Did you hear about the church business
meeting that ended in a fist fight in the parking lot; over the color
of the new carpet? I'm not sure if that story is true but it is often
told. It serves as an illustration for how volatile church meetings
can be.
Understanding that church committee,
board, council and business meetings are spiritual gatherings can go
a long way to bringing God's presence into our deliberations. Opening
and closing in prayer is a good practice but we need to move deeper
than these book-end prayers. One way is to pray over each agenda
item; seeking God's wisdom and clarity.
Hymns and other Christian songs can
help set an appropriate atmosphere. Another form of prayer is create
a litany of recent victories. After each victory is read, the people
pray in unison, “We give thanks to you, our Lord.”
If the group is small and not familiar
with each other, begin with someone sharing a brief (3 minute)
testimony. If it is a retreat-type setting, with a longer meeting
time, more people can share.
Vision casting is important element in
understanding purpose. Not just the vision for the organization but,
also, for the group and this particular meeting. How are we going to
honor God in this meeting? How will we advance the Kingdom... the
Gospel... the Great Commission? Tie the vision to scripture in a
vibrant way that binds the journey of the church to God's Word.
Move beyond statistical reports to
victory stories. Whose lives are being changed? Numbers have value
but stories bring them to life in a way that is memorable and spurs
us on to greater service and sacrifice.
Most importantly, Christians must
remember who we are and whom we represent. Moderators need to be
ready to pause a meeting for a time of prayer and reflective silence;
perhaps, even, a hymn if a meeting becomes contentious. Angry
shouting has no place in a Christian gathering.
Discernment is more than consensus and
compromise and may require a bit more time. Discerning God's will is
worth the wait. It's certainly better than a bad decision and much
better than the bitter feelings left behind after a split vote.
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