Parliamentary Law: Big Picture

1. Management & Leadership in
Ministry
Parliamentary Procedures
Robert’s Rules of Order
The BIG picture

2. Imagine
Imagine a business meeting where …
anyone could speak on any subject, as long and
as many times as they pleased … if everyone
could speak all at once, as loudly and harshly as
they wished, and were there existed no guidelines
on ‘how’ a decision is to be made.

3. The Big Picture
Unless your church happens to be
the 1 church in the entire world
where everyone who attends is fully
under the transforming influence of
the Holy Spirit… all other churches
will need a system of leadership and
regulations; for the natural
manifestations of the sinful heart
often leads to chaos and carnage;
disorder can rein supreme; individual
rights unfairly disregarded and
trampled upon.
1Tim.1:8-9; 2Tim.3:1-4; Gal.5:19-20; Judges
17:6,21:25; 1 Cor.3:3, 11:17-18, 14:27-33; Col.3:8

4. The Big Picture
Christians leaders place value not only
upon the decisions which are made, but
equally upon ‘how’ the decisions are
made.
Wise leaders ask: Is the business of
Christ’s church being conducted in a
God-honouring, just, fair, orderly and
transparent manner?
No other organization on
the planet is responsible
for the great task of
saving souls and making
disciples, thus we are
responsible to do what we
do, as well as we can.

5. Many of the following thoughts
come from Dr. Barry McCarthy
former professor and president of
Cincinnati Seminary, former
president of the Southern Baptist
Convention, and a certified
professional parliamentarian

6. Business meetings rules
exist so that...
1)Decisions can be made in an
orderly and respectful manner.
1 Cor. 14:23, 27, 40
i.e. - only 1 thing at a time
is to be considered,
debated or voted upon.
- only 1 person speaking
at a time.

7. Business meetings rules
exist so that...
2) The will of the majority rules.
Acts 15:22 (collective conscience)
- When you join a group, you enter
into a written and long standing
tradition, to agree with the other
members „to allow the will of the
majority to prevail on all questions
that come before the group‟ B. McCarty
- „gracefully submit‟ to the action
of the entire organization. H. Robert

8. Business meetings rules
exist so that...
3) The minorities voice & vote
must not be suppressed
Num. 14:6-9, 1Kg. 22:12, 2Chr.10:8
– every person/member has the right
and responsibility to propose a
motion or amendment, speak for or
against a motion, or vote according
to their conscience.
- Henry Robert said that the
majority must “give to the minority
a full, free opportunity to present
their side of the case”.

9. Real People
Real Feelings
Real Perspectives
That need to be respected

10. Business meetings rules
exist so that...
4) The essential objective of
parliamentary procedures, is
decision-making after debate.
Acts 11:4, 15:6,7
– good and godly decisions, tend to be
„informed‟ & prayerful decisions.
- French root word for „Parliament‟ is
parley = talk/ discuss
- there is far greater danger in
suppressing alternate views, than in
allowing opposing views. Sometimes
other views are wiser and more inline
with God‟s will. Pr.15:22, 11:14

11. Business meetings rules
exist so that...
5) All members have equal rights,
privileges & responsibilities.
Jm. 2:3, Gal. 3:28, Eph.6:9
- Godly people may disagree
passionately with one-another, yet
just as passionately insist on the
other person‟s right to speak & vote
against the motion before the group.
- Just as there is no favoritism with
God, so to there can be no partiality
in Christ‟s church. We acknowledge
the equality of all.

12. Business meetings rules exist so that...
6) All members have the right to
know ‘what is going on’ & the
implications of a motion.
2 Cor. 4:2
- While there may be times to not
„prematurely‟ share information …
there is no place in the business of
Christ‟s church for purposeful
secrecy, deception, or distortion of
the facts.
- Truth & clarity always set us free
- Lies & deception & cover-ups are
fundamentally inconsistent w Christ.
- Always err on the side of transparency