Bull Elks, Swimming Pools, and Boardship

Dear Trekker,

Have you ever served on a “Board” to advance “thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven?” If not, that opportunity awaits your participation! If you have or are, this letter is intended for you, for Boards are necessary in the world (but not of it) to conduct ministry effectively and responsibly.

I pulled out of my driveway last month, heading toward the center of town with a gorgeous, unhindered view of Pikes Peak front and center, flipped on the local radio news station and heard the following: A 1,000 pound bull elk (here in Colorado) had wandered into a rural, residential area and stepped gingerly into the deepest end of a canvass covered swimming pool. Surprise… it couldn’t get out! Finally, after much coaxing and prodding, it was gently urged to the shallow end where it climbed out on its own accord, shook itself off, and sauntered away undaunted! Of course I smiled, chuckled and said, “Only in Colorado!” True story! You can smile too.

I was on my way to take part in a new member Board development day for a youth ministry organization with which I have been involved for many years. I mused to myself, “I’ve got to use that! What a metaphor, what an attention getter! These six new Board members are 1,000 pound bull elks! (Fortunately, all were of the male gender.) All are immensely successful in their career fields, leaders wealthy in talent and resources, but… they might not realize what they are stepping into and how to “get out” of the organizational deep water and start acting like the bull elks they are!” Trekker, have you ever heard a bull elk bugle while in a rut? They are awesome… but we’ll stop there. Throughout the next couple of days, we did have some good laughs together.

Now trekker, Boards are not an individual sport! They are a team effort. “Bull elks” still must respect, listen and defer to one another. Boards do not need “devil’s advocates”, but men and women of God who “do not think of themselves more highly than they ought.” (The Apostle Paul, when speaking to the local church in Rome, gave some sound counsel… Romans 12:3-6a.) “Bull elks” of great potential we all may be by the grace of God. Hence, respect for the grace given to one another is key. Sober judgment is to be exercised as God grants such grace to be who He has made us. We must work together as a Body (Board) bringing our respective gifts, talents and offerings to the table “according to the grace given us” as we all have differing capabilities, experiences and gifts to contribute.

So, as I led off my remarks a while later, I challenged my colleagues with these words: “Don’t take yourself too seriously, but take Jesus Christ very seriously.” The clarion call for any “church” assembly/Board is to know the Lifegiver, Jesus Christ, and make Him known! The mission statement of the aforementioned youth organization is “to celebrate life with military kids, introduce them to the Lifegiver (Jesus Christ), and help them become like Him.” Simple… straightforward… precise!

Boards must continually ask, “What is our purpose” and gauge all ministry action accordingly, i.e. how does this or that decision or action fulfill our purpose? Then, how do we achieve or carry out the purpose honorably, legally, responsibly, and efficiently, together, as faithful stewards of God’s grace? Unity is critical in board dynamics, as is trust and follow through!

If in Christ we may know the truth and knowing that truth will be the linchpin of effective ministry (John’s Gospel, Chapter 8:31-33). Boards must know organizational history, ethos, culture and operating environment of the day! Full disclosure, candor and transparency must be front and center. Provenance is a good word for Boards (or any grouping) to understand. From whence is our birth, from where do we come, what did our founders envision and why? If this is not clear always, focus is blurred and eventually lost. This particular youth ministry has a unique history and is a blessed, hybrid organism in the Kingdom, but like any organization, responsible governance must occur and complete the grace granted provenance.

Also, that day, I challenged the new incoming Board members to think conjunctively! This should be second nature for Board members. Easy, routine solutions are not worthy of Board deliberation, but are usually accomplished through staff action.

Often Board guidance to the executive staff will be of the “both/and” category, not “either/or”. Remember the story of the woman taken in adultery? (John 8). Jesus neither condemned nor condoned, neither a write-off nor a wink. He both encouraged and admonished, saying “go and sin no more”. What an illustration of conjunctive thinking, arresting an inappropriate action and encouraging the higher goal! Boards must excel in this leadership function.

How important, too, is appropriate camaraderie among all board members! Respect, cooperation, deference of credit, humility, servant heart, and total integrity between Board partners “as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (as the Apostle Paul phrased it to his Philippian brothers) are demanded. When attitudes are “of grace”, Board unity is a mutual by-product, and God is honored (Psalm 133:1).

The great need for corporate agreement can be virtually a mystical reality to achieve at times, which may defy and discourage individual efforts. Also, for sure, our own penchant for self can be a horrendous hurdle to scale. We may frown at James and John wanting to sit on the right hand of Jesus in heaven. Their selfish, inane request prompted an immediate outburst from their fellow disciples. Taking ourselves or even our discernments as a Board too seriously can lead to inertia and ineffectiveness. Yet, believe what God wants for any entity in the Kingdom, He stands by to empower. Our part is to set goals worthy of His call and seek to accomplish them in a worthy manner.

Trekker, remember, in a way we are all “bull elks”. We “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”. However, if we are placed in a body, a “Board”, we will only function well when we graze in His pasture and stay out of little mud puddles or deep pools.

“Bugling” for Jesus, your fellow trekker,

Jim Meredith