Pastors and Parliamentarians

Annual Conference finished last Sunday and this year I had one of the best seats in the house - on the left hand of the Bishop, serving as her parliamentarian. In many ways my presence there was a perfect example of the "Peter Principle"in action, but it turned out to be an enjoyable experience. This is Bishop Fisher's last annual conference session with us, so I felt very blessed to be able to sit next to her. She's given me the opportunity to take on some responsibilities (like chairing our Conference Boundaries Task Force) which really stretched me. I'm grateful she saw potential in me I'd not seen in myself. I will certainly miss her and wish her all God's best in retirement (though I doubt she'll be idle for long!).

Serving as parliamentarian is kind of like umpiring a baseball game. Most of the time its pretty routine and uneventful. Balls and strikes and a whole lot of waiting. But then somebody gets a "hit" and all of a sudden there's movement and a squeeze play at second which is really close. Most motions at annual conference pass without amendment and most debate proceeds without subsidiary motions or points of order. But then, "bam," all of a sudden, there's all sorts of talk and questions are flying and bishop is turning to me asking advice. "

Some find parliamentary procedure burdensome and heavy-handed. It can certainly be used in ways which limit free discussion and/or preclude input. But when used as a tool rather than an end in itself, I think it can help a body make good decisions.

That's how I think we tried to use in last weekend.