For three years, I served as
moderator of our church’s business meetings.
For the most part, this was a rewarding experience and I must have done
something right since I received a standing ovation when I stepped down (or
maybe they were just glad to see me go).
In churches with a
congregational polity, the church business meeting is where important (and
sometimes unimportant) decisions are made.
As moderator, participant, and observer, I have seen people at their
best and at their worst in church business meetings.
Let’s consider potential negative aspects of
such meetings.
Very often, those participating are not
prepared to make decisions. They come to
the meeting with little or no information and are asked to vote on the
spot. To have more informed body, church
leaders can use town hall meetings and small groups for discussions about a
topic before it comes to the floor for a vote.
Often, consensus can be built in this way.
Committees don’t give good reports. Although a church committee may understand an
issue and have immersed themselves in preparing a response or proposal, they
provide either too much or too little information. An executive summary of key points should be
provided ahead of time and then the committee can share additional information as
needed.
The most verbal people sway the decision. A wise moderator and church leaders find ways
to hear more voices before the meeting (see town hall meetings and discussion
groups above).
Remember that people more often decide an
issue based on their emotions than their reasoning. Committees and church leaders who fail to
make an emotional connection with a proposal can expect a negative response.
Prayer is rarely seen as an integral part of
the gathering but only a way to “book-end” the meeting. What might be different if the moderator
stopped during the meeting and asked for a time of silent reflection or called
on a neutral party to voice a prayer?
On the other hand, church business meetings have positive aspects.
These meetings are democracy in action. All may speak and vote. A wise moderator will use rules of order in
such a way that free speech is facilitated rather than hindered and all are encouraged
to take part.
Church business meetings give us the opportunity
to do the right thing. In more than one
meeting, I have observed a wise member of the congregation stand and insert a
word of compassion or encouragement that tempered the decision-making process. This
is the Spirit of God at work.
If there are healthy relationships in the
congregation, there will be a healthy atmosphere in the business meeting. Dysfunctional families show their stress at
funerals (and sometimes at weddings). If
the church family is not getting along on a daily basis, we should not expect
harmony in a business meeting.
Finally, we must seek “win-win” decisions. A vote
in a church business meeting is not the final word. If segments of the
congregations are seen as winners or losers in a decision, fellowship will be
broken. Our primary goal should be finding
ways forward that all members can embrace.
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