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 What's Behind Your Decisions?The most obvious and frequently the most influential reference point is precedent.
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On this second Tuesday evening in June, the big agenda item before the governing board at Trinity Church is the proposed schedule for the coming program year (August 1 through July 31). The first date that raises any questions is December 24. "I see the proposed schedule calls for three Christmas Eve services. Is that the same as this past December?" questions one board member. "Yes, it is," replies the pastor. "This is identical with last year's three services at five, seven, and nine on Christmas Eve." That answer appears to satisfy everyone except Sandy Evans, who asks, "Why don't we add a fourth service to reach some of the people we missed last year? Maybe we could have two concurrent services at seven, or perhaps we should add an eleven o'clock service?" This glimpse into one board meeting raises a question about the reference points used in decision making. It is important to understand what criteria board members use to make decisions. Power of the PastThe most obvious and frequently the most influential reference point is precedent. What did we do last year? Did anyone complain about that? If not, the past can legitimize the future. For example, the pastor may explain to the board, "I plan to take two weeks of vacation in early January and the other two weeks in August." When a new board member questions that, the pastor replies, "That's the schedule I've followed every year since I came here seven years ago." Everyone appears satisfied. In many communities someone should ask, "My impression is that July, August, and early September are the peak church-shopping months for newcomers to this community. Do you think it's wise for our minister to be out of the pulpit for two Sundays when our number-one goal is to grow? Would it be possible to move those two weeks in the summer to June?" The usual answer is, "No, the number-one criterion in scheduling vacations is the convenience of the staff; number two is local tradition." A parallel example of the power of the past can be seen in the aging congregation that has decided to focus on reaching younger generations. In March the pastor explains to the governing board, "As you all know, I plan to be on vacation the last half of June and the first half of July. Do you have any suggestions on who should fill the pulpit the four Sundays I will be gone?" "Why don't we ask Dr. Harrison?" urges one. "He was our pastor from 1967 to 1975. He retired two years ago, and he and his wife live only 40 miles from here." "That's a great idea!" agrees the oldest member on the board. "A lot of us old-timers would be glad to see him again, and I'll bet he and his wife would be delighted to come back. Maybe we should ask him to preach on two Sundays?" "I'll support that," declares another member, "and maybe we could ask Reverend Olson, who followed Dr. Harrison. I'm sure he would enjoy returning." |             |
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