When Robert’s rules dismiss God’s love

yslamb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:29:35 +0000

I shifted in my seat as one more question rang out from the table where I was sitting. With each persistent query, the air in the generally placid, perfunctory meeting grew tense. The questioner’s tone became more aggressive, the answerer’s more defensive. Voices were raised. A temper or two flared. I kept thinking, “I plopped down at the wrong table tonight.”

Finally, an older woman with a gentle but firm spirit spoke and restored civility to the room. She reminded us that the behavior being exhibited was not in keeping with our Christian values and that we all needed to take a moment and remember why we were there. She also brought us back to a point of order about the issue that was being discussed.

This was a meeting where members of several different churches convene quarterly to work as a governing board. The meetings are run by a board president using procedures outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order and usually proceed without much fanfare. But last night was different and that still troubles me.

I don’t know what led one person to try to use parliamentary law to hammer home her questions and to position motions on a couple of issues from a fellow table mate. I do believe though that the spirit of God prompted the other person to rise and speak, reminding us of God’s order and that no matter how much we disagree with each other we should never disrespect each other. Of those in the room, she seemed a perfect choice to get everyone’s attention.

Robert’s Rules of Order, the parliamentarian’s handbook on how meetings are conducted, provides useful guidance for moving a meeting along efficiently and productively. But, I’ve also seen the strict, unforgiving adherence to the rules derail meetings and destroy relationships. With and without the procedures, many a church meeting has left members with wounded feelings and even caused some to leave a church.

I’m sure that’s not what Henry Martyn Robert, an army engineering officer, had in mind when he studied parliamentary law and wrote the book on meeting procedures. Based on his own inexperience and failed efforts at running a meeting, he wanted to “bring order out of chaos.”

What I observed last night was that if we Christians are not careful with our use of procedural rules we can wring all of God’s love out of our meetings. The result would be chaos instead of order.

A friend passsed along her copy of Robert’s Rules to me when I became an officer in the church-related group a few months ago. I’ve been studying it as I prepare for meetings. More than ever, though, at my next meeting I’m opting to let God’s love be the operating force that guides parliamentary procedures.

Soul Rhythms » parliamentary procedures

When Robert’s rules dismiss God’s love