data files on clerk computers.
13.2 Check firewall compliance regularly on clerk computer.
13.3 Ensure MLS is updated to the latest version.
The Meetinghouse Technology Coordination Team is a centrally managed team in Salt Lake City, Utah. It works with the meetinghouse technology portfolio team and product managers for all meetinghouse technologies and acts as a central repository of information, issues, processes, etc.
14.1 Receive feedback from TSs and share it with meetinghouse technology product managers.
14.2 Coordinate and deliver meetinghouse technology communications and training. Manage the meetinghouse technology website: http://mhtech.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
14.3 Draft, update, and guide meetinghouse technology standards through an established approval process.