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Steps to Transforming Committee Life
8 areas churches must address to transform committees into caring communities.
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Here are eight areas a church must address to transform committees into caring communities. I'd start with the governing board and then apply the steps to each committee. This is especially applicable to the nominating committee or anyone who's recruiting committee workers. 1. Deciding who serves. It's a bad idea to put old Joe on your elder board because he needs to get more involved, or let Gertrude chair the deaconesses because her family makes hefty financial contributions. Choosing leaders already involved in ministry is one clear biblical priority. When deciding who serves is based on commitment to ministry, faith, a clear job description, and an understanding of what really needs to be done, a committee structure can become a support base and a network of mission communities. 2. Recruiting honestly. I know a college board member who was recruited under the premise: "It won't take any of your time; you don't even have to come to meetings. We're just proud to have you on our board." What kind of quality can you expect from a board with that view of itself? An executive I know accepted a position after being told his main task was to encourage people. After taking the job, he learned the institution was bankrupt; his real job was to solve its financial problems. Since that wasn't what he signed up for, he has little motivation for his work. As church leaders, we want people to discern God's will and hear his calling. When they respond freely and in faith, they will be excited about their ministry. This means being straightforward about the costs. It means giving people a chance to pray, discuss matters, and have the freedom to say no without jeopardizing our friendship or approval. If we expect someone to put out extra effort in September, we tell them. If training and special events are involved, as they should be, we say, If you're going to take this on, we expect all new elders to participate in a four-week training experience and an annual retreat the first weekend of December. If you cannot do that, maybe this isn't your year to be-come an elder." It's not fair to coax a yes and then up the ante. 3. Setting the tone. The first training experience is crucial because it establishes your group's community building tools and ministry tasks. In my last church, this training session began with everyone sharing his or her faith journey. Every session after that began with a question to open up relationships. This sets a precedent: "As we work together, we want to care for each other. Bring your whole self to the party". The leader, of all people, must model this openness and care. At one Christian Education meeting, I asked, "What was your experience in Christian education, if you grew up in the church, and how did you respond to it?" I learned more about the viewpoints, prejudices, and concerns that made up that committee than I ever did from heated committee speeches. I learned why people were impassioned about certain matters. Most important, the group grew closer. |             |
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