The Priority of the Board

Country Board
(December, 2007)

The Priority of the Board:

When we are asked to serve on the church board we often lack a clear perspective of what we are to do. For many, the board is responsible to make sure the church remains financially sound, oversee the various ministries and deals with any problems arise. However when we view the pages of scripture we find a completely different emphasis. In the book of acts we find that the focus was not upon the oversight of the organization of the church, but oversight of the spiritual life and needs of people In Acts 20:28-32 we read of Paul addressing the leadership at Ephesus for the final time. In these words he challenges them concerning their role within the church. It is in these final words that we discover two essential elements concerning our priority and role as board members.
First, we are to develop our personal relationship with Christ. Paul challenges them to “Keep watch over yourselves.” A healthy church begins with a healthy board and a healthy board begins with a dynamic relationship with Christ. Keeping watch means to be on guard and give careful consideration for. Furthermore, the emphasis of this command is that we are to do so continually. It is easy to become slack in our personal relationship with Christ. Our only intake of the scriptures is the instruction we receive on Sunday. Protecting our spiritual relationship with Christ requires that we be disciplined to study the scriptures and spend time in prayer.
Second, we are to “keep watch over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” As a board, we are responsible to oversee the spiritual health and growth of the congregation. Too often in the board we spend the bulk of our time discussing organizational issues within the church and leave the spiritual oversight to the pastor. But Paul makes it clear that the responsibility for the spiritual well being of the church rests upon the shoulders of the pastor and the board. Furthermore, this task is not merely assigned by the churches selection of us to serve on the board, but by divine authority and appointment. God holds us responsible for caring for the spiritual needs of the church. This means that we are responsible to be involved in the lives of people and minister to the needs of people. We are to spend time praying for people. We are to be passionate in our pursuit of God’s will and purpose rather than our own personal agenda or anyone else’s. We are to set the example for others on how to live their Christian life. Being a leader is more than just making decisions about the budget and the programs, it encompasses how we live and how we minister to the needs of people.