Anything but Boring

Some people believe that Church Council meetings and Congregational meetings are boring. Some find them unimportant. Others believe that meetings bring out the worst in all of us. And for still others, meetings are one of the necessary evils of the church’s bureaucracy.

Some of that may be true. In some places, people may use these meetings as occasions to fight about anything – from the color of carpeting to the number of pickle forks that have disappeared from the kitchen!

But I must say that here at Bethlehem, congregational meetings are quite amazing and are always opportunities for the working of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 15 describes one of the first church meetings, held in Jerusalem. The agenda was of monumental importance: whether or not Gentiles had to become Jews before they became Christians. The answer of course, was no! And in the account of that meeting, we hear that people presented their testimony, listened to one another and to the Holy Spirit, and then took action.

At Bethlehem’s semi-annual meeting today, huge decisions were made. The congregation approved a million-dollar budget, as well as the provision to proceed with unplanned, yet necessary repair of our roof. Many leaders had done their homework to prepare for this meeting. We began with prayer. People listened, asked wise questions, then took action. And God’s mission, I believe, was well served. No fighting. No unnecessary red tape. Nothing boring about it!

Prayer:
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (ELW, p. 73)