The Board and the Pastor

[Mosby48]

Does the law have anything to say about Church business? Is there any requirement for a Church to have a board of any kind to oversee decisions affecting the Church property and assets?

[AmazingGrace]

Originally Posted by Mosby48

Does the law have anything to say about Church business? Is there any requirement for a Church to have a board of any kind to oversee decisions affecting the Church property and assets?

I know there are others here much more qualified than I to answer that but when I was acting sec. at our church I was told by our cpa that there indeed have to be at least a board of trustees if there were more than 10 members.

[Apprehended]

I will propose a senario to get your reaction, if you care to.

A long time pastor resigns the church leaving it to another experienced Pastor from another area.

A holiday arrives which just happened to be on a regularly scheduled church service night. The pastor announces to the church that since it is a major holiday on that regular church night, services will be dismissed on that one night so that famlies can have their time together.

Church Board says to the pastor that they are not going to dismiss services on that night because the last, long time pastor taught them not to dismiss regularly scheduled services even if it DOES fall on a holiday. So, the church board attempts to supercede the Pastor's announcement of no service that night.

Pastor at first tries to hold his own. Board informs pastor that they are going to have church that night, regardless. Board informs pastor that he is welcome to attend if he should desire, but services will begin on that holiday night according to schedule. The church is also notified of the decision of the Board to have services.

[PastorD]

Originally Posted by Apprehended

I will propose a senario to get your reaction, if you care to.

A long time pastor resigns the church leaving it to another experienced Pastor from another area.

A holiday arrives which just happened to be on a regularly scheduled church service night. The pastor announces to the church that since it is a major holiday on that regular church night, services will be dismissed on that one night so that famlies can have their time together.

Church Board says to the pastor that they are not going to dismiss services on that night because the last, long time pastor taught them not to dismiss regularly scheduled services even if it DOES fall on a holiday. So, the church board attempts to supercede the Pastor's announcement of no service that night.

Pastor at first tries to hold his own. Board informs pastor that they are going to have church that night, regardless. Board informs pastor that he is welcome to attend if he should desire, but services will begin on that holiday night according to schedule. The church is also notified of the decision of the Board to have services.

Probably my first reaction would be....Bro. Board member, if he believed it that strong he shouldn't have resigned and left me to make the decisions.

Then after counting to 10....there would be an emergency board meeting for sure.

[Pastor G]

Hey D... I think WH needs a board, what do you think?

[Apprehended]

Originally Posted by PastorD

Probably my first reaction would be....Bro. Board member, if he believed it that strong he shouldn't have resigned and left me to make the decisions.

Then after counting to 10....there would be an emergency board meeting for sure.

Do you think that you could have made it all the way to 10?

[seguidordejesus]

Originally Posted by Apprehended

I will propose a senario to get your reaction, if you care to.

A long time pastor resigns the church leaving it to another experienced Pastor from another area.

A holiday arrives which just happened to be on a regularly scheduled church service night. The pastor announces to the church that since it is a major holiday on that regular church night, services will be dismissed on that one night so that famlies can have their time together.

Church Board says to the pastor that they are not going to dismiss services on that night because the last, long time pastor taught them not to dismiss regularly scheduled services even if it DOES fall on a holiday. So, the church board attempts to supercede the Pastor's announcement of no service that night.

Pastor at first tries to hold his own. Board informs pastor that they are going to have church that night, regardless. Board informs pastor that he is welcome to attend if he should desire, but services will begin on that holiday night according to schedule. The church is also notified of the decision of the Board to have services.

Kind of a silly example, as any church that would fight over such a petty thing may as well shut the doors.

[Apprehended]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

Kind of a silly example, as any church that would fight over such a petty thing may as well shut the doors.

You might be surprised what people will fight over.

Silly? Maybe. But a true case.

However, it was not the church fighting...just the Board.

Shut the doors? Not hardly. The church is well above the average size.

[Joseph Miller]

Originally Posted by Sherri

We have a Deacon Board. They are consultants on all things financial, but not spiritual. Those things are left up to the Pastoral Staff.

That is how it should be done.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by PastorD

Probably my first reaction would be....Bro. Board member, if he believed it that strong he shouldn't have resigned and left me to make the decisions.

Then after counting to 10....there would be an emergency board meeting for sure.

And would you be able to elimanate said board member?