Annual Meeting Coming Up! January 30th After Worship

There is a lot of good to be said about church Constitutions and Bylaws.  However, there is a lot of bad that can be said about them as well.  The problem is not in the documents themselves, but in the people who use them - or should I say misuse them.

Annual Business meetings are a case in point.  Over my 28 years of pastoral service I have struggled with the overall function of the Annual Business Meeting.  I have often found them to be a place of non-Christian activity.  Now, don't get me wrong!  I am not against these meetings.  Again, it is often in the people where the wrongdoing occurs.

Constitutions are important to the overall operation of how a church conducts its business.  Unfortunately, experience after experience has proven to me that they contribute very little to the spiritual function and health of the church.  Again, it is probably because of some people who use them.

Constitutions often become political agendas for undermining the will of God through the hearts of His people.  Give the devil an opportunity and he takes it everytime - and constitutions may be one of those times when in the hands of some.  People are people - even as Christians.  We can't escape that fact.  We are susceptible to the wiles of the evil one.  If we are not on our guard, we can be overcome by his evil ways.  The devil loves to destroy the church.  Sad to say, I have witnessed some of his greatest victories at church business meetings.

So here is my take on it!  I say, let's not even call it an Annual Business Meeting anymore.  Let's refer to it as our year end celebration of God working through His people; and a vision planning time for the new year.  Let's keep our constitutions close at hand, but allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our thoughts and actions throughout the course of the meeting.  Let's let God be the God of our meeting.

I am convince that these times together should be faith stiring events, where we can look back upon the operation of our ministries and clearly see the hand of God at work.  When this is the case, God becomes our greatest source of encouragement - our faith is increased - and we are spurred on to even greater accomplishments to His honor and glory.

I have often toyed with the idea of our business meeting becoming a Sunday Morning worship service of celebration unto God.  The same things can be accomplished as in a business meeting format, but with worship and celebration as its main objective.  How often do we take the time during a business meeting to stop and praise God, and offer up a prayer of thanks unto Him?

These are just a few thoughts I wanted to share this morning.  I look forward to our meeting on Sunday, after worship and our potluck.  This will be my first Annual Business Meeting with you.  I have read the Annual Report Book and am excited to be with you as we present it to God in praise.

Blessings,

-Leo