By Curtis Gasser
One of the primary ways BYU wards differ from family wards is the way bishoprics are called.
Typical wards call men from out of the congregation to preside. The old bishop is released and given a new assignment in the ward. The new bishop picks up where the old one left off, making changes where necessary and as he is inspired to.
Bishops called into BYU singles wards, however, do not have the advantage of familiarity with the ward they are asked to preside over.
This did not present a problem for Ray Garrett, bishop of the BYU 145th Ward.
'As soon as I was sustained I was surrounded by love and support,' he said.
Garrett said ward members were extremely understanding and went out of their way to make him feel comfortably at home.
BYU ward members who have experienced turnover in their bishoprics say new bishops bring different styles of leadership into the ward and have an effect on the general feeling that prevails there.
Jenn Penn, 26, a senior from Gilcrest, Colo., majoring in neuroscience, has been living in her current ward for more than three years. Last summer she experienced what happens to a ward when ward leadership changes.
'Changing bishops sets a different personality in the ward,' Penn said. 'If he''s outgoing then the ward is more outgoing. If he''s more of the reserved type then so is the ward.'
Penn said, most callings stayed the same in order to provide stability to the ward''s organizational structure.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect in the changing of a bishopric can be facing separation from someone who has become almost a second father, Penn said.
'A lot of people are sad to see their old bishop leave because in a singles ward you know you''re not going to see him again unless you really go out of your way,' she said.
Release of a bishop is not only difficult for the students, but also for the bishop who is released.
Odell Miner recently rejoined his home ward after serving as bishop of the BYU 198th Ward.
Despite what has been a very positive experience, Miner said he often finds himself thinking back on the student ward he presided over and wondering how the ward members are doing.
'You just can''t help but be interested in them,' he said. 'Serving in a BYU ward was a seminal opportunity for serving and feeling like I might have actually been making a difference in the young people''s lives.'
Garrett has been bishop of the 145th Ward for the past two years. He was told at the outset of his calling that he would be in the position for three years, which he said is standard procedure in BYU wards.
Now, as he begins his final year as bishop, Garrett said he does not look forward to being released.
'It''s going to be very difficult to leave something that I love so dearly and be put on the shelf, so to speak,' he said.
Garrett said he doesn''t worry, though, about encountering any problems in his ward when facing changes in leadership.
'I think the resiliency of the youth is so amazing that they don''t miss a beat,' he said. 'People are missed, but we just move on with life.'