Turning Committees Into Community
Roberta Hestenes
Prior to performers, we're people who have to care for each other.
—Roberta Hestenes We dreaded the meeting but attended once a month anyway. It always ran long. We usually went home frustrated. None of us, if we were honest, could say we enjoyed the meetings of our board. One night the issue was how to revitalize our worship services, which we all agreed were flat. Someone had argued at a previous session that the elders should "exercise some responsibility." The solution: We organized a committee and assigned an elder to be in charge. What happened? Nothing. Month after month, no report, no report, no report. The tension and pressure kept rising. Each meeting began to follow a pattern: After prayer we'd go directly into committee reports. Although scheduled, we'd get to old or new business only rarely. We would rehash each committee's report or, in the case of the worship committee, the nonreport. Bob, the chairman of the board, would make a speech lamenting comments gathered from parishioners who took him into their confidence that month. He'd report that there were "some people" about to leave the church. Jim, the music director, would respond defensively, saying he had received only positive comments and was still awaiting guidance from the worship committee. Bill, the worship committee chairman, would invariably have another explanation for why the committee was unable to meet or still wasn't ready to offer recommendations. Speeches would get louder and less subtle. And all this over how to worship the God of love! One night, as I pulled into the parking lot, I couldn't help but wonder, If we leaders of the church don't know how to be the church to one another as we do church business, where will we ever be the church?
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
