The use of the parliamentary guide, Roberts Rules of Order, can limit the damage done to a fellowship and enhance that fellowship’s ability to work.  Though such guides need not be followed slavishly, they function to provide for the majority to make its desires known while protecting a minority from abuse and disrespect.  The “Quick Study Business Guide for Parliamentary Procedure” (www.quickstudy.com) is great help—and it only cost $5.  Some simple hints to make business meetings go smoothly…

An agenda.  An agenda should always be prepared in advance, and distributed to the members.  Ask that members submit items for the agenda several days prior to the meeting.  If you cannot get this incorporated into the by-laws, ask church members to honor the concept.  This will limit the amount of unprepared comments, and ill considered motions.

Talk to the moderator. Church members should direct their comments to the moderator as much as possible.   If this is done there is less likelihood of giving offense, or causing the congregation to bog down in discussions that are counterproductive.

Clarity. One of the reasons church members are asked to put things in motions is that this requires some degree of clarity.  “This church does not spend enough money on evangelism” is an indictment and a complaint.  “I move we establish a line item in our budget for evangelism” is clear, and is focused on solving a problem rather than complaining about one.

Only church business, not other stuff.  Ask the congregation to only discuss things the church can legitimately address.

Responsible individuals and committees. If a church member is burdened for missions in Malaysia and wants the church to take a mission trip or an offering for that country, the Missions Committee should be involved before the matter is dealt with in a business meeting.  Let those whom the church has selected to lead do their job.

Steven Tiner at Levy Baptist in NLR has recently scheduled a report on how the CP dollars are used. He scheduled it for a business meeting.  Great idea.  This kind of thinking will make folks look forward to business meetings rather than dread them.

Trust Jesus.  Jesus works in and through His church.  Whether or not we like it or appreciate it.

I move we adjourn.  This blog is posted every Friday.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it