What I Really Meant to Say. Bad Advice from Church Board Members
I’ve been in a lot of church board meetings. A LOT. For the first 15 years of my professional career, I was on the staff side of the table. Since I valued my job and wanted to keep it, most of the time, I often just sat there quietly as people disguised bad advice in spiritual terms. Well, mostly quietly anyway. For those of you who know me, you understand that I don’t do “quietly” very well.
There are a lot of great business men and women of faith in church boards that have inspired and mentored me throughout my career. And there are some who should never have been there in the first place. I’ve heard a lot of bad advice and theology dispensed by volunteer leaders cloaked in the guise of concern and spirituality. Here’s a short list of stuff I’ve heard through the years that have stuck with me and my translation of what they really said:
- “Surely we can’t expect our young couples to give 10% of their income. They don’t make that much money.” Translation: “How dare you expect me to give 10% of my income to this church. Do you have any idea of how much money that is?”
- “Based on historical giving data and market conditions, I believe that a zero increase in the budget is all we need to forecast.” Translation: “I have no faith in our people, the vision for the future and even less in God.” [this was a banker, in case you couldn't figure it out]
- “We can’t just keep increasing the Pastor’s salary. It’s already very generous.” Translation: “He’s about to make more money than me and I’m not happy about it.”
- “This is Jesus’ church and you don’t own it.” Translation: “This is my church and you don’t own it.
- “The Holy Spirit spoke to me last night and. . . ” Translation: “My wife spoke to me last night and. . . “
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7 Comments:
Funny thing on the banker one in particular: in his bank, 0% growth would NEVER be allowed, yet it's ok for the church. Why the difference?
November 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
nothing negative here!
November 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
"The Business of Church". There's your book title, Maurilio. You heard it here first.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I dread church board meetings. I have been in too many that were more like inquisitions than meetings. I don't know of any other organization where the board is allowed to treat the CEO (Pastor) and his family like their property. Now that I'm an older and wiser pastor's wife, I make it very clear from the start that my children and I are NOT church property. I think I'll write a book about that one. . .I've even seen men nearly hit my husband in board meetings. And if you knew my darling husband, he is one of the most humble, meek, godly men you'll ever meet. The darkness just plain doesn't like the light. He glows. They hate that.Just because you're on a board doesn't give you the right to be a bully. There's another chapter in my book.GREAT post!
November 12th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I didn’t know we wen to the same church and served on the same boards!
Seriously, what’s that saying about the Christian army being the only one that shoots their own wounded? I think some of the worst scars I’ve had in ministry have been from those “well-meaning” souls who started their sentences with, “bless your heart…”
November 12th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Okay…the main thing I am hearing in my arrival in this new church is……"Just Wait, the right time will come for spiritual leaders,prayer and unity."Translation: We are all unqualified, but too proud to admit it. So leave us alone while we screw it up!Now I have the hard task of teaching, guiding and removing! Hate it. But leadership happens that way. Being young makes it especially hard. But, really a Board which is not aligned under God's Word is never easy to correct!
November 12th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Some of you asked me if this post is in reaction of the board meeting I attended Tuesday night. Yes, but for a difference reason than you might imagine. That was a great board meeting with visionary leaders who trust God to do what we know we are not able on our own.
That’s such a contrast to what I’ve seen over the years.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am