The Board and the Pastor
 

If you went to a church where the board tries to run the church going over what the pastor wishes are what would you do?

You do you think should have the final say?

Not talking about finances, as I believe the board is definitely a sounding board in that area. But spiritual things, who should have final say?

Have you ever seen a board split a church?

yes.

I'd change churches in a heart beat. I have never been a member of a church with a board or pastored a church with a board.

Then if I remember my laws correctly you either have never pastored or not over 10 people.. at least not legally :ohplease

WH....did you know there is a "board" that runs this forum? You better change forums fast!

The church board should be for business decisions only. The spiritual decisions should be the pastors.

Pastor with NO board = Pastor without financial and business accountability. This leaves the church open to possible abuse. The church members must trust that they have a pastor with financial ethics.

Pastor controlled by board = Pastor is a mere hireling.

I believe that somewhere in between is the perfect situation.

Not necessarily true. There is a difference between a church board and a trustee board.

I got the impressing he meant any kind of board, you are correct.

Thanks, at any rate, the Pastor is in charge spiritually, no matter the board. But I will take a trustee board anyday.

What powers does a trustee board have besides church property issues? Isn't it kind of like a facade board? :D

Besides buying and selling of properties, they can serve as a financial committee and also as a pulpit committee, in a church where there is no church board.

Every church I pastor has been over ten. The church I came out of was over 600 at the time. None have had boars. Each has had trustees but not church board.

This forum is by no stretch of the imagination a church.

Sometimes a board needs to be taken to all in control....

We have a Deacon Board. They are consultants on all things financial, but not spiritual. Those things are left up to the Pastoral Staff.

We have a plurality of elders and the pastor is a an elder on the board. We also have deacons who handle the more 'daily' administration of the church's business.

Runs very biblically and very well.

Sure Have...
 

I know of one! And it was Ugly!

Agreed Pianoman....God will take care of pastor if pastor is wrong, NOT the board. Church boards take churches down in some cases.

Agreed Pianoman....God will take care of pastor if pastor is wrong, NOT the board. Church boards take churches down in some cases.

You're correct, RD. The "one man show" is really not a Biblical pattern. Paul sent Titus through Crete to "ordain elders" in the churches.

Much of the division and infighting that we have within the Apostolic movement stems from the jealousy and embittered spirits these "one man operations" create.

Does the law have anything to say about Church business? Is there any requirement for a Church to have a board of any kind to oversee decisions affecting the Church property and assets?

I know there are others here much more qualified than I to answer that but when I was acting sec. at our church I was told by our cpa that there indeed have to be at least a board of trustees if there were more than 10 members.

I will propose a senario to get your reaction, if you care to.

A long time pastor resigns the church leaving it to another experienced Pastor from another area.

A holiday arrives which just happened to be on a regularly scheduled church service night. The pastor announces to the church that since it is a major holiday on that regular church night, services will be dismissed on that one night so that famlies can have their time together.

Church Board says to the pastor that they are not going to dismiss services on that night because the last, long time pastor taught them not to dismiss regularly scheduled services even if it DOES fall on a holiday. So, the church board attempts to supercede the Pastor's announcement of no service that night.

Pastor at first tries to hold his own. Board informs pastor that they are going to have church that night, regardless. Board informs pastor that he is welcome to attend if he should desire, but services will begin on that holiday night according to schedule. The church is also notified of the decision of the Board to have services.

Probably my first reaction would be....Bro. Board member, if he believed it that strong he shouldn't have resigned and left me to make the decisions.

Then after counting to 10....there would be an emergency board meeting for sure.

Hey D... I think WH needs a board, what do you think?

:lol

Do you think that you could have made it all the way to 10? :toofunny

Kind of a silly example, as any church that would fight over such a petty thing may as well shut the doors.

You might be surprised what people will fight over.

Silly? Maybe. But a true case.

However, it was not the church fighting...just the Board.

Shut the doors? Not hardly. The church is well above the average size.

That is how it should be done.

And would you be able to elimanate said board member?

Good example.

Now if I was a saint there and knew this happened it would be there alone. :)

I don't know that I would have a telephone ministry but I would not be there!

What is the difference between a board and trustees?

We have in our church a trustee board that helps guide our financial decisions.

We also have an Elder board that helps in spiritual decisions.

One of the more obvious, but overlooked difference, is a board is usually appointed by a Pastor for a term of 1 year, where trustees or elected by the church body until their successors are elected.

Now I may give someone a heart attack here.

BUT..we have on our trustee board two women.


What do you think..can women serve on a church board??

As mentioned earlier in this thread, I think the Pastor should have spiritual oversight. As the old saying goes, "Anything with two heads is a monster."

Seeing that a trustee board deals with property issues and has no spiritual impact upon a church, why shouldn't a women be allowed to serve? Our trustee boards doubles as our church finance committee, and we also have a woman on board.

I was going to ask that.

Why not more and more women are in management positions and understand business more than a man that may only be a laborer not used to making business decisions.

Exactly Esther, our two ladies have been a wonderful additon to our board.

Are they received well?