Some Suggestions for Church Business Meetings?
— Friday, June 5th, 2009 —
Gerald Harris, editor of the Christian Index newspaper, offers a list of suggestions for Baptist churches to reclaim the hellish, poor witness of so many congregational business meetings.
“No one should speak at the church business meeting who is more conversant with the church constitution/by-laws and Robert’s Rules of Order than the Bible. I have known deacons who could quote Article III, Section 4, paragraph 6 of the church constittuion, but couldn’t find the Gospel of John in the Bible.
He further suggests:
“A man who is silenced and controlled by his wife should not try to make up for his lack of authority at home by attempting to assert himself and control the church business meeting.” Unfortunately, some men are as bold as a lion at the church conference and as meek as a lamb at home.”
Ouch.
I am thankful to serve in a church without rancorous business meetings (and with biblically wise deacons!), but I’ve seen otherwise, up close, and maybe you have also. I’ve got some ideas about how things could be different, but what do you think?
As a seminary student who just finished Church Administration…and as a life-long Baptist (in the evening service in the womb the day before I was born!), I would suggest the following:
1) Have an agenda, distributed to each qualified member prior to the meeting, and then stick to the agenda (from CA class)
2) Avoid “New Business” by (1) and by requiring that all new business be filed with the leadership a few weeks prior to the meeting
These two ideas will filter out most of the misery (and any machinations about firing a staff member on the spot!)
I liked Greald Harris’ points 1 and 3…if we were to run a church like a business (horrible, but true in many cases), this would be the case in the “real world” to be a qualified voter in a business meeting!
Gerald*
Please forgive me, Dr. Harris!
First of all - I would suggest moving business meetings to once per quarter. Next, I would organize the business meeting in such a way that only the leaders of the church are to speak (unless special issues arise that merit otherwise). This will prevent that meek “lamb like” guy from turning into a lion once per month as he delivers all of his fancy ideas before the congregation!
JB
Would it be helpful to move away from the “business meeting” terminology and methodology? What about Stewardship of Kingdom Resources Hour? or Covenanted Membership Health Report?
Modern American churches are hostage to the IRS and 503c rules about constitutions and bylaws. It’s not as bad as European state churches, but it’s not good either. Sometimes I think we should just pay the taxes and then organize in our own way. If we want a building, pay the property taxes and move on. Maybe that would discourage some of our building programs and point us more in the direction we should be going (and spending).
Go to an Plural Elder Led Model of Ministry and avoid “Business Meetings” altogether. I’m an Elder / Pastor and as suce I meet with the Council of the Elders twice a month with a set agenda.
When the circumstance come about where we need to before the church with a decision that has been made on a given matter (which this is very rare) we are asking for their imput, for their ideas, and suggestions, but mainly we are looking for their affirmation of our decision.
I’ve ministered in both contexts: pure democracy-deacon (mis)led model and an Elder-led republic. The Elder Model has been very beneficial to the purity of the Church, especially with regards to Church Discipline.
I believe the article is treating the symptoms, rather than the disease. I know it was facetious, but adding more legalism to an environment that often fosters it may give temporary relief from a human perspective, yet will rarely edify the Body of Christ or honor God.
In my opinion, the disease is the lack of attention given to discipleship by many Baptist and other Christian churches. Some churches work hard at worship services, Sunday School, and various large programs, but these are venues where people can still hide their lack of growth, such as the deacon who knows the church constitution much better than the Bible, still needing milk like a child who has not matured in Christ as Hebrews 5:11-14 admonishes. It is when people are discipled, either one on one or in small groups, that growth and accountability can occur through building intimate, spiritual relationships.
Developing love for one another and the holiness that the N.T. requests will happen best on a personal level, not in large groups where there is no accountability. I have not witnessed these hellish business meetings in churches that are serious about practicing II Timothy 2:2-7. However, having once attended a Baptist church with argumentative meetings, my prayer is that these churches will repent and dedicate themselves to discipleship as well as evangelism, so that their lampstand is not removed and they become powerless for Christ.