Better Business Meetings

You know what they say about business meetings: “They take minutes but waste hours”! You know what they say about a camel: “It was a horse designed by committee”!  Did you know that at some time in the past, often Africans named their children to honour visiting missionaries and their work.  One poor child was called “Committee”.  But enough already!  I have met more people stumbled in their faith because of badly managed Church Meetings and I would like to try to do something about that.

Here then are a few lessons that I have learned over the years.

Before you jump into the business meeting (PCC, Church meeting, Kirk Session, etc) take a few moments for some social interaction.  You might find it helps to start with refreshments.  You could have an open sharing time – perhaps asking someone to briefly share their holiday experience.  Ease into the meeting.  Five minutes spent in this way could save you a lot of time and tears later.

I’m a firm believer in the value of setting a context of worship.  This could be a short reading (perhaps a suitable Psalm – but not one about smiting enemies!), perhaps a hymn could be sung, and certainly a prayer should be said.  The prayer should major on worship and thanksgiving, before commending the meeting to God.  This will also provide an opportunity for someone other than the person in the Chair to give a lead.  It’s a way of expressing that everyone is valued.

Plan the agenda sensibly.  Usually, minutes need to be approved and apologies given.  Try to keep this really brief.  Never put a controversial or contentious item near the top of the agenda.  Enjoy some time of happy agreement if possible.

Know your colleagues and help them contribute to the discussions and decisions in a sensible way.  Watch out for those who become passionate in argument, those who seem to have difficulty stopping speaking, and who hog the time, and those who just sit silent (or even worse sullen and silent).  Try to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Remind yourself that while there might be some enthusiasts in the meeting, raring to go on a new project, there will also be some who need time to think before they commit.  Silence is not always a sign of agreement.  If you are in the Chair try to encourage those more quiet to share their thoughts, but don’t pounce on them.  That would be the last thing they want.

A wonderful way of enabling everyone to fully share in decision making, and ensure that decisions are made in a healthy way, was explained to me when I was doing a management degree course.  It is an ideal way to deal with those awkward topics that can cause upset, or to which people come with loaded agendas.  Such preformed opinions are not always personal.  Sometimes Christians will take up a strong and stubborn position simply because of their concern for someone else. So, here’s the scheme I was taught and have put into practise when dealing with sticky topics.

First the ground rules.  No one is allowed to express their opinion until the process is complete.  Even then they only do it through a vote.  So, no one says, “In my opinion…” or similar.  Some might find this hard, so assure them that they will be able to express their opinion later.

Sometimes I have found that an innocent practice session helps, if you have the time.  This could be based on a light-hearted proposal, such as proposing to double the minister’s stipend!  The practice and the actual difficult topic will be handled in the same way.

First, the Chairperson announces that we are going to focus on what might be an unhelpful outcome if the proposal is passed.  Each person present is asked to take a moment to think about what might be an unhelpful comment.  Then, in turn, each person is asked to contribute one negative point.  They should do this in an objective and dispassionate way.  Remember, the idea is not that anyone is arguing to support their opinion.  Those in favour of the proposal must be prepared to help identify possible negative outcomes.  Once everyone has had an opportunity, repeat the process by growing to each person in turn until you are satisfied that all the negative points have been mentioned.  It really helps if these can be written down either on a flipchart or large piece of paper.  This should then be displayed.

The process is then repeated, but this time, exploring what would be good or positive if the proposal is passed. Again, comments should be captured and the results displayed.  Remember that those who might be against what is being proposed must help identify all the possible good outcomes.

When the two exercises have been completed and everyone can see displayed the possible positive and negative outcomes, a moment of quiet prayer should be held before a vote is taken.

There is no guarantee that this will result in harmony and agreement but it is a better way to decision making than heated argument.  Some prayer after the vote might be wise.

Marginal decisions are not good decisions.  There will be too many people disaffected.  If agreement cannot be reached, it might be better to defer the item to another day or drop it altogether.

Go for quality and gracious conversation.  No one should leave the meeting, offended and hurt.  Be careful of the “God has shown me what we should do” approach, even if he has done.  Everyone should be valued in the decision-making process or you might as well not hold church business meetings.  Wouldn’t it be great if these meetings which, far too often, are the most unattractive aspect of church life, became times of spiritual enrichment and blessing?  Better business meetings; not bitter business meetings.

From the Diary

Give thanks for the webinar held earlier today.  Pray for those who attended who will be considering how to implement some of the ideas.

Give thanks for the excellent trustees meeting.  Several interesting decisions were made, and a new trustee welcomed.

Give thanks for some new promised financial support.  We are still a long way short of what is needed, but God is good.

Please pray as we hold discussions with some denominational bodies about how we might invest resources into their children’s work to reach young people in villages more effectively.

Give thanks for the Salvation Army’s Safeguarding Course on which I taught this week.  Those present at Malvern, Worcs. Were very responsive.

Please pray as I face a busy week, with significant activities each day from Monday to Friday, and sometimes several on the same day.  Please pray that each day I will be spiritually refreshed, walk close to the Lord, and be a blessing to others.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Barry

How would you like to be blessed?

One of the things that annoy me slightly is hearing people praying for others that they will be blessed.  What I mean is simply using the phrase “We pray that you will bless them/her/him”.  I find myself wondering whether such a prayer annoys God as much as it annoys me.  I can imagine God scratching his head and wondering, “Whatever am I supposed to do?” (purists please forgive my anthropomorphism and gender suggestion!). “Do I heal them?  Do I guide them? Do I provide them with a new wardrobe of clothes?”

The trouble is it seems so general as to be vague, when what God might want is for us to be more specific.  Perhaps from God’s point of view such a general prayer is heard but then God’s wisdom decided what might be appropriate.  But I can’t help thinking it is a slightly lazy way to pray, and that with a little prayerful thought we could home in on what is really needed an be specific.  Could it possibly be that such general prayer is so vague as to be a waste of time and end up in the spam filter!

Solomon was pretty specific when he asked for wisdom (1Kings 3:4-16).  Hannah was pretty specific when she asked for a child (1Samuel 1: 1-20).  Nehemiah was pretty specific when he asked for the King to be favourable to the scheme he had in mind (Nehemiah 1). Bartimaeus was pretty specific when Jesus asked what exactly did he want Jesus to do for him (Mark 10:46-52).  Some of my most interesting answers to prayer have been when I have been specific. 

The reader may have heard me tell of one of my first specific prayers.  I was a young man in full time evangelistic work and having to look to God for most of my personal needs.  I needed a new suit for work and fancied I would look good in a grey suit.  So instead of praying that the Lord would give me a suit I asked specifically for a grey suit.  A week later, one of my colleagues turned up wearing a smart new grey suit.  I was quite convinced that somehow things had got confused and Alf had ended up with the suit that should have come to me (howbeit what fitted Alf would not have fitted me!).  I shared my concern with God and repeated my request.

I need not have worried.  About a week later we were staying with Pam and David near Cardiff while working in that area.  I was still struggling to look smart in a blue tired blue suit that quickly became crumpled and attracted dirt as soon as I put it on.  Then, one day, Pam’s brother visited on the way to Rhoose Airport.  He explained that he was going on holiday and had been packing his bag when he noticed an almost brand new suit he had hardly worn but would not now fit him.  As he had reflected on what to do, apparently I came to his mind.  I had told no one what I had prayed.  He asked me if I would be embarrassed if he offered me this suit.  I couldn’t resist asking what the colour was.  He replied…. Yes, you’ve got it…. grey!  And the amazing thing was that it fitted me perfectly.

A few years later and the grey suit was beginning to look worn.  This time I prayed for a navy blue suit with a stripe in the weave.  I knew exactly the pattern and asked God if he would provide me with the suit in this particular pattern.  Then, I wondered if I was being presumptuous so I added, ”But Lord, I will accept whatever you provide”.  No sooner than I had prayed that when I thought that God’s sense of humour could result in my having to accept and wear a pink suit!

Again I told no other person what I had asked of God.  Within a matter of days, I was the recipient of two suits from separate sources, and I could have worn the jacket of one with the trousers of the other.  They were both navy with the exact pattern I had in mind.

Both scripture and my experience teach me that wonderful things happen when we are more specific in prayer.  I would like my readers to be blessed but as some of you I do not know, and some others I haven’t seen for a long time, I’m not able to be specific.  So, in this situation, would you mind putting in the specificity and as I pray that you will be blessed through reading this, please ask God for a specific need in your life to be met.  Now, not all our prayers are immediately answered with a positive response from God, but please do give it a try, and let me know when God has answered your specific prayer.  You might find it helpful to wait on God first and ask him to help you to know what your greatest need is at this time.

Next I want to ask you to pray for a friend or neighbour to be blessed.  It doesn’t matter if that person is not a Christian.  Tell them that you want to pray that God will bless them, and ask if there is anything special they might want you to pray about.  Please assure them that you will be discreet about anything they mention and this will remain a personal prayer.  Try to discourage being asked to win the lottery, or get a brand new Porsche (or husband).  But there may be a real need behind a flippant answer. Incidentally, don’t be surprised if you are already the answer to their prayer!

From the Diary

It was good to be at the Germinate Conference yesterday. About 180 people attended including many who are Christians living and seeking to serve God in rural areas.  I was one of the exhibitors and we had a large number of people who either took resources and information, or with whom Gordon Banks and I had useful conversations, as we sought to bless them.  Please give thanks.

Please pray for our friends at the Arthur Rank Centre who organised the event on behalf of the Churches Rural Group.  Specifically, please pray for Jerry, Jill, Katrina, Elizabeth, and Louise that each will have an encouraging week. Give thanks for their friendship with us.

This Monday (17^th) I shall be travelling to Stoke on Trent, as I join with my good friend and former colleague in mission, Alfred Lavender as we give thanks for the life of his wife, Sylvia, whom the Lord has called home. Pray for Alfred and family.

Please pray for Sue and Tony Newnham, also good friends and former colleagues in mission, as Sue has started her chemo treatment for ovarian cancer.  There are encouraging signs of answers to prayer already.

On Wednesday I shall be taking part the Churches Rural Group Meeting at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

On Thursday I shall be taking part in the Group for Evangelization meeting in London.

On Saturday I shall be teaching on the Salvation Army’s Safeguarding Course in London.

On Sunday 23^rd I shall be taking the morning service at Elstow Congregational Church, Bedfordshire.  This is John Bunyan’s village.

Please pray for these activities, for safe travelling, and that God will cause me to be a blessing in each situation.

Finally, Gordon Banks and I are preparing material for the webinar (online seminar) on Saturday 29^th at 9.00.  Please visit the Rural Mission Solutions website for details and, if you can spend 45 minutes with us, you will find the link you need to register in advance.  The specific prayer linked to this is that at least 50 people will attend the webinar and find it helpful.  The theme this time is suggestions for mission activity through the winter.

Thank you.

Barry