When the Church Vote Doesn’t Go Your Way

by

I posted yesterday concerning the approval at the South Carolina Baptist Convention of the Great Commission Resurgence.  This approval met with a very significant majority vote (which shocked me personally).  While there are many different changes, the one that keeps me focused is that it changes the budget for more emphasis on sending more missionaries to the field.  It takes away some money from our institutions but also gives them allowance to raise money in other avenues.

The vote was a significant majority, but everyone involved are not raving fans (I know you’ve never heard of a situation like that in a church setting ;)).  I’m sympathetic to both sides.  I have dear brothers who were a part of leading the change and I have dear brothers who tried to stop it.  I see both sides, but the reality is, the change has happened now.

So, what do you do when the church vote doesn’t go your way?

At North Side, we faced the same dilemma.  Our church voted on the direction to change styles in worship from 2 styles to 1.  Not everyone loved it.  But what do you do when there are people who love their church but feel like they “lost” a vote?  What do we do, as Southern Baptists, if you are not in favor of the new direction?

You move forward.  Your family has spoken.  You may not agree with the outcome, but you deal with it like a family.  As Southern Baptists, we unite together.  If you have concerns about the possibility of something bad happening, pray that it doesn’t happen more than constantly talking about the risk.  If you don’t agree with the direction, pray for the leadership’s hearts as well as your own.

In the end, no matter if you lost a vote in your church or are not pleased with the outcome of the convention, Paul has some great words for us:

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.”  -Col. 3:12-15