Reference has been made in our discussions to the perplexities that some times arise because of the getting together of groups of different kinds before our regular councils, who discuss and settle questions beforehand. This raises a question which is very much to the point. I think we might draw a lesson of benefit all along the line in our administrative work. This is one evil that we should seek to guard against—the direction and control of the work by small groups, or by single individuals. Some men injure themselves and bring harm to the work through the unwise policies they follow in administrative affairs.
The Circumventing of Committees
I have seen a disposition on the part of some leaders to try to circumvent their committees by taking one group aside to deal with a problem on which they believe this group will support them, and then at another time and for some other plan leave this group to one side and go off with another group, seeking to get them to approve of something else. I do not believe the cause of God ought to be administered in that way.
If a leader proposes a plan and it is voted down, he ought to be man enough and Christian enough to abide by the decision of his committee, and drop the proposition. If a plan is not good enough to win the approval of his committee, it is not good enough to pass.
I believe that our success in leadership depends upon our keeping close to the brethren in as wide a circle as possible, and having them with us in what we try to do. If our plans and our policies will not bear that kind of scrutiny, and that kind of approach and cooperation, then I think we would better lay them aside and try to find some plan on which the brethren can agree to work with us. We ought to be openhearted and clear and aboveboard in all our actions, and I do not believe we ought to give any encouragement or countenance to rulership or dictatorship by small groups, or by individuals.
The older I grow, the more I see in the statement by Jesus, "All ye are brethren." We ought to work together as brethren, and make our leadership of such a nature that it will be frank and open and above any suspicion on the part of those who work with us. I believe that with all my heart.
I also believe in the gifts of the Spirit. The Lord Himself endows different men with different gifts. There may be such a thing as the gift of leadership. It is set forth in the New Testament under different names, as, for instance, the name "apostles." But I do not believe there is anything within the whole range of the gifts of the Spirit that is of a dominating character, or that might be called the gift of dictatorship. Let us be careful to keep out of such a category.
Veto Power Not Legitimate
When a committee meets and decides a matter, even though we may not personally see much light in it, we ought to cooperate with the brethren in carrying it out. We ought to be careful how we attempt to circumvent the action of committees, or run ahead of committees, or put them in embarrassing positions simply to save our faces as leaders. The brethren are kindhearted and good, and sometimes have had to strain their judgment just a bit to sustain us in some things we do in advance of them, where we ought to have waited for them to go along with us before we acted. We ought not to presume too much upon what the brethren will do in support of certain measures.
As leaders, we need to be careful in making promises contrary to or beyond actions taken by responsible committees. As an officer of the General Conference, I feel bound to abide by the actions of the General Conference Committee.
We ought not to assume veto powers. It is not the right of the president or the treasurer of the General Conference to veto what the committee councils have done, or to make promises which conflict with the actions of the committee. As far as the policies of the General Conference are concerned, neither the president nor the treasurer has any right to promise any one so much as a five-cent piece that has not been provided for by committee action, and this principle applies throughout our organization. I have seen harm come to different sections of the field, and confidence broken down, because leaders have made promises that could not be fulfilled, and that committees could not sustain.
So I make this appeal to you. These things are vital, and I think we shall all profit by a careful adherence to some of these general principles that make for success in the work of God.
* We believe nothing will tend to bring about a better feeling of understanding, confidence, and unity than for our full worker body—most of whom never have the privilege of attending our important denominational councils—to listen in to some of the actual molding words spoken by our appointed leaders as they earnestly discuss, on such occasions, matters of moment that concern the church we all love and serve. This stenographically reported statement from the president of the General Conference was made on July 20 during a special two-day session of the General Conference Committee, with the North American union presidents also in attendance, called at Washington for study of several very important items. To "hear" our president expressing himself—through this stenographic transcript—upon this particular point, permits us to know his inner attitudes, principles, and policies in a way and sense impossible in a formal statement. The editor assumes full responsibility for its appearance here, though Elder McElhany has consented to its release.—Editor.
