Missionaries serving in the Micronesia Guam Mission report that the first stake in the Federated States of Micronesia will be organized on the weekend of March 15th and 16th. The Pohnpei Caroline Islands District will become a stake at a special conference and most of the eight branches will become wards. The Federated States of Micronesia has been the country with the ninth most members without a stake according to year-end 2012 membership figures.
For more information on the Church on Pohnpei, please refer to my case study here.
The Caldwell 2nd Branch (Spanish), Caldwell New Jersey Stake, was created on 16 February. There are now 9 wards and 3 branches in the stake:
ReplyDeleteCaldwell 1st Ward
Caldwell 2nd Branch (Spanish)
Emerson Ward
Englewood 1st Ward
Fardale Ward
Jersey City 1st Ward (Spanish)
Jersey City 2nd Ward
New City Ward
Union City Ward (Spanish)
West New York Ward (Spanish)
Bayonne Branch
Englewood 2nd Branch (Korean)
The Carrollton 4th Ward, Carrollton Texas Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 10 wards in the stake:
Carrollton 1st Ward
Carrollton 2nd Ward
Carrollton 3rd Ward (Spanish)
Carrollton 4th Ward
Carrollton YSA Ward
Coppell 1st Ward
Coppell 2nd Ward
Coppell 3rd Ward
Dallas 6th Ward
Lewisville 2nd Ward
The Frisco 8th Ward, Frisco Texas Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 12 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Frisco 1st Ward
Frisco 2nd Ward
Frisco 3rd Ward
Frisco 4th Ward
Frisco 5th Ward
Frisco 6th Ward
Frisco 7th Ward
Frisco 8th Ward
Little Elm Ward
Prosper 1st Ward
Prosper 2nd Ward
The Colony Ward
Frisco YSA Branch
The Highlands 3rd Ward, Eagle Mountain Utah North Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 10 wards in the stake:
Eagle's Gate 1st Ward
Eagle's Gate 2nd Ward
Highlands 1st Ward
Highlands 2nd Ward
Highlands 3rd Ward
Kennekuk Ward
Mount Airey Ward
Northmoor Ward
Rock Creek Ward
Willow Springs Ward
The Maa 2nd Ward, Davao Philippines Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 11 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Bajada Ward
Calinan Ward
Davao 1st Ward
Davao 2nd Ward
Maa 1st Ward
Maa 2nd Ward
Matina 1st Ward
Matina 2nd Ward
Mintal Ward
Toril 1st Ward
Toril 2nd Ward
Ladian Branch
Tamugan Branch
The Oakdale Ward, Monmouth Oregon Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 11 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Brush Hills Ward
Cooper Hollow Ward
Eola Hills Ward
Glen Creek Ward
Lincoln City Ward
Monmouth 1st Ward
Monmouth 3rd Ward
Monmouth YSA Ward
Oakdale Ward
Perrydale Ward
Willamina Ward
West Salem Branch (Spanish)
The Saratoga Hills 5th Ward, Saratoga Springs Utah Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 11 wards in the stake:
Lakeside Ward
Saratoga Hills 1st Ward
Saratoga Hills 2nd Ward
Saratoga Hills 3rd Ward
Saratoga Hills 4th Ward
Saratoga Hills 5th Ward
Saratoga Springs 1st Ward
Saratoga Springs 2nd Ward
Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward
Saratoga Springs 4th Ward
Saratoga Springs 5th Ward
The Sunset Branch, Laie Hawaii North Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 9 wards and 1 branch in the stake:
Kahuku 1st Ward
Kahuku 2nd Ward
Kahuku 3rd Ward (Tongan)
Laie 1st Ward
Laie 4th Ward
Laie 6th Ward
Laie 7th Ward
Laie 8th Ward
Laie 9th Ward (Samoan)
Sunset Branch
The Taylorsville 5th Ward (Tongan), Salt Lake Utah South Stake (Tongan), was created on 9 February. There are now 9 wards in the stake:
Kearns 9th Ward (Tongan)
Kearns 13th Ward (Tongan)
Midvale 14th Ward (Tongan)
Riverton 24th Ward (Tongan)
Sandy 4th Ward (Tongan)
South Jordan 10th Ward (Tongan)
Taylorsville 5th Ward (Tongan)
Taylorsville 6th Ward (Tongan)
West Jordan 8th Ward (Tongan)
The Western Springs 4th Ward, Riverton Utah Harvest Park Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 9 wards in the stake:
Harvest Park 1st Ward
Harvest Park 2nd Ward
Harvest Park 3rd Ward
Harvest Park 4th Ward
Harvest Park 5th Ward
Western Springs 1st Ward
Western Springs 2nd Ward
Western Springs 3rd Ward
Western Springs 4th Ward
The Wexford Ward, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 8 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Beaver Valley Ward
Butler Ward
Cranberry Ward
Freeport Ward
Greensburg Ward
Pittsburgh 3rd Ward
Pittsburgh 4th Ward
Wexford Ward
Knox Branch
Slippery Rock Branch
I have been wondering whether the 8-branch Pohnpei Caroline Islands District or the 9-branch Namoneas Chuuk District would become a district first.
ReplyDeleteAll 8 branches in the Pohnpei Caroline Islands District are on the same island. 4 of the Namoneas Chuuk District branches are on one island; 2 others are on a complex of 4-5 islands, and the rest are on their own islands.
Any idea why they created a branch in a Laie stake. creating a non-language specialized specific branch in an area of such high concentration of church members seems fairly rare.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible the Sunset Branch is further out geographically than the other centralized Laie wards? Kahuku has the good football program, but I do not know how it all breaks down.
ReplyDeletePerhaps despite the non-language designator, they may have some particular cultural difference or commonality.
Whatever the reason, creating a branch is a positive sign of growth, allowing more callings to be issued and responded to.
New Jersey seems to be plugging along.
Mike, Could the Caldwell Second Branch (Spanish) actually be a ward? The CDOL reported an additional ward for New Jersey but the number of branches remained the same.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Sunset Branch in Laie, Hawaii, could be a small new neighborhood--this happened in Farmington, Utah, a few years ago in a new condominium community. That branch is just about ready to become a new ward as more and more of the condos and town homes in the development are finished and sold.
Sunset Beach is a 20 minute drive from Laie. I imagine that was part the driving force to create a branch
ReplyDeleteRay, the unit type for the Caldwell 2nd Branch (Spanish) is currently set to "Ward." This appears to be an error, however, as the term "Branch" is used in the name of the unit and in the name of the priesthood leader's position (Branch President).
ReplyDeleteAll of the members of the Sunset Branch presidency live in Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore, which is about 35 minutes from Laie.
Thanks, Rick. Glad you cleared that up.
ReplyDeleteThe Abomosu 2nd Branch, Abomosu Ghana District, Ghana Accra West Mission, was created on 23 February. There are now 7 branches in the district:
ReplyDeleteAbomosu 1st Branch
Abomosu 2nd Branch
Abomosu Ghana District Branch
Asunafo Branch
Asuom Branch
Kwabeng Branch
Sankubenase Branch
The Buhangin 3rd and Saso 2nd wards, Davao Philippines Buhangin Stake, were created on 16 February. There are now 8 wards and 2 branches in the stake:
Agdao Central Ward
Buhangin 1st Ward
Buhangin 2nd Ward
Buhangin 3rd Ward
Bunawan Ward
Sasa 1st Ward
Sasa 2nd Ward
Tibungco Ward
Babak Branch
Indangan Branch
The Kennedy, Marrais, Orly, and Tazibouo branches, Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire District, Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission, were created on 16 February. There are now 13 branches in the district:
Agbanou Branch
Bouafle Branch
Gbeuliville Branch
Habitat Branch
Kennedy Branch
Koko Branch
Kokrenou Branch
Lobia Branch
Marrais Branch
N'Zuessy 1st Branch
N'Zuessy 2nd Branch
Orly Branch
Tazibouo Branch
The Nephi 12th Branch (Care Center), Nephi Utah Stake, was created on 26 January. There are now 7 wards and 3 branches in the stake:
Levan 1st Ward
Levan 2nd Ward
Nephi 1st Ward
Nephi 2nd Ward
Nephi 6th Ward
Nephi 7th Ward
Nephi 8th Ward
Nephi 11th Branch (Correctional Facility)
Nephi 12th Branch (Care Center)
Nephi YSA Branch
The Valley Crest Ward, Las Vegas Nevada Elkhorn Springs Stake, was created on 23 February. There are now 9 wards in the stake:
Arbor View Ward
Cedar Springs Ward
Centennial Hills YSA Ward
Centennial Pointe Ward
Elk Ridge Ward
Elkhorn Springs 1st Ward
Elkhorn Springs 2nd Ward
Grand Teton Ward
Valley Crest Ward
The Herriman Utah Mountain View Stake was created on 23 February. There are 7 wards in the stake:
ReplyDeleteAmber Rose Ward
Copper Oaks Ward
Crown Rose Ward
Grand View Ward
Mill Canyon Ward
Rose Summit Ward
Yellow Sage Ward
Mike-
ReplyDeleteSix new branches all created in Daloa, Cote d'Ivoire!? No branches reportedly have ever operated in Daloa. I am guessing that at least some of these branches were groups prior to becoming branches. I cannot think of any other instance in church history where a city had so many congregations created simultaneously in a city where no branches previously functioned.
Yes, Matt, I was wondering about how so many branches were being created in the Ivory Coast.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the district, the branches are in 3 cities:
Yamoussoukro:
Habitat Branch created on 20-Oct-92
N'Zuessy 1st Branch: 11-Jun-06
Kokrenou Branch: 2-Mar-08
N'Zuessy 2nd Branch: 24-May-09
Bouafle
Bouafle Branch: 12-Feb-12
Agbanou Branch: 7-Oct-12
Koko Branch: 7-Oct-12
Daloa
Gbeuliville Branch: 16-Feb-14
Kennedy Branch: 16-Feb-14
Lobia Branch: 16-Feb-14
Marrais Branch: 16-Feb-14
Orly Branch: 16-Feb-14
Tazibouo Branch: 16-Feb-14
None of the Daloa branches are showing up in LDS Maps yet. Daloa is located in the Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Mission Branch. So, yes, I believe there were groups there that have expanded into branches. And they have been transferred to the district. My guess is that with six branches, they may form their own district in time. But, with expansion into branches, they each need 4-6 active priesthood holders, at least one of which is an active full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holder.
It would not surprise me that these branches were led by missionaries and became formal branches once enough priesthood was available. It is interesting to see all of them form at once.
It could be that the Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire District is getting close to becoming a stake and these groups became branches and were transferred to the district to help it qualify as a stake.
ReplyDeleteDaloa probably only at the most has 300,000 people, so I am surprised that 6 branches are formed at once. It is a good sign.
ReplyDeleteI would not be surprised if a temple is announced for Ivory Coast this year, although I would also not be surprised if such does not happen.
The Wildhorse Ward, San Antonio Texas West Stake, was created on 16 February. There are now 14 wards in the stake:
ReplyDeleteAlamo YSA 2nd Ward
Braun Heights Ward
Culebra Creek Ward
Helotes Ward
Hondo Ward
Huebner Creek Ward (Spanish)
Leon Valley Ward
Parkwood Ward
San Antonio 3rd Ward
San Antonio 9th Ward
Sonoma Ranch Ward
Timber Ridge Ward
Uvalde Ward
Wildhorse Ward