LESSON 16 – Looking for Consensus but Finding Division

Welcome to More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we're featuring a guest writer’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Max Wilkins is our guest blogger this week for the fourth of four lessons in "Part 4: Epiphanies in the Boardroom.” And during this COVID-19 crisis, the role of the board becomes even more critical. We pray that your board will have God-honoring wisdom as you spiritually discern next steps.

LESSON 16 OF 40 - Looking for Consensus but Finding Division
Finding consensus on challenging issues requires deft handling and a flexible approach by the board chair.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 16, the authors note that difficult or challenging board decisions are best handled with a consensus-building process. While the tools of voting and Robert’s Rules of Order may be prescribed in the organizational bylaws, an adept board chair can utilize these tools within an open, thoughtful and fair process to enable the board to achieve consensus even in divisive situations. 

A board operating with the right purpose (to honor the Lord), the right people (those with a Kingdom mindset who seek the best for the organization), and the right agenda (including the right timing for challenging issues), in the hands of the right board chair (who is sensitive not only to the Holy Spirit, but also to the individual board members’ thoughts and concerns) can utilize the right approach (tailored creatively to the context and realities of each individual decision) to arrive at this consensus. 

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 16, pages 91-96: 
• “Consensus is a spirit or sense of the board. It is not a formal action. It is a process that seeks widespread agreement among group members.”
• “There is no single right approach for every agenda item in every meeting. Sometimes, while the board meeting is in progress, the chair will sense the Holy Spirit’s leading—and call a holy time-out. …It may also involve prayer!”
• “Periodically re-visit the consensus-reaching and decision-making processes and make adjustments as necessary.” 

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
Prior to coming to my current position at TMS Global, I was the Lead Pastor for more than a decade in a large inter-denominational church. The church’s elder board operated on a consensus model. Upon assuming the pastorate of this church, I was told by many leaders in the church world that a consensus model of elder leadership simply would not work in a church of several thousand people. 

The principle concern seemed to be that one person could delay or derail any plans at will, creating stagnation. A “majority rules” approach was typically suggested. Despite these concerns, the church operated well using the consensus model. I believe there were a few key reasons we succeeded: 

• As the authors said, having the right attitude is key. Our elders lived out the sense of Romans 12:18, “As far as it is possible for you, live at peace with everyone.” 
• Having the right people is also critical. Our elders, carefully selected by the congregation, understood that they had to play their “trump cards” selectively and carefully. Non-egocentric leadership is required for a consensus model to flourish.
• The right approach is vital. Making space for prayer, for discernment, for Holy Spirit “interruption” and for each voice to be heard, is far more important than motions, and Robert’s Rules of Order.

In my 11 years with that church, there were only a small handful of times that one elder stood in opposition to the emerging consensus of the group. I remember vividly the final time that happened. The elder who was a hold-out said, “I’m sorry, I know I’m alone in this, but I just have a strong sense in my spirit that this is not the correct action at this time.” 

Our excellent board chair asked us to reflect as a group. “Do you remember the five or six times over the last decade that one member has held out against the group?” We began to recall those few situations out loud. Then the chair asked a critical question: “With the benefit of hindsight, do any of us now believe we arrived at the wrong conclusion in those few situations?” One by one, we all acknowledged that in each case, the lone holdout had prevented us from making a bad decision. Time had shown the wisdom of their positions. 

The key does not lie in the decision-making system itself. Majority rules, Robert’s Rules of Order, a consensus model, or even a unanimity approach can all be used effectively to arrive at decisions. The key is the process by which these tools are used. 

The TMS Global Board votes, and the majority rules. But in the process leading up to a challenging rebrand and name change a few years ago, our spiritually-sensitive board chair sensed that we were going to need consensus for this essential change to be embraced throughout the organization. Thus, she made time repeatedly for Holy Spirit “interruptions,” had numerous pauses for deep times of prayer, and, when consensus seemed to be eluding us, even made a place for brand new ideas to be offered up extremely late in the process. 

As consensus finally began to emerge, she called a stop to discussion and simply stated, “I want to go around the room and ask each person to speak honestly for yourself in response to this question: If we go forward with this plan, can you live with wholeheartedly supporting it?” 


One by one, each member of the board, some while still expressing slight reservations, asserted that yes, they agreed in spirit to support the consensus of the whole. This thoughtful and fair process not only resulted in a broad consensus, it also transformed a potentially divisive and problematic decision into something the entire board celebrated and with great joy presented to the larger community and stakeholders.

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY MAX WILKINS:

MAX WILKINS is the President/CEO of TMS Global, an inter-denominational global mission agency headquartered in Norcross, Ga. Prior to becoming CEO of TMS Global, Max served as a local church pastor for 30 years, planting and leading churches in Florida and Hawaii. He has also taught and preached in more than 40 countries. Max is married to Dorothy (Dee Dee) and they have two adult children. He recently received a post-doctoral Diploma in Organizational Leadership from Said Business School, Oxford University. He is also a huge fan of all things University of Florida. Go Gators!

TO DO TODAY: 
• Review the process my board uses to arrive at decisions. Is there room for flexibility? Are we working towards decisions or towards consensus?
• Can I think of one tweak to our current board decision-making process that might create a more open, thoughtful and fair process, thus leading to greater buy-in to tough decisions?
• Visit the ECFA Knowledge Center and read and share the short chapter, Lesson 16, “Looking for Consensus but Finding Division.”

NEXT WEDNESDAY: On April 29, 2020, watch for the commentary by Philip Boom on Lesson 17, “Botched Executive Sessions Are Not Pretty. Don’t assume that your executive sessions will automatically be excellent.”

ORDER THE BOOK TODAY!

BULK ORDERS: Click here. For more resources and to download the book's Table of Contents, visit the book's webpage.

LESSON 14 – Plant a Seed in the Boardroom

Welcome to More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we're featuring a guest writer’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Seng Tan is our guest blogger this week for the second of four lessons in "Part 4: Epiphanies in the Boardroom.” And during this COVID-19 crisis, the role of the board becomes even more critical. We pray that your board will have God-honoring wisdom as you spiritually discern next steps.

LESSON 14 OF 40 - Plant a Seed in the Boardroom
Watch the Lord reap the harvest.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 14, the authors note that boardrooms are in fact holy places and spaces within which holy work is—or can be, should be—conducted. Boardroom experiences are fertile ground for planting seeds with board members about their future service in our ministry.  

That said, we often plant seeds practically everywhere—but rarely in our own boardrooms. We never quite know how and when God will use a boardroom experience to speak to the heart of a board member about possible future service in our ministry—whether as a key staffer, as a volunteer, or indeed as the CEO.  

Granted, such developments could conceivably happen “naturally” or “organically,” but the big idea the authors aim to convey is that the process involves a level of spiritual intentionality on our part, where we cooperate with the Holy Spirit through alert awareness to—and focused participation in—His holy work in our respective board members.  

This involves our investment of time and effort to know our board members well, our sharing of relevant ministry opportunities with specific board members as a way to inspire and involve them, and intercession to the Lord on their behalf—that those seeds planted in them may, in God’s time and way and per His will, yield an abundant harvest down the road. 

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 14, pages 82-85:
As the authors note, we tend to think of our board members in terms of what and how they may contribute to the ministry. Our view of, and relationship with, board members risks becoming predominantly instrumental and utilitarian—“What can you do for the ministry?”—or, as Janet Jackson might put it, “What have you done for me lately?”  

We risk seeing our board members as assets to be used rather than people to be loved. Lesson 14 reverses that self-centered logic and asks what and how can we contribute to the spiritual—and, potentially, professional—development of our board members. 

Even if they do not end up with our ministry, the fact that we intentionally invest in, inspire, and intercede for them can and will reap benefits for the Kingdom of God more broadly. Helping our board members grow in their own faith journeys with God is as important, perhaps even more important, than their contributions to our ministry.

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
To my mind, Lesson 14 is a timely reminder that divine calling can be and usually is a dynamic process. God calls us to Himself—that fact does not change—but the specifics can evolve over time.

In his chat with the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well in John 4:1-26, Jesus pointedly noted that there would come a time where neither (for Jews) Jerusalem nor (for Samaritans) Gerizim would matter any longer, because “a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24, NIV).  

What the given illustration of Paul Nelson’s inspired move from the ECFA boardroom to ECFA’s “workroom” suggests is the sustained refusal by the servant of God to make an idol or monument of place—my Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, or Jerusalem, etc.—and/or of time—when God saved and redeemed in my “Red Sea” experience way back yonder—and to worship and serve God wherever and whenever He calls him or her.

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY SENG TAN:

SENG TAN is the President/CEO of International Students, Inc. (ISI) in Colorado Springs, Colo. A former international student and a Singapore national, Seng served briefly as an ISI campus staffer in Phoenix, Ariz., after obtaining a Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Before being called back to ISI in his current capacity, Seng was a Professor of International Relations at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.  His latest book is The Responsibility to Provide in Southeast Asia: Towards an Ethical Explanation (2019).  

TO DO TODAY: 
• Carve out time to connect with your board members individually outside of board meeting times.    
• Learn what each board member’s interests and passions are. Where possible, connect those to relevant areas of service within your ministry and invite their participation.  
• Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment about their respective circumstances and pray that God will cause that which has been seeded in them will encounter good soil and yield 30-fold, 60-fold, and/or 100-fold returns.  
• Visit the ECFA Knowledge Center and read and share the short chapter, Lesson 14, “Plant a Seed in the Boardroom.”

NEXT WEDNESDAY: On April 15, 2020, watch for the commentary on Lesson 15, “Be Intentional About Your First 30 Minutes. Does your board need a refresh—so you experience holy moments more frequently?”

ORDER THE BOOK TODAY!

BULK ORDERS: Click here. For more resources and to download the book's Table of Contents, visit the book's webpage.

LESSON 11 – Thrive With Four Kingdom Values

Welcome to More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom Blog, a 40-week journey through the new book, More Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Each Wednesday, we're featuring a guest writer’s favorite snippet from the week's topic. Hal Habecker is our guest blogger this week for the third of four lessons in "Part 3: Nominees for the Board Member Hall of Fame.”

LESSON 11 OF 40 - Thrive With Four Kingdom Values
Set a high standard for the board and the board members.

THE BIG IDEA FROM THE BOOK: In Lesson 11, the authors note that because of a variety of board dysfunctions, board service may not always be fulfilling and less than satisfying. Though no board is perfect, the authors suggest that much dissatisfaction would disappear if more attention was given to the deployment of the Holy Spirit. If sought, the Holy Spirit would give clearer discernment, a more accurate assessment of spiritual gifts, a better understanding of what commitment would mean, which would lead to a greater enjoyment.

MY FAVORITE INSIGHTS from Lesson 11, pages 64-69:
• David McKenna: “Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit that comes with spiritual maturity. It may be the gift that defines Christ-centered leadership.” The emphasis on discernment in both the selection and function of board members cannot be overemphasized. 
• “The best boards inspire members to leverage their God-given gifts. The best boards don’t just fill board slots by inserting square pegs in round holes.”
• Prayer: “Lord, like Eric Liddell’s testimony, ‘I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast,’ show each of our board members their God-given purpose. Amen.”

MY COLOR COMMENTARY:
When Finishing Well Ministries (FWM) was launched, the board that He brought together was a close-knit group of personal friends who cared deeply about me and the mission of FWM. Those friendships forged the framework for FWM, and FWM launched well. Since we have traveled together in these early years, it is becoming increasingly clear that while strong friendships form a great launching pad, what is continually necessary is a greater discernment for an increasing complexity of issues regarding our present and future ministry. Holy Spirit discernment is more critically important now than when we began. 

As I reflect on over 33 years of leading boards and 29 years of serving on boards, I find the encouragement of Busby and Pearson in this chapter as refreshing as ever for all leaders and all boards. Their encouragement reminds me of the truth of Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of Gods.” May I paraphrase it this way? “For all boards, in both their makeup and their work, who are led by the Spirit of God, these are the boards and ministries that are in fact doing the work of God.” 

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES & COMMENTARY BY HAL HABECKER:

HAL HABECKER is the Founder and President of Finishing Well Ministries. Hal has worked in and led various ministries for the past 44 years, including First Baptist Church (Dallas), The Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Dallas Bible Church, and now Finishing Well Ministries.

TO DO TODAY: 
• Discern: What Kingdom values are foundational to your board’s theology and philosophy of governance?
• Raise the bar! Create the expectation that all board members will experience God’s pleasure as they serve.
• Visit the ECFA Knowledge Center and read and share the short chapter, Lesson 11, “Thrive With Four Kingdom Values.”

NEXT WEDNESDAY: On March 25, 2020, watch for the commentary on Lesson 12, “Keeping the Boardroom Afloat. Are too many staff causing the boardroom to capsize?”

ORDER THE BOOK TODAY!

BULK ORDERS: Click here. For more resources and to download the book's Table of Contents, visit the book's webpage.