Discussion Guidelines #2

1.        See the introduction of Discussion Guidelines in the previous blog.

1.        1.  May I be the leader of this group?

            I need the group’s permission because I only lead those who give me permission to be the leader.  I may have the authority.  My name may be on the brochure or church letterhead as preacher, elder, or Bible class teacher.  But if the group doesn’t give me permission to be the leader, I will not lead.  How much authority does Jesus have (Matthew 28:18)?  How many people is He leading?  Jesus is only leading those who give Him permission to be their leader.  Many are invited, but only those who desire take the water of life (Revelation 22:17).  He wanted Jerusalem to follow Him in protection.  But they were not willing (Matthew 22:37).  I don’t have the authority of Jesus.  I will not be the leader if the group doesn’t give me permission.

2.       2.  Will we start on time (WWVB; www.time.gov, +, - 15 seconds)?

            We penalize those who come on time when we wait for late-comers.  Often the question is not whether we will start on time but when is it time.  I use a radio controlled watch and clocks.  They are synchronized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology radio station WWVB in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

3.        3.   Will we quit on time?

            Especially in a workshop setting, this helps the group learn to operate within limits, boundaries.  That is the way the world operates.  It is a good practice since it respects everyone’s time.


...to be continued...

Discussion Guidelines #1

Many discussions, classes, and meetings where there is conflict break up and/or become unproductive. It may be that the leader(s) did not know the value of guidelines.

Amos asked, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). We don’t have to agree on everything. But if we are going to travel together from Nashville, Tennessee, to St. Louis, Missouri, we must agree on some things: What time will we leave? What kind of transportation will we take? Who will drive? The clothes we wear and the food we eat along the way can be individual choice, but we must agree on the basics of the trip.

Often “family rules” are unconscious, unspoken, but understood. That means we rarely think about the rules, usually don’t discuss them, but people pay a price when they disobey them. It is my observation that it is better to have our rules conscious, spoken, and understood. Then we can evaluate them and change them if that would be helpful to the group: family, congregation, work group, or sports team.

I use a form of these guidelines any time I am leading a group: counseling, workshop, auditorium Bible class, preachers’ workshop stress session, congregation “Family Meeting,” or conflict resolution. Many conflicts arise because we are playing by different rules.

I will discuss the ideas behind the guidelines. James Jones introduced these concepts to me. I watched him in counseling sessions, classes, and leadership workshops. It was amazing how stress went down when I knew the boundaries. It was safe when I played by the rules and believed that others would do the same or be held accountable for not doing so.

These guidelines need to be negotiated–not commanded. Simply reading them to a group will not get buy-in. I like to discuss them and talk about why they contribute to group health. I take about ten minutes with a group where most of the people are familiar. I take about 1½ hours in doing a Saturday church meeting during a conflict intervention workshop.

…to be continued…

50 Years

I had a good two-day celebration of fifty years of preaching.  On the actual date, Saturday, June 18, John Parker and I spoke at an Interim Ministry Workshop at Freed-Hardeman.  We had a good group and appreciate the opportunity to share that information.

The next day, Sunday, June 19, I spoke at the second service at Shipp’s Bend church of Christ in Centerville, Tennessee, where I preached my first sermon fifty years ago.  My family:  Gail, Mother, children, and grandchildren were present.  In addition to the Shipp’s Bend members, several friends were also present.
 

I was glad to have Ward and Idell Mayberry there.  They were our next-door neighbors when I was sixteen years old.  Ward was our preacher at Shipp’s Bend.  He took me hunting and fishing often.  On one of those hunting trips, he said, “When I am gone to National Guard camp this summer, would you be willing to preach one Sunday night?”.  I said I would.  A couple of months later he asked how I was coming on my sermon.  I had not started.  He said, “Come over and I’ll help you.”  He helped me with my sermon.  Idell typed the outline.  I preached that Sunday night and have not missed many Sundays since that time.  I appreciate them, and the thousands of people who have helped me since that time.

Collegeside gave me a fifty-year plaque my last day there.

I appreciate everyone’s encouragement.

Interim Ministry Workshop

"When You Preacher Leaves"

Saturday, June 18

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Jerrie Barber

John Parker

Jerrie Barber

and

John Parker

 will be discussing an alternative to unintentional interim(s) after a long and/or conflicted ministry.

Some topics to be discussed:

• The interim process.
• Why have an interim preacher?
• When should a church consider an interim?
• The who and how of a self-study.
• The Transition Monitoring Team.
• The church time line.
• Training the people who will lead in the selection of the next preacher.
• Questions and answers about interim ministry.

     This workshop, hosted by the FHU Office of Church Relations, is for elders, deacons, and members who might be in the selection process.  It will also be good for preachers who are considering interim ministry.  Ladies are encouraged to attend.  Gail Barber and Jill Parker will be pesent to answer questions about the roll of the wives of interim ministers in the process.

     The Office of Church Relations will provide refreshments at the coffee break and a discount coupon for addendees to have lunch in the FHU dining hall.  There is no charge for this workshop.  FHU requests that those who plan to attend contact Kira at:  (800) 348-3481, Extension 6020 or email kjones@fhu.edu and submit a free registration for the Interim Ministry Workshop.

Contracts: Observations #4

1. An agreement should be completed, signed, and copies given to everyone involved before the anticipated relationship begins.
2. They should be mutually negotiated. Both parties should spent time, thought, and prayer about what is important to a good working relationship. They bring their requests and convictions to the meeting and start talking, clearing up vague points, eliminating conflicting wants, and confirming mutual desires.
3. I like to work out a trial contract and sleep on it. When I have done that, I have had elders propose some changes and I have thought of something I would like to modify. My observation that both of us were happier after sleeping on it and making adjustments after thought. When I know this is not the final draft, it lowers my anxiety.
4. My experience is that many times people forget what they said. In more than four decades of preaching, I have reminded elders of agreements on raises, evaluations, and working relationships. They have referred to our contract on time away and when that is to be scheduled. When it is written, it is easy to give “book, chapter, and verse.”
5. This document is living and changing as the relationship changes. As with the original document, the changes should be written and signed.

I have learned that contracts are not for dishonest people. Contracts are to preserve and protect agreements made by dead people and forgetful people.

I have found it very satisfying in my relationship with elders to have the security of a record of our understandings. If you have questions, comments, or criticism, I will be glad to hear from you: jerrie@barberclippings.com .

For a sample contract:  click here

Contracts: Why? and How? #3

What do you include in a church-preacher contract? Here is what was included with the last congregation where I was the regular preacher:

1. Title.
2. Purpose in the role.
3. Specific responsibilities – the more detailed, the less chance for misunderstanding later. A good agreement is preventing conflict before it arises.
4. Contract which includes days off, vacations, time away for meetings and other speaking appointments, other agreed activities outside the boundaries of the local congregation, and how much time should be given to terminate this agreement.
5. Supplement to the contract which I hope will change each year due to salary adjustments. This is where salary, fringe benefits, and other important agreements are recorded. I like to differentiate between a cost-of-living adjustment and a merit raise. A cost-of-living adjustment just keeps me at the same level as I was last year. It is not a raise. A merit raise indicates I am doing better and am being recognized for that. I like to have the understanding that I don’t have to have a merit raise, but we have to talk about why I did or did not receive one. If I get it, why? If I didn’t get a merit raise, what could I do to get one on the future?
6. Other agreements include items that are important to the relationship such as
   1. How will we relate to each other?
   2. As to meeting with the elders, will the preacher be permitted, required, or barred?
   3. Will moving expenses be provided? How much?
   4. How will we make changes to this agreement?

I have learned that contracts are not for dishonest people. Contracts are to preserve and protect agreements made by dead people and forgetful people.

…to be continued…

Contracts: Why? and How? #2

As I was preparing to leave the congregation discussed in the last post,  a question came up in a men’s meeting one night, “Jerrie is running around, trying out about every other Sunday. Are we paying him on the Sundays he is gone?” I was asked to explain.

“Yes, I am being paid”, I replied.  “When I came here eight years ago, the elders and I agreed that if either of us decided it was time to terminate our relationship, I would be given ninety days with pay or until I found another congregation, whichever came first.”  During those eight years, two of those elders had died. The third one had resigned.

Someone asked the resigned elder, “Is that the way it was?” He said, “It seems like we talked about that, but I don’t remember what we said.” I was in an embarrassing situation. After some discussion, a deacon who had been with the congregation since its beginning and who was the treasurer said, “Brethren, we have had that agreement with every preacher we have ever had and that is the way we will treat Jerrie.” The person who had asked the question was satisfied.

That was close. What did I learn from that? Contracts, job descriptions, and written agreements are not just for dishonest people. They are for good Christian forgetful people, for people who die, and for people who value relationships and harmony too much to leave it to chance and fragile memory.

I have had people suggest that it is not very spiritual to require a contract and a signature: “Back in my Daddy’s day, people made agreements and shook hands. Their word was their bond.” That’s fine if it worked for your Daddy. However, I have seen the truth in the Chinese proverb, “The palest ink is better than the best memory.” God must not have thought that writing an agreement was unspiritual. He has been recording His covenants with man for thousands of years. Yes, some of it was even written in stone.

I have learned that contracts are not for dishonest people. Contracts are to preserve and protect agreements made by dead people and forgetful people.

…to be continued…