Barnabas File

As a task-oriented person, I like to make lists.     Even more, I like checking off things on the list that I have completed. In fact, when I do something that is not on the list, I sometimes add it to the list so that I can mark it completed. Lists are most effective when we prioritize the items on the list.  Most of us have more things on our “to-do” list than we have time to do.  This means that we must make choices. There are a number of ways make choices.  Recently I came across the Eisenhower decision matrix.   This comes from a quote attributed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower:  "I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." Eisenhower did not claim this insight as his own but attributed it to an (unnamed) "former college president." The four quadrants of the Eisenhower matrix are  urgent and important, important, urgent, an...

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. ...

My friend Jerry Gaither was a county superintendent of schools when it was an elected position, subject to the whims of electoral politics.  He also served during a time when folks here in Tennessee were dealing with significant issues relate to racial integration.  Jerry learned a lot as an administrator, challenging him to grow as a believer. Several years ago, Jerry shared with me one sheet of paper he entitled “Decision Making: An Administrator’s Ethics Test.”  I provide it here for your consideration. 1.       Will I be violating board policy, the law, or the rights of others? 2.       Is it equitable?  Can I sit down around a table and face all parties concerned at the same time?  Does it promote wholesome relationships? Can I look in the mirror and feel good about myself? 3.       Is it explainable?   By this I mean, is it explainable in a clear and concise manner that the general public...