Dedication, dedication, dedication

Have you ever been called compulsive or obsessive? These terms are generally used in a less than flattering light to describe someone who has a psychological disorder. But when some of the characteristic traits are expressed in a healthy way, the behavior is called dedication.

Today I want to give some quick insights on the need for pastoral dedication when it comes to healthy board relationships. So many mistakes and interruptions of strong spiritual unity are the result of a pastor’s lack of dedication to careful communication. Disunity also arises when the group neglects to pray together and to carefully consider all points of view.

To maintain a healthy board means implementing these strategies:

• Tread lightly. Approach any strategic change with great care, much prayer, and meticulous study.
• Plug the leaks. Know that there are certain issues that must first be discussed and researched at the board level.
• Minimize surprises. People dislike change and surprise. In your meetings, don’t surprise your board with a proposed change or future goal.
• Write it down. In order to eliminate surprise, write out agendas and other pertinent meeting information and distribute it to the board a few days prior to a meeting.
• Talk it through. When I served as an associate pastor, the first pastor I worked with always hesitated to call for a vote if even a few board members were unsure or opposed to the issue at hand. I thought this evidenced weakness on his part. But when I became a senior pastor, I finally understood his wisdom. Even with a board of 13, I would never call for a decision if I thought three or four were unsure. More research, prayer, and consideration never hurt.
• Be of one mind. Always leave a board meeting being of “one mind.” When the board makes a decision after much thought and prayer, leave the room ready to live with the decision.
• Know your role. There must be a clearly defined “job description” for the board.  Many boards of the church just wing it and do not have clear guidelines. I would be glad to send you a sample of the “soccer field” approach as guidelines for the board agenda. (They set the important boundaries, and the staff and volunteers “play” on the soccer field.)

The dedication and extra effort it takes to follow these guidelines has long-term benefits.

Can you think of any other strategies which might aid us in providing strong, consistent, and Godly leadership?