Church Boards can be... Springboards. Governance that facilitates mission and ministry.

“Nowhere does the New Testament lay down a blueprint for church government.” Brian Winslade, A New Kind of Baptist Church “In the apostolic age, church life was dynamic and fluid. Leaders emerged to meet needs and as the Holy Spirit initiated.” Kevin Giles, Patterns of Ministry Among the First Christians

“To the elders among you… Be shepherds of God’ s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1Peter 5:2-3

What am I doing here?

The Church’s Mission “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

Church Leaders’ Mandate Leaders are authorised to build up the church. (2Cor.13:10)

Church Leaders’ Role “to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” (Ephesians 4:12)

“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said: “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose Seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group….So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly…” Acts 6:1-7

An Example of Empowering Leadership (Acts 6:1-7) The Apostles guarded the Church’s unity. The Apostles were stewards of the Church’s mission. The Apostles set guidelines for appointing the Seven The Apostles delegated food distribution to the Seven The outcome of the mission was measured.

The Board’s Tasks Monitor congregational health Maintain the missional vision Establish guidelines Empower ministry Manage accountability

Monitor Congregational Health Boards should have a broad interest in the quality of three crucial relationships…

Maintain the Missional Vision The Board are appointed by the Church, but above all they represent the interests of Christ. The Church belongs to Him. The Board are stewards of Christ’s vision for the Church. NATURE SPIRIT

Establish Guidelines Values Constitution Code of Conduct Budget Goals

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

Establish Guidelines Values Constitution Code of Conduct Budget Goals Boundaries that proscribe what shouldn’t be done are more empowering and efficient than approvals of what may be done.

“Purpose and principle, clearly understood and articulated, and commonly shared, are the genetic code of any healthy organisation. To the degree that you hold purpose and principles in common among you, you can dispense with command and control. People will know how to behave in accordance with them, and they’ll do it in thousands of unimaginable, creative ways. The organisation will become a vital, living set of beliefs.” Dee Hock, Founder of Visa.

Empower Ministry “From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 The Board focusses on Ends and facilitates others providing the Means as God leads and gifts them.

Does your church’s governance model recognise that all Members have relationship with the Head? Do your structures and policies make it harder or easier for Members to discern and respond to God’s leading? Do your structures and policies facilitate or frustrate the exercise of spiritual gifts? How quickly can your church respond to an opportunity, need or idea? The less levels of decision-making between action and authority to act, the faster the response can be and the more informed the decision will be.

Foster Grassroots Initiatives “In a diverse group, top-down leadership can go only so far. Diversity requires bottom-up initiatives that bubble up from the ground – initiatives that are organic or give tangible expression to the full breadth of tribes that make up a church. It takes strong and secure leaders to recognize, encourage and enable this rather than attempt to fight it and control it.” Steve Chalke, Intelligent Church

Manage Accountability Ensure compliance with guidelines – we want to get to our goals remaining true to who we are Measure what matters in line with the vision Focus on outcomes rather than inputs – ends rather than means Celebrate achievement; strengthen weakness

“Keeping the rules is not the object of the game. The object of the game for a congregation is the Great Commission: making disciples of Jesus Christ. Keeping the rules is simply a way to focus the power necessary to achieve the object of the game….If we confuse the rules of the game with the object of the game, we may wind up defining success as doing church without making mistakes, even if we are not making any new disciples.” John E. Kaiser

The Board’s Tasks Monitor congregational health Maintain the missional vision Establish guidelines Empower ministry Manage accountability