What does a healthy board meeting look like? More than a parliamentary model, it must be a reflection of a healthy pastor-board relationship. This means intercession, powerful and regular times of praying together. It is fellowship inside and outside the board room with recreation, fun times, and sometimes just hanging out together. It will mean times of casting vision then Spirit-guided development and implementation of a plan.
The bond between the pastor and board members calls for mutual respect, candor, and confidence. Cultivating all these elements will result in healthy and productive sessions. You will give necessary oversight to the church operations and budgets, but you will not bog down in money or other issues.
A healthy board meeting gives first priority to fervent prayer. The main job is to connect with God. It is His work and the flow of His Holy Spirit is the only way it can be done. Everything the pastor and board do is about Him and what He wants.
Second, the meeting should foster fellowship. Allow time to care for one another. The pastor and all the deacons should enjoy being and working together.
Third, the pastor should unfold his vision for the church. In an atmosphere of intercession and fellowship, he readily can share what the Lord is telling him, and the deacons can add their insights. Of course, God will tell the pastor very little if he is not spending his own time in prayer.
In Sachse, the board would help shape and implement vision. I would spell out where I felt God leading us. Then we would work on it together. The deacons did not oppose or try to change it, but they would respond from their own perspectives. Different ones would ask, “Have you thought about …?” and would give new insights. The various points of view inherent in their gifts would help flesh out and finalize the vision. Again and again, they proved there really is wisdom in the multitude of counselors!
Next, we would talk about how to do it. The board members would ask how to get there, and we would work on the best way to move forward in what God was leading us to do. They would begin to take responsibility for parts of the vision according to their gifts, abilities, schedules, and skills. They would volunteer, “I’m going to do this, this, and this.”
The specific discussion would become a distribution of authority and they would each become responsible for various parts of the vision. The authority was with me as pastor, I delegated it to them, and they would carry it out.
Once a quarter we went over the finances. Every board member received a summary each month of income, expenses and balances, but we went over the quarterly reports to make sure we stayed in line with our budget. As pastor and board, we approved the budget each year. Once it was adopted, it was just a matter of making sure we stayed true to it. We did not have to talk about money all the time.
A key element to casting and pursuing vision is having the right individuals on the church staff. When I was hiring, I would ask the deacons to do an interview. I had the authority as pastor, but I was wise enough to realize these men may see things I miss. Also, I wanted them on board with me. For the same reasons, I kept them informed when it was necessary to terminate staff.
We would do these things together though everyone understood the decisions were mine. The process worked and it was healthy because of the relationship we enjoyed. The deacons and other leaders knew they had great influence in my life. Their perspectives mattered to me.
If major issues arise for any church, usually that means somebody does something stupid. Deacons can help deal with those things. Church boards have to take care of church business, but that is not why you meet. It is just one of the things you do.
A good relationship—spending time together playing golf, eating dinner, visiting each other’s homes, plus incredible times of prayer—will culminate in healthy and fruitful board meetings. The purpose is mission, vision, direction, and the health of the church.