How to Turn Board Meetings Into God Meetings, with Dave Beckwith (Ep 057)

Is it possible for a church to cancel board meetings entirely? Dave Beckwith thinks so.

October 19, 2023

by Dave Beckwith

“Since serving on a church board, do you feel your spiritual life has declined?” In a recent survey, 80 percent of respondents answered “yes” to that question. Why is this happening, and what can be done about it?

In this episode, I talk with Dave Beckwith about how to turn that around, including:

How our current corporate style of board meetings isn’t just unbiblical, it’s causing great harm to boards, pastors and the churches they serve
How to shift to a more biblical model
How to choose church leaders in a more biblical way
Advice about the best board sizes and term limits

Bonus Chat

When God Uses a Drop In Numbers to Redirect Your Efforts, with Dave Beckwith

Dave Beckwith and I talk about issues related to church size, based on a story that Dave tells in his book, and that I (Karl) cite in my new book, De-sizing the Church (coming April 2, 2024). Specifically we ask, what happens when a drop in attendance numbers isn’t loss, but simply a redirection?

To get the link for the bonus chat, subscribe to the free weekly newsletter at KarlVaters.com/Subscribe or become a monthly supporter at KarlVaters.com/Support.

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Credits

Producer
Veronica Beaver | [email protected]

Editor
Phil Vaters | [email protected]

Music
Composed and performed by Jack Wilkins | JackWilkinsMusic.com

Logo
by Solomon Joy

Correspondence
Shelley Vaters | Shelley@KarlVaters.com

Authors

Dave Beckwith

Dave Beckwith is the Western US Director for Volunteers with Standing Stone Ministry, a ministry of shepherding the shepherds. He's also senior pastor emeritus for Woodbridge Church in Irvine, California.
He's the author of God Meetings: An Awakening in the Board Room (with Joanne Beckwith), I Love the World, It's People I Can't Stand: Jonah's Journey of Brokenness and Yours, and Your Winning Edge: God's Power Perfected in Weakness.

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Karl Vaters

Karl Vaters produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. He has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience.
You can follow Karl on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, or Contact Karl to inquire about speaking, writing, and consultation.

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