Church Board Training Manual

   

PIC No. 54: Pails in Comparison (Nov. 21, 2023)
Book #1 of 3 in the Churches in Transition Series

• Title: Church Board Training Manual: For Churches in Transition (Book 1 of 3)
• Authors: Dr. Dennis Baker and Dr. John Vawter
• Publisher: ChurchSmart Resources/IPM (Jan. 1, 2020, 70 pages)
• Management Bucket #14 of 20: The Board Bucket

Welcome to Issue No. 54 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system. 

Church Boards: “No Meetings After the Meetings”

If the authors of Church Board Training Manual (Book #1 of 3 for Churches in Transition) had priced this incredible resource on a value-per-page basis, you could not afford to buy all 70 pages. Honest! This book is jam-packed with value! Pastors and church board members—everywhere—are now very grateful to Dennis Baker and John Vawter.

The publisher, Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), provides “temporary interim pastors for churches between pastors, strengthening churches in transition.” IPM has published three books for churches in transition—and each workbook is a must-read. (Note: in my last blog, I started with Book #2 of 3, because the title was just too tempting: Unhealthy Church Boards: Bringing Health to Unhealthy Ministries.)

Book 1 of 3 is true to Scripture, practical, wise, and witty! And Baker and Vawter don’t waste your time. Here’s one of many take-aways from page two:

“At one church, it was the pastor who was strong and dominating. Board members had told him he was like a runaway freight train barreling dangerously down the tracks. When he demonstrated that behavior, one board member learned to head it off wisely by saying, ‘Here comes the Choo-Choo again.’ Everyone would laugh, and the pastor, to his credit, would humbly accept the message and ease back on the throttle.”

The authors add, “The board had found a soft, safe, kind way to tell the leader they respected that he needed to let Christ control the moment.”

The first section of the book succinctly covers “The Ten Core Essentials.” (What would be on your board’s list of the core essentials?) Their list: “Christlikeness, Faith in God, Honesty and Integrity, Humility, Unity of the Spirit, Self-Awareness, Kingdom Vision People … Seeing the Big Picture, Shepherd Leaders . . . Not Just Directors, Clearly Defined Roles, and Communication, Communication, Communication.”

Baker and Vawter also note Howard Hendricks’ insights on “Roles, Rules, and Relationships.” The authors list eight suggestions for having clearly defined roles between the pastor, the staff, and the church board, including this: “No meetings after the meetings.” 

You’ll appreciate the brief commentary on the tenth core essential. “Please notice in this section entitled ‘Communication, Communication, Communication’ that we did not have to use too many words, take up very much space or spend very much time to communicate, communicate, communicate. It does not take long to communicate to one’s flock…and every minute invested in communications will be well worth it.”

The book’s second section is equally helpful—and stunningly practical. The authors highlight 12 topics including:
   • Assignment Goal Based Approach
   • Board Members and Board of Directors Responsibilities
   • Covenant for Board and Staff Meetings
   • Who Leads the Church [with a “responsibility grid”]
   • Board Decision Making
   • Organizational Trust and Distrust
   • The Strategic Interim Pastor

I’ve read my fair share of the board governance literature, but I don’t recall ever reading a section on “The Church of Jesus Christ is both an organism (body) and an organization.” I love this line: “All organizations are organized (From Chaotic to Rigid) to accomplish a purpose.” Must-read!

The book includes a template for an elder covenant (“A Solemn Agreement”). And this also preaches: “Hindrances to Decision Making.” The authors list nine hindrances: Fear, Critics, “Someone will leave,” Indecision, Unanimity, Lack of prayer, Lack of collegiality, Lack of faith, and Uncertainty about the Spirit’s leading (but cannot go on indefinitely).

I’ve always encouraged boards to have written agreements with their top leaders (pastors or CEOs). The four-page template is comprehensive. Also helpful, the four guiding principles about mission from a Baptist church (plus “boundary” priniciples and “accountability” principles). This reminded me of another helpful prioritization resource, an “Ends Policy,” from Lancaster County Bible Church that is featured in John Carver’s policy governance 448-page tome, Boards That Make a Difference.

Did I mention the authors could have charged by the page? Page 56, “Organizational Trust,” is easily worth $100 in time saved when preparing a board meeting devotional talk on trust. Co-author Dennis Baker has written an annotated review of The Hungry Spirit, by Charles Handy, and his seven principles of trust. (What? I’m a big fan of Charles Handy, but I’ve never read this book. Grateful!)

This three-book series should be required reading for every church board member.  

PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Board Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.

[   ] Lessons From the Church Boardroom: 40 Insights for Exceptional Governance, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. (Read the commentary by 40 guest bloggers!) Order from Amazon.

[  ] The Council: A Biblical Perspective on Board Governance, by Gary G. Hoag, Wesley K. Willmer, and Gregory J. Henson. (Read my review.)

[  ] The New Elder's Handbook: A Biblical Guide to Developing Faithful Leaders, by Greg R. Scharf and Arthur Kok. (Order from Amazon.)

[  ] Best Practices for Effective Boards, by E. LeBron Fairbanks, Dwight M. Gunter II, and James R. Cauchenour. (Read my review.)

Watch for my next review:
[  ] Transforming Church Boards: For Churches in Transition (Book 3 of 3), by Dennis Baker, David C. Fischer, and John Vawter. (Order from Amazon.)

Read my previous review:
[  ] Unhealthy Church Boards: Bringing Health to Unhealthy Ministries (For Churches in Transition, Book 2 of 3), by Dennis Baker, David C. Fisher, and John Vawter. (Read my review.)

To order from Amazon, click on the title for Church Board Training Manual: For Churches in Transition (Book 1 of 3), by Dennis Baker and John Vawter. And thanks to John Vawter for sending me a review copy. For more information on IPM, visit the website. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews.

MORE RESOURCES:

   • John Pearson’s Buckets Blog
   • Subscribe: Your Weekly Staff Meeting eNews
   • John Pearson’s book reviews on Amazon
   • Management Buckets website
   • Governance of Christ-Centered Organizations Blog

Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month. 

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