Ten Tips for More Efficient Meetings
Law Meets Gospel
Based on my experience with meetings good and bad, I’ve compiled some tips from both practical and parliamentary sources to get any group on the right track. Start on time. Identify the meeting’s goals and each agenda item’s goal ahead of time. Set time limits for each agenda item. Have all reports submitted in writing with enough advance time for board members to read them, and have any recommendations for action highlighted in the reports. Use unanimous consent for uncontroversial questions. . Ask for any changes. If there are none, the minutes are adopted by unanimous consent....
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1750 Luther’s Legacy on Church and State
Law Meets Gospel
Josh concludes his conversation with Derek Nelson, coauthor of Resilient Reformer: The Life and Thought of Martin Luther, this time exploring the legacy of Luther's thought on Western society's concepts of religion and government.
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1749 Luther on Government's Role in Religion
Law Meets Gospel
Josh continues his conversation with , coauthor of , this time focusing on Luther’s attitudes about government’s role in governing religion.
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1748 Luther on Church and Government
Law Meets Gospel
, coauthor of , shares some of the attitudes and work of Martin Luther toward the relationship of Church and government.
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1747 Law in Luther's Day
Law Meets Gospel
Before Martin Luther became a monk, he was a rather successful student whose father encouraged his path into the study of law. Informed in part by his brief stint in law school and other encounters with lawyers in his day, he developed a distaste and distrust for the profession as a whole. , coauthor of , helps explain what a lawyer did in sixteenth-century Germany, what studying the law would have been like, and what Luther thought about the law. Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode...
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1746 Building a Culture of Accountability
Law Meets Gospel
When organizations lack accountability mechanisms, they can become stagnant. When someone suggests implementing some accountability or asks specific questions about current practices, the person responsible for that aspect of the faith community's life often takes it as a personal attack. But when a community values accountability as a necessary part of good stewardship, moments of accountability can serve to improve the organization's mission. Developing a culture of accountability takes time, but the process can be served by bringing in an outsider without personal connections to share what...
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1745 Authority to marry
Law Meets Gospel
All states authorize clergy to perform marriage ceremonies. But each state has its own definitions and procedures. For example, some states have narrow definitions of who qualifies as clergy, sometimes even requiring registration. And the consequences of not following these procedures can fall on both the marrying couple and the minister. Related (July 11, 2013) Congratulations, Amy and Hunter! Subscribe to the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Support the Law Meets Gospel Podcast Sign up to contribute an amount you choose for each episode the Law Meets Gospel Podcast publishes.
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1744 Reformation 500!
Law Meets Gospel
October 31, 2017, marks the five hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's ninety-five theses, which sparked the Reformation. The ripples of the Reformation still can be seen in the Church and society. Law Meets Gospel marks the occasion with Josh explaining the inspiration for several aspects of the podcast. Law Meets Gospel is inspired by Luther's teaching about Law and Gospel within Christian scriptures. Josh's sign-off, "As you work to meet the worlds need, be wise, be bold, and be joyful." is inspired by two quotes. First, Frederick Buechner's writing, "The place God calls you is the place...
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1743 Gifts received after dissolution
Law Meets Gospel
What happens when someone gives a gift to a religious organization that no longer exists? Leaders should consider several things before dissolving an organization to make the answer more certain. First, ensure the organization uses clear language that is also consistent with applicable statutes. Second, determine whether any denominational entity has already been designated as a corporate successor. Third, if there is no denominational entity, consider designating a corporate successor. Fourth, communicate with all community members and supporters and invite those who include the organization...
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1742 Housing allowance decision
Law Meets Gospel
The federal district court for the Western District of Wisconsin recently held that the Tax Code's housing allowance violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The decision in , (W.D. Wis., Oct. 6, 2017), deals with . It does not affect the exemption from taxed income based on the value of a church-owned home, traditionally referred to as a parsonage, which is found in 26 U.S.C. § 107(1). Josh explains how the housing-allowance exemption works, why the court concluded it is unconstitutional, and what ministers and religious organizations should look for as the case progresses. ...
info_outlineBased on my experience with meetings good and bad, I’ve compiled some tips from both practical and parliamentary sources to get any group on the right track.
- Start on time.
- Identify the meeting’s goals and each agenda item’s goal ahead of time.
- Set time limits for each agenda item.
- Have all reports submitted in writing with enough advance time for board members to read them, and have any recommendations for action highlighted in the reports.
- Use unanimous consent for uncontroversial questions.
- Don’t vote on minutes. Ask for any changes. If there are none, the minutes are adopted by unanimous consent.
- When a report contains only information and not any recommendations for action, don’t vote on it.
- When a motion comes from a committee, don’t ask for a second. The committee is presumed to include at least two in favor of its consideration. (Also, in small boards—about a dozen or fewer—motions need not be seconded.)
- Clearly articulate any desired action, typically in the form of a motion, to focus discussion. Don’t wait until the end of discussion to make a motion.
- If you’ve finished all business contained in the agenda, don’t vote to adjourn. After giving everyone an opportunity to present additional business, just adjourn.