by Dave Collins | Nov 17, 2011 | Governance
The third layer of approval process for weary proposals and leaders You have been asked to put together a team to launch a new ministry. The idea has been on the agenda for some time and there is even money set aside in the budget for this new initiative. Everyone you talk to about the idea is enthusiastic and wants to be part of the project. As the time to launch approaches you get a call from the board chair suggesting that you postpone the launch until the Board has had a chance to review and approve this new ministry. [bq_left]When boards take the position that they have to be the clearing house for everything the church does, they in fact become the bottle neck to growth.[/bq_left] “Hold on a minute”, you respond, “It was at the boards suggestion we began this process, and besides they approved the money needed in the budget. The next Board meeting isn’t for another month what am I going to tell the volunteers who are ready to go now?” If you have been in ministry any length of time it’s likely you have had this kind of experience – everything is ready to go, but your hands are tied because the board has to have final approval. When boards take the position that they have to be the clearing house for everything the church does, they in fact become the bottle neck to growth. This need for final approval is driven by fear. Fear that if allowed to run unshackled, the pastor and/or lay leaders will create mayhem in the church. This approach,...
