Pastors

HOW ONE CHURCH

Just to announce it provoked mixed reactions. A majority displayed “couldn’t-care-less” attitudes and never attended. Others carefully marked it on their calendars as the occasion to exercise Godgiven rights to free speech. The elders and pastoral staff approached it with all the apprehensions of a bomb squad. The rest came for the fireworks.

The pattern was predictable: after reporting on “all the wonderful things God did for us last year,” a new budget was presented for discussion and adoption. The tension could be sensed, felt, and I almost tasted as the pace of questions quickened about allocations for the church school, missions support, the music budget, manse repairs, and staff salaries. If a massive explosion didn’t occur during the meeting, smaller eruptions took place afterward in the corridors, parking lots, and homes across the community. The end result was always the same: the motion to adopt the budget was carried by a simple majority, but the fallout of misunderstandings, anger, and strained relationships lasted for six months.

One church, after licking its wounds for several years over congregational confrontations, decided to do something about it. First, the ruling elders asked the trustees and staff to accelerate the budget-planning process by 60 days.

Second, with the initial budget recommendations in hand, all three groups rigorously debated each part of the budget, and often sent whole sections back for redrafting.

Third, the entire membership was invited to attend one of two identical briefing sessions in which a draft of the proposed budget was presented and feedback was encouraged. All elders, trustees, and staff were prepared to present supporting rationales for any part of the proposed budget. The chairperson made it clear that the purpose of the meeting was discussion-no action would be taken-and that all feedback would be carefully evaluated.

Fourth, the elders and trustees met again, reviewed the feedback, made any changes they felt were necessary, and adopted a final draft for recommendation to the membership at the annual business meeting.

Instead of holding the business meeting within the formal environment of the sanctuary, a small but modest room was secured that would accommodate a sit-down, catered dinner. While the occasion was business, the atmosphere suggested fellowship. A brief program of informal testimonials and slides which reviewed the previous year set the stage for the formal business session.

The budget was introduced, reviewed, and adopted in three minutes flat!

In the corridors, parking lots, and homes across the community that evening, people talked enthusiastically this time about all the good things God was going to do during the coming year.

Copyright © 1980 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

Our Latest

New Archbishop of Canterbury Steps into Anglican Divides

Conservatives call on Sarah Mullally, the first woman at the spiritual helm of the Church of England, to uphold biblical faith amid same-sex blessings debate.

News

FDA Approves Generic Abortion Pill

Students for Life leader calls the move “a stain on the Trump presidency.”

You Haven’t Heard Worship Music like This

John Van Deusen’s praise is hard-won and occasionally wordless.

The Russell Moore Show

BONUS: Lecrae on Reconstruction after Disillusionment

 Lecrae joins Russell Moore to take questions from Christianity Today subscribers

News

John Cornyn’s MAGA-land Challenge

The incumbent senator is up against his strongest challenge yet in populist-right leader Ken Paxton.

Fighting Korea’s Loneliness Epidemic with Cafés and Convenience Stores

Seoul recently introduced free public services to tackle social isolation. Christians have been doing that for years.

Excerpt

‘Don’t Take It If You Don’t Need It’

The Trump administration releases new recommendations for Tylenol use during pregnancy.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube