Experiencing a good committee!

BURG Committee around the breakfast table!

No that isn’t an oxymoron but my experience last week whilst serving with the Baptist Union Retreat Group Committee.

I heard a trailer for a Radio Four programme the other day about the benefits of bureaucracy presented by the former Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell.  Of course he spoke as a life-long career civil servant but his basic thesis is that all of us benefit from good, people focused bureaucracy.

I suppose on my best days I feel that about church committees.  Now I know they can be the most frustrating part of the humanity we bring to the Body of Christ, but at their best a committee of people can come up with ideas, insights and solutions which no individual by themselves could.

That’s how I felt about the BURG committee as we gathered for three days at Ivy House Retreat Centre, Warminster last week.  It felt supportive, optimistic in spirit, willing to grapple with reality and every conversation was held in mutual respect.

As I ponder what made this particular time spent ‘in committee’ feel so positive I’ve concluded that:

·         The regular moments we worshipped together – Morning and Evening Prayer and Mid-day Communion enhanced our sense of fellowship and focused our thoughts on what was really important.

·         The meal times (even when spent in silence) made this feel so much more than simply being at a meeting – table fellowship has a valued place within the Christian tradition – it’s surely significant that so much of Jesus’ ministry was spent in the sharing of meals.

·         We gave ourselves a long time on the first day to get through an agenda – nothing is more stifling to discussion that an imposed, but often quite necessary, time guillotine.  The luxury of an afternoon session that could run on to an extension after supper was good.

What we experienced last week was actually a Committee mixed with a Retreat and, of course, that’s not always possible month by month.  Yet times of worship are ‘do-able’ in a monthly meeting - and the occasional meal or social event can enhance any committee’s self understanding.

They say a camel is a horse designed by a committee – but even camels have their place!
 
With best wishes – especially for your next committee.

Ian