Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Two New Stakes to be Created in France

Missionaries serving in France report that the Church will organize two new stakes in a couple weeks within the boundaries of the France Paris Mission.  Missionary reports indicate that the Church will realign stakes in the Paris area to create a third stake in Paris and that the Lorient France District will also become a stake.  The Angers France Stake appears like to be affected by the creation of these two stakes and several congregations in the Angers France Stake will likely to reassigned to one of the new stakes.

Currently there are nine stakes and one district in France.

18 comments:

  1. Wow, this is going to be a busy month in Europe! 4 new stakes! This is wonderful!

    With the 2nd Rome stake, what do you think is going to happen with Naples and Sardinia Districts, as both will also take part in the conference?

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  2. The Abattoir Ward, Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Masina Stake, was created on 1 September. There are now 7 wards in the stake:

    Abattoir Ward
    Debonhomme Ward
    Liberté Ward
    Masina 1st Ward
    N'Djili Ward
    Sans-Fil Ward
    Telecom Ward


    The Central Valley 2nd Ward, Monroe Utah Stake, was created on 1 September. There are now 11 wards in the stake:

    Annabella 1st Ward
    Annabella 2nd Ward
    Central Valley 1st Ward
    Central Valley 2nd Ward
    Elsinore 1st Ward
    Joseph Ward
    Monroe 1st Ward
    Monroe 2nd Ward
    Monroe 3rd Ward
    Monroe 4th Ward
    Monroe 5th Ward


    The Mbieri Branch, Owerri Nigeria Stake, was created on 1 September. There are now 5 wards and 10 branches in the stake:

    Akwakuma Ward
    Ikenegbu Ward
    Nekede Ward
    Orji Ward
    Owerri Ward
    Amaimo Branch
    Amakohia Branch
    Atta Branch
    Mbieri Branch
    Nekede Poly Branch
    New Owerri Branch
    Ogwa Branch
    Orlu Branch
    Umundugba Branch
    Uratta Branch

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  3. There are currently 6 stakes, 1 district, and 1 mission branch in the France Paris Mission, with a total of 42 wards and 29 branches. In addition to the Cherbourg Branch, the mission covers the following:

    The Lorient France District has 6 branches:

    Brest Branch
    Lorient Branch
    Quimper Branch
    Saint Brieuc Branch
    Saint Nazaire Branch
    Vannes Branch


    The Paris France East Stake has 8 wards and 3 branches:

    Compiègne Ward
    Meaux Ward
    Melun Ward
    Nogent Ward
    Paris Lilas Ward
    Reims Ward
    Torcy Ward
    Troyes Ward
    Aulnay Branch
    Auxerre Branch
    Soissons Branch


    The Paris France Stake has 8 wards and 3 branches:

    Antony Ward
    Caen Ward
    Cergy-Pontoise Ward
    Evry Ward
    Mantes Ward
    Paris Ward
    Saint Ouen Ward
    Versailles Ward
    Chartres Branch
    Le Havre Branch
    Rouen Branch


    The Nancy France Stake has 5 wards and 5 branches:

    Luxembourg Ward
    Metz Ward
    Mulhouse Ward
    Nancy Ward
    Strasbourg Ward
    Belfort Branch
    Colmar Branch
    Epinal Branch
    Saint Die Branch
    Toul Branch


    The Lille France Stake has 6 wards and 4 branches:

    Arras Ward
    Calais Ward
    Lille Ward
    Saint Quentin Ward
    Valenciennes Ward
    Villeneuve D'Ascq Ward
    Amiens Branch
    Charleville-Mezieres Branch
    Dunkerque Branch
    Saint Omer Branch


    The Angers France Stake has 8 wards and 5 branches:

    Angers Ward
    Cholet Ward
    La Rochelle Ward
    Le Mans Ward
    Limoges Ward
    Nantes Doulon Ward
    Orléans Ward
    Rennes Ward
    Alençon Branch
    Blois Branch
    Bourges Branch
    Poitiers Branch
    Tours Branch


    The Brussels Belgium Stake has 7 wards and 2 branches:

    Brussels 1st Ward
    Brussels 2nd Ward
    Charleroi 1st Ward
    Charleroi 2nd Ward
    Mons Ward
    Namur Ward
    Nivelles Ward
    Liege 1st Branch
    Liege 2nd Branch

    Adding 2 stakes would get it up to 8 stakes. It is possible that the mission could be entirely covered by stakes.

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  4. There are 18 wards and 25 branches in 3 stakes and 3 districts and 1 independent mission branch in the Italy Rome Mission:

    Palermo Italy Stake (6 wards; 6 branches)
    Puglia Italy Stake (5 wards; 3 branches)
    Rome Italy Stake (7 wards; 2 branches)

    Calabria Italy District (4 branches)
    Naples Italy District (5 branches)
    Sardegna Italy District (4 branches)
    Mosta Branch

    I can't see a new stake without the additional congregations and membership from the districts. At least 3 branches will need to become wards as well. It is possible that the Naples and Sardegna districts have branches ready to become wards, and a ward or two from the Rome stake, plus these districts might be enough for another stake.

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  5. I think the districts in Napoli and Sardegna will setup an East/West division of the stake. With 4 in Sardegna and 5 in Napoli districts, it would seem that most of the branches would become wards.

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  6. The development of the Church in France and Italy is interesting. From some of the anecdotal and other evidence that I have seen, both countries have a lot of baptismal activity with foreign immigrants; perhaps more than other European nations, which can be good and bad. The local membership might not get as much continued strength/continuity because of this.

    Converting Africans in Paris and greater France can help worldwide growth, especially when they return to their home countries or beyond; proselyting South Americans in Rome can have the same two edged effect.

    Aspects of the non-drinking nature of LDS can be a hindrance to many Europeans, and these two countries pride themselves so much on wine, which is considered even sacred to very devout people.

    I can't help but think that Mitt Romney's campaign did not reflect well on the French image for our Church, since he criticized the country politically more than he seemed to embrace any love for the culture. Of course politics is tricky when it comes to pleasing groups.

    I have said it before, but Mitt did not use his religion very well when it came to portraying himself, but now in retrospect it is easier to find fault with his coming up short last year. But I will repeat that he could have done much better with his image if he had shown more of his human side, (call that faith?), and some of it would be with his mission.

    One of his five sons also served in France and he probably does not have a political future. Perhaps France is not built for building images, as knowing the language did no favors for John Kerry in 2004.

    But more related to this current news, this is good news and I hope that the upcoming temples in both countries will inspire past and future members in being more active. Maybe more African and other foreign citizens will promote more growth as well.

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  7. The Iju Branch, Lagos Nigeria West Stake, was created on 1 September. There are now 7 wards and 2 branches in the stake:

    Agege Ward
    Akowonjo Ward
    Egbeda Ward
    Ejigbo Ward
    Ifako Ward
    Ikotun Ward
    Oshodi Ward
    Ayobo Branch
    Iju Branch

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  8. Another stake in Rome? Somehow I think it strange that Florence and Rimini districts in Milan mission _aren't_ invited. (That area was in Rome mission before 1990, and Florence district was again from 2002 to 2010.) Both have good rail connections to Rome - I wonder if a Florence or Bologna stake is in the works?

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  9. Just announced, that the Menifee California Stake will be spilt to form the Lake Elsinore California Stake, September 22. withdruc

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  10. The Hyde Park 2nd Ward, London England Hyde Park Stake, was created on 1 September. There are now 7 wards and 1 branch in the stake:

    Britannia YSA Ward
    Hyde Park 1st Ward
    Hyde Park 2nd Ward
    Lea Valley Ward
    London North Ward
    Stratford Ward
    Whitechapel Ward
    South Kensington Branch (Portuguese)

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  11. Great news about the Menifee California Stake, which currently has 15 wards:

    Canyon Lake Ward
    El Cariso Ward (Spanish)
    La Piedra Ward
    Lake Elsinore Ward
    Lake Perris Ward
    Mapleton Ward
    Menifee Lakes Ward
    Newport YSA Ward
    Ortega Ward
    Paloma Valley Ward
    Perris Ward
    Sun City Ward
    Temescal Canyon Ward
    Tres Lagos Ward (Spanish)
    Wildomar Ward

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  12. We just had stake conference this weekend. Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Homer (Area Seventy responsible for eastern Canada) came. Elder Hallstrom said he was asked if he came to split our stake and he said no, but suggested it would happen soon enough. He indicated that with 13 wards and 2 branches and more than 5400 members and sufficient priesthood, we are getting close.

    The mission president indicated that the Fredericksburg Stake currently has 45 missionaries assigned in two zones.

    We always have 4-5 meetinghouses full for stake conference.

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  13. As I understood the article I read about the Rome stake conference, they're just getting a new stake presidency, not dividing the stake. I'm not sure where this idea of division originated. The two districts are also getting new presidencies. That's how I read the article about the apostle's visit to Rome.

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  15. The Gonzagueville Ward, Port-Bouet Cote d'Ivoire Stake, was created on 8 September. There are now 8 wards and 3 branches in the stake:

    Adjouffou Ward
    Gonzagueville Ward
    Jean-Folly Ward
    Koumassi Ward
    Marcory Ward
    Port-Bouet Ward
    Remblais Ward
    Vridi Ward
    Bonoua Branch
    Grand-Bassam 1st Branch
    Grand-Bassam 2nd Branch


    The Ironwood Crossing 2nd Ward, Queen Creek Arizona North Stake, was created on 8 September. There are now 14 wards in the stake:

    Cambria Ward
    Cortina 1st Ward
    Cortina 2nd Ward
    Cortina 3rd Ward
    Cortina 4th Ward
    Crismon Ward
    Desert Mountain Ward
    Ironwood Crossing 1st Ward
    Ironwood Crossing 2nd Ward
    Ironwood Ward
    Ranch Ward
    Remington Heights Ward
    Rittenhouse Ward
    Vineyard Ward


    The Las Lomas Ward, San Antonio Texas North Stake, was created on 8 September. There are now 8 wards in the stake:

    Deerfield Ward
    Las Lomas Ward
    Monte Vista Ward (Spanish)
    San Antonio 8th Ward
    San Pedro Ward
    Sonterra Ward
    St Cloud Ward
    Stone Oak Ward


    The River View 7th and 10th Wards, Draper Utah River View Stake, were created on 8 September. There are now 9 wards in the stake:

    River View 1st Ward
    River View 3rd Ward
    River View 4th Ward
    River View 5th Ward
    River View 6th Ward
    River View 7th Ward
    River View 8th Ward
    River View 9th Ward
    River View 10th Ward


    The Zenu Branch, Tema Ghana Stake, was created on 8 September. There are now 9 wards and 3 branches in the stake:

    Adjei Kojo Ward
    Ashaiman Ward
    Batsona Ward
    Bethlehem Ward
    Lebanon Ward
    Nungua 2nd Ward
    Tema 1st Ward
    Tema 2nd Ward
    Tema 3rd Ward
    Klagon Branch
    Kpone Branch
    Zenu Branch

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  16. Thanks Mike for the new unit creation updates! They are most helpful for keeping track of things. Hopefully we'll see your stake divide soon - I have been waiting for it for years.

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  17. If the foriegners are really immigrants, it will probably mean local church growth. In my ward our relief society president is an immigrant and a convert, although she immigrated at a very young age and joined the church in her late teens about 20 years ago.

    What might not build up local membership is if baptisms are of temporary workers or international students, people who are likely to go back to their home countries.

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  18. Judging from my experience on my trips & mission in Spain I agree with the last comment by John Pack.

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