So whats a quoram anyway? I probably even spelled it wrong. Well heres my explanation from what I learned tonight. In order to hold and official meeting where decisions are made, there must be 50% +1 of the membership in attendance. In our case, we needed 25 members to be in attendance at tonights annual meeting. At an annual meeting, the budget must be passed and various reports must be given. In the case of Erin Village Alliance Church, tonight we failed. We failed to get 50% of the membership to attend.Before I go off on a tyrade about how pathetic that is, I must recognize that only 50% of the Wright household attended. So when I scold and talk badly, I need you to understand that I am not without blame. I can assure you, that that is not likely to happen again in this household.
I feel very badly for Jake as he works very hard and had organized a meeting that could not continue. I feel bad that his flock scattered in the hills. I feel bad for the 2 new elders that were to be elected tonight. These two people had prayerfully decided that they would serve our congregation, and we couldnt even muster enough people to vote. I feel badly for those people that drove a long way to get to the meeting. I feel badly for non members as they witnessed first hand the pathetic show of interest. I feel badly for Kellen. I feel badly for EVAC. I was embarrassed and ashamed. I still am. I feel ashamed before God that this great congregation couldnt do the business that is needed to do, in order to function. Shame on us!
OK, so I cant stand politics and my own attendance at these meetings has not been very good. Political rules and regulations seem counter productive to our ministries of love and compassion, of teaching, preaching and discipleship, of praise and worship, but, politics is a neccessary "evil". I shouldnt call it evil though as it is through these laws, rules and regulations, that we can and do remain viable legal entities.
This can not happen again. While every person may have a wonderful explanation, the bottom line is we didnt have enough people to hold a meeting. That is a disgrace and we should be ashamed of ourselves....thats the way I see it and thats all I have to say. Comment if you want or bow your head in shame...whatever.
Don:
ReplyDeleteI think you need to look at EVAC's mission statement - reaching young families. Many of us sent one member of our family as we have young children at home and it would have cost $20-$30 in babysitting for both of us to attend. Perhaps Jake and the elders need to look at how to better serve their congregation by choosing a more family friendly time (not bedtime on a week-night) before they start expressing anger. Maybe ask us why we were not there and try to rectify the issue rather than lashing out or saying we don't care. We really do!
Don,
ReplyDeleteWhile you are right (or wright lol!!) on several points, the comment above is also correct and that has now been addressed by holding the next meeting after church on April 9 with a potluck lunch. If it is a success perhaps the elders will change the meetings to this time slot.
Some good things did come out of last evening. It lit a fire under some of us who have not yet been baptized to do it, so we can become members. There were enough non-members in attendance to have made the quorum, so we felt responsible, too. (we quietly discussed that amongst ourselves last night, too)
So if the disappointment of last night results in more people being baptized and becoming church members - it was far from a loss.
The prayer time was awesome, which is another positive outcome.
I may be new to all of this, but I know that any time spent with a roomful of Christians in prayer, fellowship, or study has had a powerful impact. I would not have missed last night regardless of its outcome.
I have come to love EVAC and perhaps growing slowly is the right way or that more memberss are needed to reach the church's goal. Either way we all know it will be in God's time and his plan.
So I need to apologize to the person I offended because they are right. I thought I was careful to direct blame on myself, as I am also to blame.
ReplyDeleteI do not rememember any anger being exressed by leadership. I hope I did not imply that! I would prefer if you used the term "you" as oppossed to "they"
I DO NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ELDERSHIP OR LEADERSHIP. I express my own passion and thoughts. I have no authority. I'm just a guy that talks before he thinks. I talk from my heart and from my passion.
I guess I should have perhaps included the part about finding a more appropriate time to hold the meetings. It was certainly brought up very quickly.
You have a very valid comment and have probably identified one of the roots of the problems.
If I knew who you were, I would apologize to you in person.
Having said that, I am still ashamed. What will take that shame away? and in what forum do I get to express my disappointment?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThanks Randum Thoughts. If something is worth beefing about..its worth fixing. You present very clear and concise options for correction or consideration. I have every faith that this will be addressed in the appropriate forum.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I too enjoyed our time of prayer! Thanks for the post.
Don,
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I was frustrated last night as well. I have regularly attended the quarterly and annual meetings since becoming a member at EVAC. I think that these meetings are important and should be well attended. I do understand that people are busy, but plenty of notice was given as to the time and place of this meeting. We did not have our House Church meeting last night, so that people could attend the annual meeting.
The other comment that I would like to make is that I don't think that we should reduce the number of votes needed. We are expected to show up at work 100% of the time. Parents teach there children to strive for good marks in school, just getting a passing grade is not acceptable. Therefore, I think that at least 50% of the membership should make decisions about what is going at church. Perhaps we need to look at voting by proxy at the meeting.
There my two cents. I will be at the meeting on April 9th and I hope that many other people chose to attend as well.
Thanks Tara
ReplyDeleteI myself am pleased to do this after church. In fact that is a better time for me.
I had to forgo 3 hours of homework as I have three assignments due. That time can only be made up by getting up earlier every day...I am already up at 6am , or going to bed an hour later for three days in a row. So not only was I disappointed that we did not accomplish, but I will be paying for that dissapointment for the next three days.
On top of this, those people who felt that I was scolding them in anger, will be dissapointed in me.
Its a lose lose situation to open my mouth. I'm beginning to think I should just shut my mouth and live with disaapointment......but I cant.
I just cant get over the fact that we failed....FOR WHATEVER REASON and I agree with you Tara. 50% plus one is a democratic model that we should have no problem achieving.
Hey Tara...I dare you to voice your dissappointment on your Blog...hahaha
Don,
ReplyDeleteThanks for expressing passion and interest and conflicting viewpoints, though there is very little conflict in these posts.
We agree that it is too bad not enough people were able to be there.
We agree that a weeknight was obviously a bad time.
We agree that Sunday is a better time, hopefully.
We agree that people who care need to be members.
We agree that meetings where budgets and elections take place are important.
We agree that politics should have precious little or even less to do with what church is all about. (To be clear... quorum is not a political thing but a procedural thing... we need to do things the right way to include and encourage as many people to participate as possible.)
Thanks for expressing your passionate viewpoint.
We need to find ways to express and work out contrarian views and opinions with love for one another, for our Lord and for HIS church. Perhaps blogging is a good way to do that.
Blessings on all you posters.
well yeah blogging is a good way i rekon but not an alternative for face to face talking. I think people should put there name by what they say or there point is kinda watered down as they obviously dont believe in it that much to add their name.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, HELLO....IT'S A BLOG!!! hahahaha, is like someones freakin living room, they can express themselves all they want in there own house.
I got people mad at me one year when planing for the general meeting. When people would come to me before the meeting telling me they would not be there, I would say " that is no problem...but... What would you like us to do with your membership in the event we can not reach quarun? I don't know if there was anything we could do, but every one of those people did attend.!
ReplyDeleteWe expect our pastors and Board members to make time in there lives and yes sometimes spend $20 on a babby sitter and miss other family times to deal with not just the business , but the Mess that we create. You would think that Once a year we could show them the gratitude for there service and show up to elect the next person that we expect to drop everything on a regular bassis only to deal with business that we do not want to deal with. You can't say it but I will. Maybee "anonymous" Needs to show a little more respect for those in over her, and stop trying to blame others. The next time she does hire a baby sitter so she cane go out for the evening, she should ask herself why this is more important to her than the advancement of gods kingdom hear on earth....opinions like this is why I am not a pastor.
Oh my! I appreciate your passion, but the other side of the story is that a better meeting time probably fixes everything. We actually meet 4 times per year. We also have very active house churches. This church has the highest level of committment than any church I have ever been to! Though you have come to my support, I understand and feel for anonymous...now isnt this a strange turn of events. keep blogging and sorry I havnt been over to the site to get updated....I'll do that. CIAO
ReplyDeleteSo I was showing a friend the ins and outs of blogging and he pressed the garbage can on a really great comment from Pepsi Cola Kid. Too bad..it was a great comment. If it wernt for the computer crash I had, I'd have a backup and repost...but I dont. oh well...sorry PCK
ReplyDelete