Last night I attended a church association meeting mostly because I was asked to be a part of a leadership team in the area of "impacting lostness". Now, I've been to a few "church business" meetings and let's just say they're often a nightmare (rules of order, motions, all in favor say "eye" those opposed, likesign - huh?) Yeah.
It started at 7 and I got home close to 11 so to make a long story short, the people there were voting on some changes in how this group of associated churches would function (changes to the constitution and by-laws). Get this. A guy who was on the committee to change things, and voted unanimously with the rest of the entire committee to approve and submit the changes, gets up, rambles on for 15 minutes about questions people had (apparently he couldn't ask questions while he was working on the changes) and then totally contradicts himself and instead of approving of the changes, tells everyone there they should vote against them. What? That seems like the ultimate in hypocrisy - approve it so you can get up a week or so later and bash it. I don't see any good intentions in that kind of behavior - and he's a pastor.
For the next hour, more people got up to complain about the wording, grumble about the process (even though it was the agreed upon process) and gripe about change. There were others who got up to say basically what Rodney King once asked - "Can we all just get along?" After comments, accusations, and all that jazz, there was confusion and more bickering over the order of motions and what was going to be voted on. To put it gently, it was a disaster and it's just one of the many reason that people think the church is out of touch, ineffective, and frankly unconcerned with the fact that there are people who are in our own backyard and in danger of going to hell because they don't know Jesus. And yet we "enlightened church people" will sit and argue about the wording used and whether or not it's a good idea to have churches work together. You've got to be kidding me.
For me, the best part of the night was just sitting in front of Granny. I just met Granny and she's an 88 year old lady who obviously loves Jesus, loves His word (and knows it) and would rather love outsiders than debate with insiders. She told me she had to bite her tongue and if she would have gotten up to say something she might have started preaching because it seemed like some people there might need Jesus. You go Granny.
And that's why at Discovery, we're a staff lead church. You don't vote. Sure, if we're calling a new lead pastor or purchasing land or buildings we'll vote, but otherwise, we expect people to trust the leadership (staff). We welcome suggestions, discussion, and even debate, but ultimately it's not up to the majority (or 2/3 or whatever else) ... it's up to the staff as they feel lead and guided to follow God. But it's not about Discovery - we've got other issues I'm sure.
You see it's not so much about leading the church (because doggone it men shouldn't lead the church) it's about following Christ. He's the leader. Hopefully the pastor is the first follower in line, but he better not be the leader. That spot reserved for Jesus....and I wonder if anyone invited Him to that meeting last night?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I do recall that the Israelites took a vote on a "God thing" after preparing for 2 years...they ended up having to wait another 38 before their kids could get another shot at it.
2 cents spent,
James
Thank you, and here's your receipt.
I'm pretty sure the example we see there is one we DON'T want to follow....hmmmm. That's why I ask the question "is this necessary?"
Here's another take: The positive thing I see about church business meetings and voting is that it is an accountability mechanism within the body. In Council's example, it was clear which group had voted not to move forward to the promise land and they were held accountable for their disobedience. It is like those who don't vote for President and then complain about his performance. Blackaby states that the way we come to understand God's purpose is from a combination of prayer, the Bible, Holy Spirit, as well as hearing from other spiritual people in the church. The operative word is spiritual. When all these things line up, you can be confident that is the direction you need to move.
In a properly conducted meeting, the issues have been studied, debated and prayed about and brought forward for consideration by spiritual men who are trustworthy. The actual vote is the affirmation or not of the proposal. It also calls us to accountability before God and one another concerning the direction we are about to move. I recall a time when leaders at a church signed their names to a document committing to follow a particular direction because they believed God was leading them. Then when it was time to implement they were no where to be found. But that action put them on the record and they were called to give an account.
I think we have all been subject to bad church business meetings. I have even conducted a few myself. I think most problems start well before the meeting ever begins. Sometimes church members do not understand they are a vital part of the body and they fail to participate. Sometimes the leadership is not really interested in what the body thinks and push their agenda through on their own.
Well, I could go on, but I shant.
Fred
Post a Comment