Why Do We Need Rules?

How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb? Four. One to change the bulb and a committee of three to make sure she does it decently and in order. Our Presbyterian branches of Christianity have been known for our commitment to following Paul’s advice to that disorderly bunch of early believers in Corinth: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV).

Some might argue that we are too concerned with order. But if you have ever been to a meeting that ran off track, either because the presiding officer wasn’t sure of what to do, or the members didn’t know how to participate productively, you know that good meetings depend on people knowing and following some basic agreed upon rules. A baseball game without rules would be chaotic. The same goes for meetings, whether in church or in any other organization.

The reason for rules according to Robert’s Rules of Order is to ensure that every member of a deliberative assembly is able to participate in a fair manner in the decisions of the group. In fact, the most important thing that distinguishes a deliberative assembly from other types of meetings is that every member has an equal right to propose actions, debate the wisdom of proposed actions, and vote on those proposals. The smaller the group, the less need there is to adhere strictly to the rules. Roberts’s recognizes this and encourages groups to use less formal rules in smaller boards and committees. The whole point is to provide for the group to give fair consideration and debate to all matters before it. Where consensus can be built, that is a win for everyone.

One of the criticisms I have heard of parliamentary procedure is that it allows a few people, who know the rules, to dominate meetings. If some use the rules to railroad business, or to thwart, rather than determine, the will of the assembly, then they are misusing the rules. In that case, the misuse of the rules goes directly contrary to their intent. The only way that can happen is if people allow such abuse to continue.

In this case, knowledge is indeed power. My commitment to teach parliamentary procedure grows out

of a deep desire to see that all ministers and elders are empowered to participate responsibly in the governance of our church. General Robert believed that a basic knowledge of parliamentary procedure was one of the foundational building blocks of democratic organizations. In Presbyterian government, we trust that God’s Spirit works through the deliberations and actions of our church courts to lead us in discerning and following God’s will.

Jay Earheart-Brown

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