Board of Administration

OBJECTIVE 1: DEMONSTRATE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF PASTORAL LEADERSHIP RELATED TO GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

As pastor, you are called to lead the church you serve. Whether you have a large or small church, paid or volunteer staff, leading and managing your church effectively remains at the heart of pastoral ministry. “The term administration, itself, hardly sets feet dancing. In many people’s minds, administration stands precipitously close to bureaucracy. It involves endless details, rigidity, red tape, and routine yet, administration—managing the affairs of a church—often spells the difference between pastoral effectiveness and ineffectiveness” (Cousins, 2003) Church governance includes proper organizational structure. Every congregation needs to be accountable to its constitution and bylaws. The pastor has the responsibility to serve the Church through the process of leadership.

Decision-making at the board level is hard work. It is a process that requires asking questions and insisting on answers. It requires evaluating facts and information, weighing risks and rewards, and reviewing alternatives. It may also require consulting experts such as accountants, attorneys, fundraisers, engineers, and financial planners. It is imperative for the pastor to have an understanding of pastoral leadership and Church governance. The following learning activities are designed to prepare you for pastoral leadership in the area of Church governance and Church leadership.

• Learning Activity #2: LBA Paper

Read the section related to Committees and Boards in Part I Rules of Order from the following website.

http://www.rulesonline.com/index.html

Also read the section from a Denominational or Independent church’s discipline handbook relating to boards of administration.

Write a 2-3 page paper describing pastoral ministry in relation to church leadership and administration. You will likely need to consult your pastor on these questions. Ensure that you cite any resource used within the paper.

To achieve maximum points for content and analysis, the following elements need thoroughly addressed:

• What is the pastor’s role on a Local Church Board of Administration (LBA)?
• How is the LBA structured?
• How is membership on the LBA determined?
• What is the agenda of a LBA meeting?