Annual Meetings and Perspective

This past Sunday was my congregation’s annual meeting. We celebrated a communion service led by a friend of mine, then gathered for a potluck lunch before being ‘called to order’ and moving into the agenda. For both worship and the meeting I had no particular role which really freed me to take in what was going on.

It’s amazing how quickly the joyful energy of fellowship over a meal can leave the room as we consider an annual report and its pages of financials that we only look at once a year and that confuse us. Despite the many group write-ups that might be positive and even celebratory of the last twelve months, we can get caught up in minutiae and divided into the ones in the know and those left in the dust who aren’t actively involved in committees and behind-the-scenes realities.

Too often I have been in meetings where everyone is quickly overwhelmed by numbers and verbal explanations and motions. We do this once a year and we forget the best ways to go about it because our congregational meeting muscles are so rarely flexed. And hanging in the balance is our future vitality and vision for ministry. When these experiences are confusing, frustrating and even conflict-provoking, many people check out during or even before the meeting starts.

I dream of meetings where childcare is provided or, better yet, where the kids and youth have a welcome say at the table. I dream of meetings where the life and joy of the congregation is caught on video or powerpoint and where we all reflect on the purpose to which Jesus has called us in this place. I dream of meetings where the vision of the congregation is carefully articulated, celebrated and lived out in the budget and priorities. We do many of these things to some degree, but the annual meeting should be something that inspires and says “this is how God has blessed and journeyed with us this year - to God be the glory!” and “look at the foundation we are building on for the ministry God asks us to embrace, trusting in God’s faithfulness!”

It is almost impossible to avoid the nitty-gritty and line by line discussions. But we can take care to make sure that difficult items needing hashing out are framed within the bigger picture of what God is doing through us in our particular context. We can take those items and reflect on how they fit our vision or not, and how they contribute to God’s love being shown through us. For every mention of discontent about finances or pending problems there should be at least two words of grace or gratitude for the ministry carried out together. The last thing on my congregation’s agenda before the adjournment is ‘words of appreciation’. I love when that one item goes on and on as individuals and groups are thanked for their contributions, servanthood and dedication to God.

My perspective has shifted greatly moving from a congregation where it was rare to have any children visit to a congregation with families whose parents bring them and want them to grow in faith. The things one congregation complains about another would love to have to deal with. The grass is always greener somewhere else if we focus on our discontent rather than the blessings we have been uniquely gifted with for the sake of ministry. No other church can do exactly what we are called to do.

In this year of 2020, may we be given renewed vision for what God is asking of us. May we not complain about the challenges we face but instead see the opportunities to discern and grow together and uncover solutions that propel us forward in ministry. May we see the abundance of blessings and how God has journeyed with us faithfully. May we value the vision and capabilities and callings of everyone in our congregation to God’s glory.