The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced changes Saturday that will give local lay bishops more direct responsibility over youth programs and better balance the budgets between the girls and boys.
The moves include disbanding Young Men presidencies of adult males who had led teenage boys in local congregations. Bishops and their counselors will assume much of that role.
Young Women presidents will now report directly to bishops instead of bishop’s counselors, and congregation budgets for youth activities must be divided “equitably” between the number of boys and girls. Because of Boy Scouts — from which the church officially will sever ties at year’s end — more money often went to Young Men in the past.