Beyond Business as Usual – A book for vestries
In December and January each year, congregations across the Diocese elect new members of vestry. Each new vestry year offers an opportunity for a fresh look at how the group goes about its work of working together with the clergy to lead the congregation. I recommend reading together Canon Neal O. Michell’s book, Beyond Business as Usual: Vestry Leadership Development (ISBN 978-0-89869-569-4) The 132-page book from Church Publishing is a quick read that offers rich food for thought about church leadership.
Michell advocates for clergy and vestries to continualy learn together as they lead a congregation as he has found that knowledgable disciples open to learning more are needed to lead a church in the mission God has for us. His approach is to foster church development rather than growth as the goal is forming “a faithful community of disciples rather than just getting more people to church.”
In order to move toward that ideal, Michell sees it as essential that a vestry get away from debating issues of spending and building maintenance. While these matter and need time and attention, the church needs its leaders to move beyond just these maintenance issues.
In Part One of the book he sets out a new way of thinking about the roles of the clergy and vestry. Then in Part Two he gives some exercises a vestry can use in working through the ideas from the first part of the book. Between the two sections, the author gives a good cookbook vestries can use to work from including Bible Studies, teachings, mental exercises and reflective readings.
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Here is a small sample (in my words from an exercise in his book): If you were beamed into your church as if sent down from the deck of the Enterprise in Star Trek, what year would you think you found yourself? Don’t concern yourself with the sanctuary and nave, but look at your Sunday School materials, office equipment, furniture and especially at your church communications. What time period do they suggest? 1950s or 2010s? This may not seem to matter until you look at your nursery with the eyes of a new young couple deciding whether to trust their infant to your care while they worship. What will they see?
If you think all this sounds like a little much for this year, consider that Michell feels it best to have a vestry do this sort of work after they get a few meetings, or even half of the year behind them.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Canon to the Ordinary
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