Meaningful Meetings

It's that time of year again - gearing up for annual meetings. Depending on your congregation's culture, this creates a sense of anxiety, fear, ambivalence or expectation. Presbyterians like me are known for being about committees and meetings and getting things done "decently and in good order". This shouldn't, however, overtake the place of the voice of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 

Whether your upcoming meetings are congregation-wide or with leaders or committees to whom you report or belong, what moves a meeting from drudgery to inspiration, from dread to opportunity? Here are some ideas:

1. Identify the assumptions and attitude that you bring with you. How you approach the meeting and enter that space impacts others and can hinder or uplift. If previous meetings haven't gone so well, rather than assuming that is the only way it can be think of how you'd prefer things to go and what role you can play in that. Particularly if you are leading the meeting, be pro-active about the tone you want to establish.

2. Zero in on the purpose of the meeting and have a good facilitator or convenor who understands and maintains that purpose. Be realistic about how much can be done at one sitting. Enable people to participate meaningfully by making sure that notice of the meeting and necessary materials are sent out well ahead of time. It's unrealistic to expect people to read and digest an agenda and reports the day of the meeting. Give as much lead time as possible for people to percolate on things and bring wisdom and inspiration.

3. Think carefully about what you want to accomplish and how the room set-up impacts this. If people can't hear or see they quickly become frustrated, tune out and have their own side conversations. Rarely is it a good idea to have a meeting sitting in pews. What space best suits the size of group and the information needing to be shared? Do you need a sound system or projection? What hospitality can and should be offered to communicate care and welcome?

4. Find a balance between business and ministry. Those present aren't merely cogs in a machine, they are members of the body of Christ. Many people are used to work business meetings and transplant that model to church. Remind and educate them about the difference between a church gathering and the office. Use words like discernment and grace, discipleship and service. 

5. Give God centre stage. Everyone, including the chair, is a servant of God. If God is not more than a bookend prayer at your meeting, you are not only missing the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit but you are denying the very reason that you exist. Human logic does not always equate to God's best or God's will. Without intentionally seeking God's presence and blessing you will quite likely spin your wheels and not land where you were meant to land. Allow space for listening for God.

6. Be open to change. Things are not going to go exactly as you imagined. It's tempting to make meetings about quickly rubber stamping foregone conclusions so that everyone can go home early. It's easy to want to control what is happening to reach the decision you believe is best. However, God moves among us and brings about more than we can ask or imagine on our own when we make space and pay attention. Relinquishing control can be anxiety-provoking but the results can be incredible if we can let go and let God.

May any upcoming meetings you have be infused with a fresh inspiration of God's grace and plans for you. May you have the energy to make your meetings opportunities for rejuvenation, celebration and dreaming of God's future.