10 Sep Voting in the Church

When I talk to churches about the governance model, several questions typically come up. One involves voting. 

In many of our churches, 10-25% of the people are on the board, and you vote for people on those boards. The issue of American democracy and having a vote is vital to people– they want to have a say in who sits on the board. But as I talk to people, I look at them straight, and say, “Would you agree that your voting doesn’t necessarily put the best people in the best spots?” Their answer is generally “yes.”

Voting is not a biblical model for putting leaders into place. It’s an empowerment issue. Under the governance system, we encourage letting people nominate persons for various positions. But your leadership team makes appointments to put gifted people in proper places. This follows the Acts 6 model. Deacons were “nominated” by the people but appointed by the Apostles.