Church Governance Ideas
"The task of the council is defined as the common administration of the church." (Manual of Christian Reformed Church Government, p. 165). The manual goes on to give some examples of what is meant by "matters of common concern" but allows openness for each church to determine what specific matters should be included in the definition of the task of council.
Some larger churches have specifically set aside a group of elders and deacons to regularly review and make recommendations to the council regarding administrative matters. Others utilize their executive committee for recommendations on administrative matters. Do your executive committee members also have responsibility for shepherding a specific group of members in your congregation? Or does your church designate elders for shepherding and elders who handle the administration?
Have you cultivated future leaders through your small group ministry, a benevolence team, or a care team? Or do you have members assist with administration through a Personnel Team or Building and Grounds Team? Let's hear from some of you what has worked within CRC guidelines for church governance at your church and how you continue to cultivate members for serving on your Council. Are you encouraging the development of spiritual gifts among your congregation, including the area of leadership?
Sheri- thanks for this post on governance
The particular church where I serve as administrator, has embarked for 2 1/2 years on a different governance structure that utilizes a trustee board instead of an executive team. We still retain the elder and deacon boards, but have added the trustee board to be the managers of the governance policies set by the elders and deacons. We found in our context that both the elders and deacons spent too much time in their meetings bogged down by management minutia- they were not having enough time to wrestle with bigger picture spiritual issues, governace items, and other Bibilical mandates for their respective offices.
Our trustee board is composed of the elder chair, the deacon chair,the administrator, and four elected congregational members who serve four year terms. They have management control over the general budget and staff. This new model is starting to bear fruit as the deacons are developing a new self perception, no longer just money managers but instead are beginning to see themselves as more in the Biblical role of deaon - agents of mercy to those in/outside of our church walls. The elders are also beginning to see their role more clearly as spirtual leaders who don't have to be involved in the management minutia of church life, but instead are responsible for spiritual care, vision, direction, etc..