Nudge nudge, Wink wink ...

I remember hearing a professor of mine commenting that often in small communities the REAL decisions are not made around Board and Committee tables, but are made outside in the parking lot, down the street in the coffee shop, or even across town in the tavern or pub. He went on to cite the experience of a recent grad from our Theological College who had been struggling with Board meetings that seemingly went no where during their alloted scheduled time, only to have "decisions" made when no such discussion EVER happened around the table ... It took her time to realize that the Board decisions came AFTER the Board meeting formally adjourned and everyone leaned on the box of a pick up truck in the parking lot to discuss "things."

In her case there was no malicious intent ... just the mulling and musings of friends discussing the challenges and finding a way through to the solution that was simply a common sense decision ... Once she became aware of this, the minister in question was able to do two things - one was to stay after the meeting to be part of the conversations and decisions making, and the second was to help change the meeting so that more decisions were actually made during the alloted time, rather than informally after ... This last step has become crucial in the era of vicarious liability and the propensity for litigiousness.

The challenge though, is the tendency for the Greater Church and those who are long in tooth to counsel a truly Monty Pythonesque "nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more" response to these bad habits on the part of our Community Boards and Committees. Rather than address the EXCLUSIVITY of this form of Behaviour, the tendency is to roll one's eyes and say - "Oh, that's JUST the way it is ..." and do nothing to raise the concerns such actions bring.

I remember sitting at a committee meeting once where the entire first hour was taken up by the chair (a lovely person) planning a social event with three of the other committee members. After listening I asked - "Is this a function for every one on the committee?" and the four of them looked shocked and said - "oh no, it's a part for ...," and they could see NOTHING wrong with planning a private affair in front of a dozen or so other people who were NOT invited ... it's a fine line between decisions over the back of a pick up truck in the parking lot, and a committee becoming nothing more than a private clique that excludes those who are like-minded, or even related ...

The challenge of leadership in the Seeker Church will be to remain open and transparent - secrecy will have no role ... and to remain RADICALLY inclusive of ALL people ... leaning on the tail gate of a pick up truck to discuss the committee meeting has its place - it IS an action of building community - but it can only be a decision making action IF room is made for EVERYONE to join in ...

It's a simple lesson in theory ... but it's a harder lesson to practise ... but then, that'swhy it's called practise isn't it??

We need to keep doing it over and over until we get it right ...