It is unwise to assume all churches do things the same way. I certainly know that the readership of this blog includes leaders from tens of thousands of different churches. Even within the same denomination, there are countless different approaches to church practices.
Such is certainly the case with church business meetings. You may be in a congregation that does not have any business meetings. But if you are in a church with these meetings, please stay with me through the remainder of this post.
The Questions
I have been observing churches for decades. And I have been observing how many congregations conduct and utilize church business meetings. This process has led me to ask a few questions. Are we utilizing these meetings effectively? Should they be dramatically changed? Should they be eliminated altogether?
While I certainly don’t have the answers to these questions, I am seeing lower participation and greater dissatisfaction with business meetings in many churches. That is the reason I am asking these questions.
The Observations
While recognizing the diversity of churches represented by the readers of this blog, allow me still to make some observations about business meetings in many congregations. I make them in no particular order of priority.
- There are still many churches today where the business meeting is primarily a gathering of critics and malcontents. The happy church member tends to avoid the meetings for obvious reasons.
- There is a clear trend toward less frequent business meetings. Quarterly meetings are becoming common, and many churches have moved to annual meetings only.
- Though I have not actually done a precise statistical study, I am confident in saying that there is a high correlation between the size of the church and the way a congregation does business meetings. Larger churches tend to have less frequent meetings. And smaller churches are more likely to require votes on more issues than larger churches.
- Most pastors and staffs dislike, even dread, church business meetings.
- The most common item covered in church business meetings is the finances of the church. For those congregations with annual meetings only, the church budget is the primary item brought as business.
- Relatively few churches discuss ministry in these meetings.
Is There a Better Way?
I love local churches. I desire to see God’s glory manifest in these congregations. And I desire to see these churches be the best possible stewards of the resources God has given them.
With that in mind, I am asking the simple question: Is there a better way to conduct the business of the church? Some congregations have already responded by having less frequent meetings, and by empowering staff and lay leaders to make most decisions.
Should we totally rethink the way we conduct the business of our churches? Are there practices that would better protect the unity of the church while making certain accountability and decision-making are working well?
Please let me hear from you.
What is your church doing? What is it doing well in this area? What would you like to see changed?
Posted on February 18, 2015
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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153 Comments
After 40 + years in a smaller church of 200, we moved and joined a larger church of 9,000 +. I really like the way the larger church does business meetings via trustees elected for three year terms. Members are able to attend the business meetings and make comments or suggestions. Major issues are brought to the whole church for a vote but most decisions are made by the trustees with help from sub committees.
I think churches of any size can do this and eliminate whole church business meetings all together. Tony
I pastor a small rural church of 60. I heard horror stories about the business meetings of small rural churches in seminary, but our church has one annual meeting and it is a wonderful hour or so of peace and encouragement each year. I think the key to a peaceful business meeting is a church family who trusts those in leadership to make the right decisions. Our congregations trusts those in servant-leadership, so our annual meeting is more about empowering them to serve God. It is not about giving permission for the leaders to use the offerings.
Well said, Shawn. Thank you.
After 40 + years in a smaller church of 200, we moved and joined a larger church of 9,000 +. I really like the way the larger church does business meetings via trustees elected for three year terms. Members are able to attend the business meetings and make comments or suggestions. Major issues are brought to the whole church for a vote but most decisions are made by the trustees with help from sub committees.
I think churches of any size can do this and eliminate whole church business meetings all together.
Good word. Thanks, Tony.
We have a resource team that meets monthly made up of ministry leaders that can make financial and ministry decisions on behalf of the church, up to a % of the overall church budget, and short of hiring. It’s worked well, but the quarterly business meetings are poorly attended and not much use. I’ve had some thoughts about making it more of a celebration of ministry and ensuring that no business is brought up out of left field. I like the bi-annual church conference ideas, and will begin praying on them immediately. I believe the wisdom of many counselors has brought a solution that God can bless for our church. Thanks Thom and to all the commentators.
I agree, Heath. Those commenting have added great value to the discussion.
The annual business meeting at our church had become a platform for warring factions within the church to attack each other. The winner of these skirmishes divided the spoils and installed their people in positions of influence. It was very similar to how the political realm operates. Most happy well-adjusted believers stayed away from the controversy.
However, I am happy to report that over the past two years we have broken this cycle. It took many sacrifices both personally and corporately but we cried out to God and He answered. Our last business meeting had a spirit of unity. Input was centered around how to solve problems not who was to blame.
Not surprisingly, our church has also doubled in size for 60 to 120 over the past two years as we have changed how we do church. One of our turning points was the “I am a Church Member” series. We have also see fruit form the “Revitalized Church” consultation, “Simple Church”, and our new member class. Thanks for all you do!
Doc:
Your words are a great encouragement. Than you so much for sharing.
Dr. Rainer,
I think this indeed is an important topic, especially for Baptist churches who believe the authority of Christ is exercised in the congregation.
I’m my traditional, committee driven church upbringing, church business meetings were treated with contempt and a source of contention. As a result, I think many write them off altogether.
We do not call our meetings business meetings but “members meetings” to better reflect biblical language. We are a family, and “members of one another.” We have formal quarterly members meetings and other scheduled meetings as necessary, usually for disciplinary matters or voting on new leaders or significant changes in the church.
Our scheduled members meetings are basically ministry updates with prayer points for each one (elders, deacons, missions, budget & finance, children’s ministry, etc.) and conclude with a time if prayer.
For our church, members meetings are a rallying point and a time of encouragement and exhortation. We believe there should be a healthy dynamic between the leaders and the congregation, a dynamic that is robustly trustworthy and transparent. Without meaningful members meetings, I find that dynamic hard to achieve.
Much more could be said here, but I’m glad you are tackling this important topic.
That’s a great perspective, Tim. Your church has accountability and ministry meetings without the contention of many business meetings.
We are a church of ~200. When I came here to serve as pastor a dozen years ago, we had monthly business meetings on Sunday nights in connection with our worship service. Three years later, in conjunction with the start of small groups on Sunday nights, our business meetings lost the most obvious place to have them. (Nobody wants to do business on Sunday mornings) So slowly, we transitioned from the monthly business meetings on Sunday nights to a quarterly business meetings at the conclusion of Sunday mornings, to an annual business meeting in which we discuss budget. The older people don’t much like these changes. The rest of the church loves these changes. I think the older people don’t like the lessening of business meetings for two reasons: 1. Tradition (We’ve always done it this way) 2. A perceived loss of “power.” In reality, it’s not much different than it was before. We are largely a pastor/staff led church. What we did in business meetings previously was, for the most part, unnecessary formalities in which very little real “business” transacted. Final thought: There is more peace/calm in our church WITHOUT monthly business meetings.
Thank you, Joe.
Making the transition to an Elder-led polity has solved these problems for us, and our congregation is grateful. God be praised!
Thanks, Clay b
As a layman I went from a background where there was a plurality of elders leading churches with an annual business meeting, which was more of a Elders tell how the past year went and here is how the next year looks to be going. I went from that to being a pastor at a small church with a congregational model with monthly business meetings. It’s exhausting. Not because the meetings are divisive but because it just seems like reports are given one after another. It takes people’s time to prepare them and then be there at the meeting. We could be meeting our neighbors instead. At this juncture I’ve really tried to emphasize the work and change in the committees themselves rather than at the business meeting.
Solution? We have a constitution rewrite committee to explore and develop a new model. We’ve brought in and skipped with outside groups like http://biblicaleldership.com to help us as we look to implement a completely different, and I believe a more faithful to Scripture model than what we currently have. I think change for change’s sake is not wisdom. But a model that allows for a plurality of male elders (emphasis on qualifications) who are the main decision makers and leaders together under Christ as head makes a lot of sense on so many levels. There’s accountability and there’s room for movement. We’ve taught from the pulpit on this and now we just got to hammer out a transition and try to get all the support we can before a vote. The biggest objection is, “I’ve never heard of a baptist church without a vote” and women worried about losing their say. But a plurality of elders handles those through a selection process and is constantly in touch with the people to be able to hear all the concerns needed regularly. Plus, many many churches, even baptists, seem to be going in that direction. The evidence doesn’t support the objections I’ve heard thus far.
Our major decision-making body is an elected Leadership Council which meets every two months. In regards to the common business meeting, we have changed the name to Family Meeting. We have two per year – spring and fall. In the spring, each of the staff ministers and the committee chairs share the plans and visions for their areas of ministry. This has become an informational meeting and is attended with great anticipation and a positive response. No business by vote is transacted, except for receiving a report from the Leadership Council on what actions it has taken on behalf of the church. The fall meeting is preceded by two opportunities for Q&A on the budget. At the meeting the budget is presented without debate, major offices are filled by vote, and the senior pastor shares the vision for the next year. This meeting is also well attended. We may provide for fellowship time for either or both of these meetings, but with a purpose, like welcoming home some congregational mission families. Our church is over 600 in worship attendance. We also appoint a non-ministerial moderator for each meeting. My concern about the normal or traditional business meetings is that most often we allow members who may be immature, non-participating, non-committed, non-giving, etc. to help make decisions that should be made by spiritually mature, committed, supportive, active members.
Thanks Thom for your ongoing articles that promote much needed discussion about a variety of issues facing the CHURCH today. Keep it up!!!!!
What we are really talking about here is how churches are governed or how business is handled. As a child I can remember Business Meetings being filled with anger and ridicule. I remember things like church members debating for over an hour about whether to buy a new vacuum or repair the old one. If we should get cushions for the pews….etc. I have witnessed church votes that produced anything that remotely reflected unity, creating winners and losers at every turn. Rarely, if ever was the discussion about how to reach the lost more effectively or how to become more Kingdom focused.
The CHURCH needs to implement biblical principles in how it is governed or led. We have adopted the ways of the corporate business world and abandoned what the word says about Elder leadership.
It is way past time for another Reformation. It is time to abandoned our wicked practices of pitting brother against brother and leading through majority rule. It is time to stand on the Word and follow the Biblical model of church leadership.