Helping Your Board Listen to God
By David L. Goetz
January 1, 1995
Why does conflict cast a deep shadow over many church boards? Why is prayer often pushed aside by the press of decisions? These questions have caused some church leaders to seek a higher path of decision making.
LEADERSHIP editor David Goetz met with four leaders who have been using a fresh approach: Danny Morris, director of developing ministries for the United Methodist Church's Upper Room in Nashville, Tennessee; Jeff Spaulding, pastor of North Hills United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Missouri; John Boggs, pastor of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina; and Frances Smith, chairperson of the administrative council at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church.
What follows is a synopsis of an afternoon discussion with these pioneers.
In Texas they call it "kickin' acorns"--when everybody adjourns to the church parking lot after the board meeting to release their frustrations about the previous two hours.
"That's precisely what's wrong with the way many church boards are run," says Danny Morris. "Most church boards employ Robert's Rules of Order to make decisions, which often creates animosity among board members.
"RRO is an adversarial system that creates winners and losers," Danny says. "And when you deal in an adversarial way, you end up with adversaries."
But not only does RRO throw up walls between people, it's often irrelevant. The making and seconding of motions is often done in a perfunctory manner, not reflecting the deeper mood of the board.
One church board had voted to start a second Sunday morning service. Six months later, the board wrestled with hiring an additional music person to help with worship. Finances were tight. After some discussion, somebody piped up, "I move to drop the ...
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