Toward Better Board Relationships
Chuck Swindoll
If we have areas of disagreement, and we will, let's work them out face-to-face, courteously and confidentially.
—Chuck Swindoll Iwas playing racquetball with another minister. The score was close. The serve went back and forth. Suddenly, as if propelled by a squirt of adrenaline, the guy blew me away. His serves became powerful, his backhand flawless, his accuracy on those low shots in the corner deadly. I knew he was good—but not that good! Soundly defeated and drenched with sweat, I took him by the shoulders and said, "OK, Hercules, what's with you? How did you pull that off?" "Well, Chuck," he said, smiling broadly, "I did play beyond my ability. It started when I began to think about last night's board meeting. I got madder and madder and smashed that deacon's face all over this court! It's amazing how a bad board meeting improves my game." We laughed and headed for the showers. I've thought about that dozens of times since and remembered it when his church went through a wrenching split that left the ministry in shambles and him and his family in bitter disillusionment. Don't misunderstand; there's a lot to say for diffusing hostility in a game of racquetball or a round of golf. Who knows how many pastors keep their sanity intact because of such outlets. Maybe that's why we compete so ferociously. But the need for a better relationship between pastors and board members is apparent, and in some cases, acute. When conversations with fellow ministers get beneath the surface, this subject is frequently mentioned. And it is not uncommon for board members to contact me about struggles with their ministers. "How can we ask hard questions without leaving the wrong impression?" they ask. "What makes him so volatile and defensive?" Our ...
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