AFTER pastoring a certain church nearly three years, it was evident that many of the urgently needed building repairs were not being done. This, along with disagreement as to just what projects should be done and how, shoddy workmanship on some past projects, lack of proper supervision, and other related problems, gave rise to a bold new idea—new at least to us.
The following idea was spontaneous at a board meeting. Why not appoint men to be in charge of such projects, a committee made up of those skilled in various lines, to free the church board for more pressing things? The idea was enthusiastically accepted, with the following results:
A committee of five men was nominated by the board and voted upon by the church. These men became known as the building trustees. The chairman was made a member of the church board, and the committee was considered a subsidiary of the board. Each year one member was to drop off and a new one nominated to take his place. The committee would select its own chairman each year.
Between board meetings, the newly formed trustees committee met and formulated their plans for 1969. At the following board meeting the chairman was ready with his report. He presented (1) a master plan for 1969—the projects needing attention, listed in the order the trustees felt they should be carried out, to an extent appropriated for by our 1969 church budget; (2) a project to be done the very next Sunday morning and a plan to carry it out; and (3) a statement of policies relative to church repairs. Item three was a by-product of this committee's first meeting. I hadn't asked for or expected such a report!
This has now put a whole new light on our church board meetings, freeing us from investigating the normal yearly up keep of the church (the building is an old one, by the way). The board simply approves the projects of the trustees, suggests further programs, and appropriates the money. Thus this type of work is put into the hands of those who are best fitted.
Interested readers may wish to know the policies that were adopted: (1) All jobs done on the church shall have a supervisor, as designated by the trustees; (2) no repair work of any kind shall be done without the knowledge and approval of the trustees; (3) when a contract is let, there will be at least two church members appointed to inspect the work as it progresses; (4) all contracts shall contain a clause prohibiting Sabbath work and smoking on the premises; (5) a contractor may be allowed no more than 50 percent of the contracted amount as an advance, and 40 per cent at the completion of the job, the remaining 10 per cent to be paid in 90 days (to see whether the work is satisfactory).
The church membership is not large (about eighty-five members), and as stated, the building is not new (1886 cornerstone). But we believe that God will bless this plan. I can see, too, that its success is directly related to the fact that our church is on the systematic budget plan. "And there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man. for any manner of service" (1 Chron. 28:21).
