Board Meeting

“this is the tenth ballot. If we cannot reach a decision on this one, we will have to adjourn and bring it up next board meeting. It’s after 1 AM already.” The board chairman sounded as weary as he looked. He handed the pieces of paper down each side of the table. Each took one and almost immediately wrote on it, folded it and passed it back up the chain. The chairman opened each, read the results and marked a tally sheet. “Split again, five to five.” He sighed. “I know this decision is critical to our congregation,” he said. “Keeping or dismissing a pastor is not a light issue. It will effect us for years to come. Some of us have known Bob for many years and have learned to love and trust him. Some of you are new to the board and a few even to our congregation.” He paused. “That is exactly the point,” said one of the younger members. “If we don’t have a change in leadership we’re going to lose the younger crowd. We need a young pastor to lead us.” The arguing started over again, divided along age, music and worship style. The chairman broke into the heat of the discussion. “May I have a motion to adjourn?” he said. “So moved,.” “Seconded.” “All in favor.” Though not unanimous, the vote carried. Frustrated and weary, the board members left the room. It was night outside and inside. A week later, as the board members filed in, they saw Bob sitting at the foot of the table. “As you see, I’ve invited Bob here to the meeting. I’ve asked him to give a brief worship before we begin our discussion tonight. He will leave after that and so will not break the board rule against his presence when discussing his employment. Bob, the time is yours.” Though all had heard him speak many times from the pulpit, none remembered a more gracious presentation. He did not talk of his employment, music or worship style. His last words were, “If you elect to have me stay, I do so gladly; if you ask me to leave, I do so gladly. In both cases, you are expressing the will of God in my life and I desire that above all things.” He prayed briefly and left. There was silence in the room. Finally the chairman said, “Let’s take a vote. Ballots were passed gathered and counted. “it is unanimous,” he said; “We’re keeping Bob.” Some have objected to the belief in Universal salvation on the grounds that it destroys free will. The argument is that, if God exerts His power or even exhibits His love in such measure that all are convinced against their will, then free will is violated. The fictional board meeting is my answer to this. Should all be convinced that something is right doesn’t mean that their right to vote as they please has been violated. It means only that something has happened to change their mind. Their freedom of choice is still in operation; they are not being coerced. They merely choose to align themselves with a position which they previously opposed based on further information. When exposed to the naked love of God; when all their questions are answered; when all actions are seen for what they truly are; when all wrongs are righted; when we know as we are known, will we not freely and joyously surrender to Him who loves us beyond death? When we say, “love conquers all,” are we not saying that, exposed to infinite love, will we not joyously agree that we are wrong and He is right? Note: Though the board meeting is a fictional event, it is based in a real one. It was an even more momentous vote. The Conference President, who oversaw ministers and churches in the entire State of Oregon was in trouble with his pastors. None of us regular folk knew why, but the pastors influenced their parishioners who were the voting members to determine the president’s employment status. In this case, the vote went against the president. His wife, standing at his side, wept openly. His “acceptance” speech was the most gracious thing I have ever heard. He said, “You have expressed your will and we accept it as the will of god. Thank you for freeing us to move into the next work that He has for us.”