Have planning sessions as often as needed to coordinate the work. Once a week is normal.

• Do not rely on a majority vote f the entire congregation for spiritual decisions. You and the other shepherding elders lead the flock God has given you; it does not lead you. Rule by consensus in the church is the abdication of spiritual leadership.
• Avoid the traditional congregational business meeting if it becomes a gripe session.
• If sensitive issues must be discussed, hold meetings to let people air their opinions. Do not vote at such sessions.
• Repeat these sessions until the steam has cooled; the people will know that they have been heard.
• Then take action. Those whose views were not followed will still know that they were taken into account.

*Find in 1 Kings 12:1-24 what happened in a business meeting that divided the people.

*Find in Acts 15 examples of guidelines to lead a meeting to resolve a conflict or plan.

T&M Student Activity Guide page 28b

Leadership Handbooks of Practical Theology, edited by James Berkeley, Volume 3:

• hiring support staff: section 18
• calling, terminating support staff: sections 19, 21
• supervising staff: sections 17, 20
• church government: section 27
• managing the church office: sections 28-29
• when to move or retire: section 9

If working cross-culturally, find out the different decision-making patterns that are used in the culture.

• Adopt for the church the pattern that prefers a strong leader who first gathers all the facts and seeks wise counsel.
• Find out how the culture handles delicate matters and sensitive issues. Every culture has ways of dealing with things both well and poorly.
• People will be very pleased if you learn to do things right while holding to biblical ideals.