members-only business meetings

The way "most" ORBs conduct their business is like this: we sing a few songs, and then the moderator welcomes everyone, and some churches will ask a visiting Brother to preach(if there is one there), others will go directly to prayer after the welcoming. If there is one who preaches at the beginning, after he is finished, we sing a song, go around and shake hands and then go to the Lord in prayer. The moderator then states that the church is now seated to the "seats of business", and he inquires for peace. If peace is found, he then asks the Brother Clerk to read the minutes of last months meeting. If that is found to be correct we accept it by "move and second". We then do "old business"(stuff discussed from previous meetings that had been completed), and then new business. After new business is finished, the moderator then states that the business meeting is over and then asks another Brother to preach, then sing a song and pray for dismissal and leave. It takes 1.5-2 hrs to do all this. But I do enjoy it. We also do a treasury report after the minutes have been read and accepted.

If there are any members from a Sister church there, the moderator gives them the right hand of fellowship, and they can make comments and/or suggestions, but can not vote.

Willis

 

Great point. The monthly "business" meeting is quickly becoming a dinosaur - Thank God. Utterly unnecessary. Around here, the bigger the church, the fewer the meetings. Says something, doesn't it? Over my years of pastoral ministry, I'd say 85% of the meetings consisted of a reading of the minutes and a reading of the financial report. Then a motion to adjourn. What a waste of time.

 

I think the only time we wouldn't allow non-members is if we were discussing the disciplining or disfellowshipping of a member.

 

At our chrurch the members vote and hold appropriate offices, non-members who are adherents are welcome to the business meetings and are welcome to speak at the discretion of the chairman. We hold the meetings quarterly, they provide oppertunity for the various departments to report to the members on how things are going, to present financials, and importantly, to provide planning ideas for the future directions of the church.

Regards
Bob