Focusing on Our Why!
by Deacon Lexanne Graves, Pinnacle Associate
Many times in church committee meetings I have tried to seek balance between the business and spiritual matters that are before us. I was asked recently, “What is the point of doing this?” And my answer is because of “My Why.”
I exist because out of the abundance of God’s love, the Holy Spirit breathed life into me and claimed me as God’s own in my baptism (and yours, too!). AND, if my daily purpose doesn’t always center me in God the Creator, I have missed the point of this whole earthly life. I use this same lens when trying to lead meetings, consultations, and even relationships. When I don’t center our work and time together around Our Redeemer Jesus, then I am missing a golden opportunity to invite in the Holy Spirit who is more powerful than I am in resolving the sanctuary paint color conflict or repairing an HVAC!
Pardon my inserted sarcasm there of some of the “business matters” I have seen a leadership team grapple with in my 25+ years of ministry. I wonder sometimes when people gather in churches to "do" church business—clean up baptismal and member records, complain about lack of money, look at HVAC bids, beg the last person to teach Sunday school children—they forget that Jesus calls us to be disciples in a hurting world. We can miss “Our Why” for existing and cling to our own egos for answers instead of the One who created us.
By being intentional in creating space and time for exploring God’s Word in our meetings, we might be amazed at what God can do mightily when you invite Her in! Yes, we do have business things to attend to and things to fix. Yet, if we lose our identity in Jesus, then honestly, what is the point in gathering? There are numerous groups who gather and endeavor to do altruistic things in our communities. Yet, the church is (and should be) different in its calling and purpose. Jesus isn’t another To Do Checklist where we read the required passage and pray, then move on to the nitty gritty church matters to discuss. Jesus is truly the reason for our living and our purpose.
What might this intentionality of creating space and time in a church committee/team- /session/council meeting look like? Consider doing a book study annually and talk about the real connection between faith and life. Book suggestions are Canoeing the Mountains by Tod E. Bolsinger; 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones; Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson; and Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor. Listen to a religious podcast about theology and daily living— “The Pastor Life Podcast” from Pinnacle Leadership Associates is not just for pastors! Ask the group to consider Matthew 6:21: "Where our treasure [or time] is, there our heart will be also,” and spend time journaling or drawing what this means to you.
I encourage you to be curious about finding a balance in the spiritual and business matters in your context. Consider ways to bring Jesus into the business matters of the church to align them with your identity, your purpose, your WHY. When the faith community gathers for whatever purpose and it doesn’t intentionally listen to and wrestle with Jesus there in that room, then we have missed the point of being the spiritual human beings we are created to be.
For more insights on creative ways to find spiritual and business balance in leading church meetings and in effective time management of meetings, feel free to reach out to Pinnacle Associate Lexanne at LGraves910@gmail.com.