Newsletter Articles
The Church Board, Part 2
Dan Reiland featuring writing by Charlie Wetzel
Charlie Wetzel is a board member at 12Stone Church, a good friend and prayer partner. Professionally, Charlie is John Maxwell's writer. In this article, he brings truth, depth, and practical insight that will serve you well as a church board member. (The Church Board, Part Two: A Privilege and a Trust by Charlie Wetzel)
In 1997, my wife, Stephanie, and I moved from San Diego, California, to the suburbs northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. A few months before the move, we had visited 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, and that very day we sensed that it was where God wanted us to be. We knew immediately that we could happily follow Kevin Myers, the senior pastor, and it was obvious to us that God had his hand on the church. Stephanie and I rolled up our sleeves and began serving right away. We felt it was a privilege to be part of a church where God was moving.
Soon after we settled in, I felt a calling to 12Stone. And God impressed upon me that my relationship with the church would last twenty years. After about a year, I was asked to serve as an elder on our church's board. When I first started, I had no experience in such a role. Honestly, most lay leaders in the church have very little knowledge of how churches work outside of their own limited experience.
I learned much by watching Tony Bartlett, a board member who was a model for me. And of course my pastor taught me a lot. After ten years of service as an elder in a local church mdash; and an additional three years' experience training pastors and working with churches in the UK mdash; I believe I have some good advice to give lay leaders who serve on boards.
If you are a pastor, my encouragement is that you give a copy of this article to your lay leaders. Let them mull over what I have to say, and use it as a springboard for dialogue on what's important for board members in your church. Here's what I say is important for board members to know:
1. Don’t Step Up Unless You're Ready and Willing to Step Down
When my pastor, Kevin Myers, first talked to me about the possibility of serving as a member of our church's board, he explained something that I will never forget. It has since become a foundational principle for me in any kind of leadership. He said, "As long as your leadership is good enough to help the church, you belong on the board. But if the church ever outgrows your ability to lead, you will have to step down."
My purpose on the board is to serve the church and my pastor mdash; not for it or him to serve me. For that reason, I've always held on loosely to my position on our board of elders. I'm acutely aware that it is a privilege to serve in a church where God is working, and I feel lucky to be where I am. God could have chosen anyone to serve Him at 12Stone, yet He picked me. I strive to live a life worthy of the calling I have received (Eph 4:1). And I am determined never to stand in the way of what God is doing at the church.
2. Protect Your Pastor So He Can Pursue God's Vision
I believe that one day I will stand before God, and one of the things He will ask me is, "Did you make it easier or harder for your pastor to fulfill the vision I gave him for the church?" I find that thought very sobering, and it grounds me in all my decision making as a leader. One of my pet peeves about some church board members is that they seem to believe their role is to protect the church from the pastor.
They couldn't be more wrong. If God has called a pastor to a church, then the board's role is to protect the pastor so that he or she can pursue the vision. I'm not saying there isn't the rare instance when a pastor intentionally does harm to his church for his own benefit. It does happen, but I believe it's rare. For every individual pastor who abuses his position, there are many thousands of board members who abuse theirs!
Often it's in the name of stewardship. While stewardship is important, I observe that many board members practice stinginess and call it stewardship. God cares about people. Money itself has no value to God; he can create it or destroy it at will. It's merely a tool to be used for his purpose. We need to remember that.
So how do you protect your pastor? I think of it as helping to create an environment where he has enough room to work effectively. That means making sure he has the resources he needs to pursue the vision (2 Cor 9:6). It means allowing him to risk and occasionally fail for the sake of the Kingdom (Rom 15:1). It means providing for him and his family so that worries about finances don't become a distraction (Luke 10:7). It means giving him sound counsel (Prov 15:22), gently pushing back when he's wrong (Eph 4:15), and defending him against careless accusations (1 Tim 5:19). And of course it means serving when asked. Nobody in the church should tie the pastor's hands, chain his feet, and then say, "Go ahead, pastor. Run the race!”
3. Find the Role on the Board Where You Add the Most Value
Scripture makes it clear that we are to work together in the body of Christ, each of us using our gifts (1 Cor 12). People who serve on a board should keep that in mind and figure out how they can best serve the team.
In addition to Kevin, our senior pastor, and Dan, our executive pastor, there are four of us lay people serving on the board at 12Stone. One member of our board is a true prayer warrior and also has extensive experience in non-profit fundraising at the highest levels. Another is an entrepreneur who founded and leads a technology company. Another owns businesses, has built commercial facilities, and understands complicated business arrangements.
They all contribute according to their individual strengths. My greatest contribution, believe it or not, is asking penetrating questions. I think it comes as a result of my strength in strategic thinking and my extensive experience in ministry (for a lay person). I also keep the minutes and records for the board, which I find easy with my writing and research experience. What unique contribution can you make to add value to your team? It's your responsibility to figure that out.
4. Serve Somewhere in the Church in Addition to the Board
One of the dangers of serving on boards is that people can lose their way and develop a wrong attitude about leadership. Jesus washed his leaders' feet and reminded them to serve others rather than rely on their authority (Luke 25:24-26).
I think one of the best ways to prevent and battle a wrong attitude is to serve in areas of the church unrelated to board duties. When I'm serving in a ministry, it's never as a board member. Though I carry that responsibility and perspective with me always, I do not carry that authority with me outside of the boardroom.
When I was a small group leader and coach, I served under the authority of a staff pastor. We didn't always agree philosophically, and I wasn't shy about offering my opinions. But at the end of the day, I submitted to his authority and served as I was asked to mdash; even though at that time I was considered the "small group elder."
It's dangerous for someone to lead who hasn't learned to follow. As Al Garsis says, "I can lead, and I can follow. An important aspect of leadership is knowing when to do which." As a board member, you need to figure that out. These days my primary ministry is mentoring men in their twenties. And I've recruited four other men to mentor others too. I believe mentoring is one of the things God created me for. But it also has the added benefit of keeping me on the front lines of ministry.
When you serve on a board, you're really there to assist the person God has called to fulfill the vision. But that is not your ministry. You have to do your part, according to God's call on your life. That means finding somewhere you can serve effectively.
5. Lead and Serve With Eternity in Mind
For a lot of people, church is on the periphery of their lives. It's a place to engage socially, to "fill up" on Sundays, or to perform some volunteer work to make them feel better about themselves. I think individuals who approach church this way have lost sight of how high the stakes are. What hangs in the balance is where people will spend eternity!
As a member of my church's board, it's my responsibility to maintain perspective. What does that mean? First, it means trying to always keep the big picture in mind. We sometimes call this maintaining a 30,000 foot view of the church. We can't afford to get caught up in petty matters or territorial disputes. We need to keep our hearts set on God, our eyes focused on the vision, and our minds engaged in thinking about what the church needs to be doing in five years, ten years, and farther into the future.
It also means we need to be praying. One of the most important things we do as a board is pray mdash; for protection for the church and its staff, for guidance from God, for confirmation of the vision that God has given to our leader. It's not something I'm naturally good at, but I work at it constantly. Honestly, if I'm not willing to really go after prayer for my church, then I probably don't belong on the board. You may feel that I'm a bit rigid in some of my views about board service in a local church, that I'm setting the bar very high. If so, you're right.
I believe that what I do in ministry is the most important thing I will do in life mdash; after leading and caring for my family. The Church is Christ's bride, and protecting her is an awesome responsibility and a fantastic privilege. I hope that one day God will tell me "Well done, good and faithful servant." If you serve on a board in a local church, I hope the same for you. Meanwhile, do everything you can to lead in a way that honors God and advances His kingdom.
To be able to read Part 1 of this article, click here.
This article is used by permission from Dr. Dan Reiland's free monthly e-newsletter, "The Pastor's Coach," September 2008, Vol. 9, Issue 16, features writing by Charlie Wetzel and is available at http://www.INJOY.com
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