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.