Wednesday, February 27, 2019

LESSON 2 – Ask the Gold Standard Question

Welcome to Lessons From the Church Boardroom—The Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, Lessons From the Church Boardroom: 40 Insights for Exceptional Governance, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we'll feature a guest blogger’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Jeff Jenness is our guest blogger this week for the second of four lessons in "Part 1: The Powerful Impact of Highly Engaged Boards.”


LESSON 2 OF 40 – Ask the Gold Standard Question
A “pruning moment” can improve your board meetings.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 2, the authors note that there are key, distinguishing characteristics between church board meetings that are highly productive and those that are not. Often the difference seems to be that productive meetings have engaged board members. This chapter highlights responses the authors have asked of board members; both those who feel productive and those with unsatisfactory experiences. 

But we’re not left there. Dan and John share with us “pruning” exercises that can take our board meetings from routine to highly effective. The desired result is not to feel better about our serving, but to function with an “eternity mindset” that elevates the board’s impact.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 2, pages 6-9: 
• Dr. Henry Cloud: “What do we do here that is sick and not getting well?” While candid, that question can help us look at our board experience through fresh eyes.
• Four ingredients of memorable board meetings: 
     1) Deep joy! 
     2) Listen to the Spirit 
     3) Energetic discussions   
     4) Solidarity and unity
• “Pruning moment” = clarity and owning the vision vs. accepting average (page 8)

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
Those reading this book likely have served on multiple boards and will recognize it is indeed the highly effective boards—when necessary—have undertaken needed pruning action. John 15:1-2, which the authors lift up for us in this lesson, underscores this.

When we take time to truly think about the privilege of serving—and that our actions as board members have eternal implications—it changes our perspective. This makes it much easier to consider necessary pruning. Pruning and re-ordering enables us to focus on what matters most and allows time for robust interchange that can move the group toward joyful unity in fulfilling the vision.

Consider having your entire church board read this book together and discuss how your time spent in board meetings might be improved through some “pruning moments.” With the Lord’s blessing it may just change the entire ministry trajectory of your congregation. 

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY JEFF JENNESS:


Jeff Jenness has served as president of Servant Solutions for 26 years. Servant Solutions provides retirement and financial planning to ministers, missionaries, lay workers and faculty/staff for Christian higher education. As president, Jeff is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization’s ministry. He currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Church Alliance and has served on the Board of Directors for the Church Benefits Association.

Prior to his leadership at Servant Solutions Jeff worked in the banking industry as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for a large Midwestern regional bank. He also founded a local community bank and today serves several nonprofit boards and ministries as well as for-profit boards. He and his wife, Debbie, live near Indianapolis, Ind., and have three grown children and two grandchildren. 

TO-DO TODAY: 
Discuss together: What does a great board meeting look and feel like?
Self-evaluate: Conduct a short evaluation at the end of each meeting.
Visit the ECFA Knowledge Center and read and share the short chapter, “Lesson 2 – Ask the Gold Standard Question.”





NEXT WEDNESDAY:

On March 6, 2019, watch for the commentary by Dave Stone on Lesson 3, "Guarding Your Pastor’s Soul. Senior pastor moral failures are devastating to churches. Wise boards invest time—up front—to ensure the pastor’s soul is not neglected.”

ORDER THE BOOK TODAY!

BULK ORDERS: Click here.  For more resources and to download the book's Table of Contents, visit the book's webpage.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

LESSON 1 – Wanted: Lifelong Learners

Welcome to Lessons From the Church Boardroom—The Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, Lessons From the Church Boardroom: 40 Insights for Exceptional Governance, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we'll feature a guest blogger’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Art Rhodes is our guest blogger this week for the first of four lessons in "Part 1: The Powerful Impact of Highly Engaged Boards.”


LESSON 1 OF 40 – Wanted: Lifelong Learners
Would you trust a surgeon who stopped learning?

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 1, the authors note that you must have some foundational knowledge to serve on a church board. But that is not enough! In an ever-changing world, the learning must never stop.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 1, pages 2-5: 
• “If you want to lead, you have to learn. If you want to continue to lead, you must continue to learn.” (John Maxwell)
“Highly engaged board chairs and board members know that when they say yes to board service, they must continually increase their knowledge and competencies to fulfill this sacred calling.” 
• “Lifelong learners seek the heart of God in prayer and discernment, and they do research to gain knowledge for effective service.”

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
In this complex and litigious time, church board leadership is more critical than ever. While we want to prayerfully seek God’s direction in the selection of leaders, making sure that those leaders have the tools and training they need to faithfully serve our local church is vitally important. Too often, we select leaders and then just hope and pray that they serve us well.

Isn’t it interesting that doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals are required to have continuing education to maintain their status, but we do not see the need for continuous learning for those that take care of the vital work of the Lord in our church? Many church board members do not recognize the legal responsibility that they take on when they assume this important position. It is only after they have been named in a lawsuit or when a tax lien has been placed against their personal assets that the responsibility truly hits home.

If our local church is going to grow and prosper, our leaders must be knowledgeable about the responsibilities they have assumed. That knowledge must be reinforced by continuous learning and development. As laws change, especially those related to tax matters, church boards must stay current. If not, the experience could be difficult. While knowledge and experience are both important, basic knowledge, along with continuous learning, will keep us away from some damaging and harmful experiences. 

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY ARTHUR D. (ART) RHODES:



Arthur D. (Art) Rhodes is President/CEO of the Church of God Benefits Board, Inc. and the Church Loan Fund, Inc. in Cleveland, Tenn. Previously, Art served in Washington as Chief of Staff to Rep. Mike Parker (R-4th Miss.). He also served as counsel for the Mississippi Dept. of Public Welfare and was in private law practice, specializing in construction litigation. 

Art maintains a keen interest in politics, having served as an election observer in the contested Florida presidential election in November 2000 and as a member of the RNC’s Legal Strike Force during the election cycles over the past two decades. He is a graduate of Millsaps College and the University of Mississippi School of Law. Art and his wife, Angie, make their home in Cleveland, Tenn., and have two children, Katelyn and Taylor.

TO-DO TODAY: 
• Are there basic qualifications for being a church board member? If not, consider developing a few qualifiers that follow your church polity and procedures.
• At your next church board meeting, invite a local nonprofit executive to share nonprofit best practices that might also be helpful in your church.
 Visit the ECFA Knowledge Center and read and share the four-page chapter, “Lesson 1 – Wanted: Lifelong Learners."






NEXT WEDNESDAY:

On Feb. 27, 2019, watch for the commentary by Jeff Jenness on Lesson 2, "Ask the Gold Standard Question. A ‘pruning moment’ can improve your board meetings.”
  
ORDER THE BOOK TODAY!

BULK ORDERS: Click here.  For more resources and to download the book's Table of Contents, visit the book's webpage.

Monday, February 18, 2019

Welcome to Lessons From the Church Boardroom - The Blog



JOIN US! Welcome to Lessons From the Church Boardroom—The Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, Lessons From the Church Boardroom. Each Wednesday, beginning on Feb. 20, 2019, we'll feature a guest blogger’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Stay tuned for:
   • Lesson 1 – Wanted: Lifelong Learners (Art Rhodes)
   • Lesson 2 – Ask the Gold Standard Question (Jeff Jenness)
   • Lesson 3 – Guarding Your Pastor’s Soul (Dave Stone)
   • Lesson 4 – What Could Possibly Go Wrong? (Bobby Schuller)
   • Lesson 5 – Do Unwritten Board Policies Really Exist? (Denise Craig)





LESSONS FROM THE CHURCH BOARDROOM:
 40 Insights for Exceptional Governance, by Dan Busby and John Pearson, is the perfect book for your church board members. How do you inspire board members in God-honoring governance? Feature a “10 Minutes for Governance” segment at every board meeting and discuss one of the 40 short chapters (just four to five pages each). 

In 10 memorable categories, you’ll appreciate lessons on: 
   • The Powerful Impact of Highly Engaged Boards
   • Boardroom Tools and Templates
   • Nominees for the Church Boardroom Hall of Fame
   • Epiphanies in the Boardroom
   • Boardroom Bloopers
   • Boardroom Time-Wasters, Trouble-Makers, and Truth-Tellers
   • Boardroom Best Practices
   • Boardroom Worst Practices 
   • Building a 24/7 Board Culture
   • Boards That Lead

ORDER TODAY!

For more governance resources, including Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom: 40 Insights for Better Board Meetings (Second Edition), visit ECFAPress