Four Signs of Bad Church Bylaws

Episode #606
January 14, 2020
Rainer on Leadership Podcast Logo

While the thought of church bylaws may not interest you at first, what you don’t know about the complicated nature of church governing may very well lead to trouble. In today’s episode, Thom and Sam unpack why church bylaws exist and four signs of bad church bylaws.

Highlights:

  1. When the bylaws are too complex and wieldy
  2. When the bylaws are largely reactionary
  3. When the bylaws are more “stop signs” than guides
  4. When the bylaws are dated, particularly with important legal changes

Other highlights:

  • If your church bylaws are exciting then they are likely problematic.
  • Church bylaws are meant to reflect your current practices, not dictate what you are supposed to do. 
  • Church bylaws should be proactive, not reactive.
  • As a leader, you must be an expert on your church bylaws. 
  • Church bylaws should be exhaustively reviewed every three years.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:


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