Principles for Christian Leaders

Composition and work of committees

Too many ministers—A mistake has been made in placing ministers on so many boards and committees, to do the financial planning and to decide questions that should be decided by businessmen. Our ministers should not be called to spend their time in board meetings and council meetings. In doing this class of work they are not advancing the interests of the cause as they would if they were to go out into aggressive warfare. PCL 192.1

There are cases when our ministers are needed at our institutions to help in deciding important questions. A minister can do much for God at a sanitarium. This line of work is not to be neglected. But ministers are not to spend their time in the ordinary routine and debates of business.—MS 5, 1902 (June 21, 1901) PCL 192.2

Fewer and shorter meetings—All the council and committee meetings should be so planned and conducted that these wearing, taxing seasons may be lessened both in number and duration. Those who engage in them should give much thought to the matters to be considered, before bringing them before the committee, and should come quickly to the points of interest. Make them plain, and let every one try to dispatch the business as speedily as possible, and not hold and tax the minds and bodies of men for long hours to do the business that might and should be dispatched promptly. There should be a constant effort for brevity in business meetings. PCL 192.3

Harmony and simplicity in the work, an avoidance of all unnecessary machinery, will do much to preserve the courage and the physical and mental energies of those who have to consider so many points. Those who have none or but little of this kind of labor should be very careful how they criticize or censure the ones who do have these burdens to bear. Let all so conduct themselves that they will not throw any extra burdens upon our president. They should not depend upon him to do their thinking. If they keep their own souls in the love of God, growing in spirituality, dissensions will be shut out; the oil of grace will cause the machinery to run smoothly.—MS 3, 1890 (August 10) PCL 193.1

Men in responsible positions should not be kept up through unseasonable hours in committee meetings. They need rest for the brain, and will break down unless they have rest. Reforms will have to be brought round in the holding of committee meetings, that those who are actors in these meetings may have clear, sharp thoughts, and thus expedite the business. PCL 193.2

Committee meetings as they are run by our people through the hours when men should rest the weary brain, are destructive to the mental, physical, and moral powers. Then have it understood that those who come to the committee meetings come with the thought that they are to meet with God, who has given them their work; that it is a sin to waste moments in unimportant conversation; for they are doing the Lord’s business, and must do the work in the most businesslike, perfect way.—RH, November 14, 1893 PCL 193.3

God’s servants, in need of rest of mind, and sleep, have been greatly distressed and burdened over these matters. In the hope of reaching a decision, they continue their meetings far into the night. But life is too precious to be imperiled in this way. Let the Lord carry the burden. Wait for Him to adjust the difficulties. Give the weary brain a rest. Unreasonable hours are destructive to the physical, the mental, and the moral powers. If the brain were given proper periods of rest, the thoughts would be clear and sharp, and business would be expedited.—7T 256 (1902) PCL 193.4

Reduce number of resolutions—I have been shown that our conferences have been overburdened with resolutions. One-tenth as many would be of far greater value than a larger number. I stated these things clearly, but still you [R. A. Underwood] urged that the resolution should be carried into effect. You made it evident that if God was leading me, He was certainly not leading you. Your resistance to my words and the manifestation of so much feeling expressed in your lowering countenance and your determined words impressed me very unfavorably.—Letter 22, 1889 (January 18) PCL 194.1

Seek wisdom from the group—In counseling for the advancement of the work, no one man is to be a controlling power, a voice for the whole. Proposed methods and plans are to be carefully considered so that all the brethren may weigh their relative merits and decide which should be followed. In studying the fields to which duty seems to call us it is well to take into account the difficulties that will be encountered in these fields. PCL 194.2

So far as possible, committees should let the people understand their plans in order that the judgment of the church may sustain their efforts. Many of the church members are prudent and have other excellent qualities of mind. Their interest should be aroused in the progress of the cause. Many may be led to have a deeper insight into the work of God and to seek for wisdom from above to extend Christ’s kingdom by saving souls perishing for the word of life. Men and women of noble minds will yet be added to the number of those of whom it is said: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, . . . that ye should go and bring forth fruit.” John 15:16.—7T 259 (1902) PCL 194.3

Dealing with critical individuals—A hard, unjust, critical spirit has been indulged among those who have held positions of trust in the work of God. Unless those who have indulged this spirit are converted, they will be relieved of the responsibility of acting a part in committees of council, even in the transaction of business. Unless they are converted, their voices must not be heard in the council, for the aggregate result is more injurious than beneficial.—MS 33, 1894 (August 3); TM 185, 186 PCL 195.1