A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders

By C. Barry McCarty

Written by the chief parliamentarian of the Southern Baptist Convention, A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders has become a standard reference work in the field of church administration for ministers, seminary students, church leaders, convention officers and delegates/messengers. Dr. McCarty draws on over thirty years of experience as a pastor and a professional parliamentarian to make the essential rules of procedure understandable for ordinary people seeking to effectively participate in meetings of their church, denominational convention, or other business gatherings.

For the past quarter century, twelve presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention have relied on the author’s expertise to guide them through the annual sessions of the largest deliberative assembly in the world. Now, this silver anniversary edition brings users into the twenty-first century with additional notes on special considerations for multi-site churches and an entire chapter on conflict resolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781433677373

C. Barry McCarty

C. Barry McCarty is senior pastor of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also chief parliamentarian of the Southern Baptist Convention, advising the SBC president during the annual sessions of the largest evangelical body in the world.

Book preview

Any church leader thrust into a situation where he is moderating a business meeting, whether common or contested, must do two things if survival and progress are important. First, virtually memorize A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders, and second, he should keep Barry McCarty close to his side through this invaluable guide as he moderates the meeting. This is the next best thing to having Dr. McCarty in person.

—Paige Patterson, president Southern Baptist Convention, 1999–2000

Why not learn from the best. Dr. McCarty will show you how to conduct your business meetings with excellence. I could not have lead the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual sessions without him at my side.

—Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Woodstock, Woodstock, Georgia

May I commend to you C. Barry McCarty’s A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders. This new edition will no doubt continue to stand as a pivotal work in helping churches do all things decently and in order. Having worked with Barry McCarty very closely, I can attest to his dedication, his zeal, and his competence in parliamentary procedure. In a day and time where churches and organizations are constantly struggling in appropriate discussion and even conflict resolution, Barry McCarty helps provide a path to assist in those crucial areas. I commend the book to you without hesitation.

—Frank S. Page, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention

It has been a great blessing to have Barry as our parliamentarian for the annual SBC meetings. He is not only the best, but he loves the Lord and His church.

—Bryant Wright, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2010–2012 and senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia

Barry McCarty is a gifted servant of Christ who provides us with the ultimate guide to learning and then leading the very practical responsibilities of church business. In keeping with the Scriptural admonition to do all things in the church with order and decency, this book gives pastors and church leaders a resource to bless the church for generations.

—Jack Graham, pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas

A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders, Digital Edition

Based on Print Edition

Copyright © 2012 by C. Barry McCarty

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4336-7150-0

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 060.4

Subject Heading: PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE

Dedication

To the people of Peachtree Christian Church with whom it is my joy to share Christ, build believers, and serve others in the heart of Atlanta.

Acknowledgments

Any author would be grateful to have one of his works survive for a quarter-century, so I am thankful to my friend Thom Rainer, President of Lifeway Christian Resources, for giving A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders a new lease on life. Special inspiration for this revised and enlarged Silver Anniversary Edition came from four laymen who were messengers to the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention: John and Carla Drummond and Mark and Sarah Giles. They drove from St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida, to Louisville, Kentucky, reading Robert’s Rules out loud to one another so they would know what to do in the business sessions. When I heard their story I thought, People who are that dedicated to serving their church and their denomination deserve some help! Here it is.

The knowledge and insights offered here come from more than three decades of experience in church life, non-profit management, public service, and my practice as a professional parliamentarian. My interest in the field began under Dr. Robert P. Newman, who directed my Ph.D. program in Argumentation and Debate at the University of Pittsburgh. I observed that his reputation as someone who could get things done in a deliberative assembly, such as the University Senate, came in large part from his parliamentary skills, honed at Oxford University, home of the world’s most prestigious debating society, the Oxford Union. Much of what I know about parliamentary procedure I owe to this beloved professor and several other distinguished friends: Lester L. Dahms, Executive Director of the American Institute of Parliamentarians; Dr. Floyd M. Riddick, Parliamentarian Emeritus of the United States Senate and author of the only revision of the Senate’s rules since Thomas Jefferson wrote the original manual; U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, himself a master of parliamentary strategy; and Governor Jim Martin of North Carolina, in whose administration I had the opportunity to practice some of the finer points of the deliberative arts.

Since 1986, I have had the honor of serving thirteen presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention as the chief parliamentarian for their annual meetings: Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. Adrian Rogers, Dr. Jerry Vines, Dr. Morris Chapman, Dr. Edwin Young, Dr. Tom Elliff, Dr. Paige Patterson, Dr. James Merritt, Dr. Jack Graham, Dr. Bobby Welch, Dr. Frank Page, Dr. Johnny Hunt, and Dr. Bryant Wright. While assisting these servants of God as they presided over the world’s largest deliberative assembly, they became cherished friends and great models in a 25-year-long virtual post-graduate course in leadership.

Above all, I thank God each day for the privilege of serving him as senior pastor of Peachtree Christian Church in the heart of Atlanta, a sweet congregation that is home to the happiest pastor in America.

The acknowledgements to the first edition of this book concluded: To my children, Ryan, Noah, and Ian, and their mother, Pat, thanks for being quiet so Daddy could finish his book. Our boys are now grown and active in churches of their own, while their mother continues to serve alongside me as the consummate pastor’s wife.

We are continually grateful for the privilege of serving God’s kingdom is so many interesting and fruitful ways.

Soli Deo Gloria

Contents

Foreword

1. INTRODUCTION

General Principles

Group Decisions Should Be Made in an Orderly Fashion

The Majority Rules

The Minority Must Not Be Suppressed

Every Member has the Right to Be Heard and to Hear What Other Members Have to Say

All Members have Equal Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities

Members Have the Right to Know What Is Going On

Where to Find Your Rules

The Bible

Corporate Charter

Bylaws

Rules of Order

Standing Rules

Church Membership Covenant

Custom

How Important is Parliamentary Procedure to Your Church Business Meetings?

2. BASIC PROCEDURE

A Member Makes the Motion

Another Member Seconds the Motion

The Chair States the Question on the Motion

The Members Debate the Motion

The Chair Puts the Question to a Vote

Methods of Voting

Voice Vote

Rising Vote

Show of Hands

Ballot Vote

General Consent

Types of Votes

Majority Vote

Two-thirds Vote

Tie-Vote

Consensus

The Chair Announces the Result of the Vote

Voice Vote

Rising Majority Vote

Rising Two-thirds Vote

Counted Majority Vote

Counted Two-thirds Vote

Counted Majority Vote When the Chair Makes or Breaks a Tie

Counted Two-thirds Vote when the Chair’s Vote Affects the Results

Summary

3. MOTIONS

What Class of Motion Is It?

Main Motions

Subsidiary Motions

Privileged Motions

Incidental Motions

Restorative Motions

What Is the Purpose of the Motion

What Is the Order of Precedence of the Motion

Privileged Motions

Subsidiary Motions

What Are the Basic Rules Governing the Use of This Motion?

Purpose, Description and Form for Making Motions

Postpone Indefinitely

Amend

Refer to Committee

Postpone to a Certain Time

Limit or Extend Debate

Previous Question

Lay on the Table

Call for the Orders of the Day

Question of Privilege

Recess

Adjourn

Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn

Point of Order

Appeal

Parliamentary Inquiry

Request for Information

Division of the Assembly

Division of a Question

Suspend the Rules

Reconsider

Rescind or Amend Something Previously Adopted

Take from the Table

Summary

4. DEBATE

How to Give a Parliamentary Speech

Say Clearly, Concisely, and Immediately Why You Wish to Have the Floor

Make One Simple, Bold Point to Support Your Position on the Pending Question

Prove Your Point

Restate Your Thesis and Call for Action

Basic Parliamentary Strategy

What to Do Before the Meeting

Know the Rules

Get the Facts

Write Out Your Motion Ahead of Time

Have a Respected Seconder for Your Motion and Line up Your Support

What to Do During the Meeting

Position Your Motion for Favorable Consideration

Expose Weaknesses in Your Opponents’ Argument by Asking Questions

Use Parliamentary Inquiries to Be Sure Your Supporters Know How to Vote on Procedural Quesitons Affecting Your Motion

Speak and Vote Against Indefinite Postponement

Support Any Amendments That Would Strengthen Your Motion

Speak and Vote Against Attempts to Delay Action on Your Motion

Use the Previous Question to Your Advantage

Use the Motion to Recess to Your Advantage

Once Adopted, See That Your Motion Is Carried Out Immediately

Be Sure the Minutes of the Meeting Fully and Accurately Record the Assembly’s Action on Your Motion

If Your Motion Is Lost, Move to Reconsider or Renew It at a Future Meeting

How to Defeat a Motion

Speak Against the Motion

Vote Against the Motion

Expose Weakness in Arguments Offered by the Motion’s Supporters

Move to Postpone Indefinitely

Move to Amend the Motion

Move to Delay Considerations of the Motion

Use the Previous Question to Your Advantage

Use the Motion to Recess to Your Advantage

Move to Adjourn

Raise a Point of No Quorum If You Doubt the Presence of a Quorum

If the Motion Passes, Move to Reconsider or to Rescind

What to Do If You Lose

Decorum in Debate

5. MEETINGS

Types of Meetings

Essential Ingredients of a Meeting

Previous Notice

Minimum Officers

The Chairman

The Secretary

Quorum of Members

Order of Business

Call to Order

Reading and Approval of Minutes

Reports of Officers, Boards, and Standing Committees

Reports of Special Committees

Special Orders

Unfinished Business and General Orders

New Business

Adjournment

Special Orders and Other Exceptions to the Regular Order of Business

Special Considerations for Business Meetings in Multi-site and Multi-service Churches

6. COMMITTEES

What Committees Do

Standing Committees

Special Committees

Boards

How Committees Work

Writing Reports

Presenting Reports

Acting on Reports

Discharging a Committee

Convention Committees

7. BYLAWS

Steps in Drafting or Revising Bylaws

The Assembly Establishes a Committee on Bylaws

The Committee Discovers What the Assembly Needs

The Committee Examines the Existing Documents

The Draft Sub-Committee Writes the Initial Draft

The Committee Reviews and Revises the Draft

The Committee Chairman Reports to the Assembly

The Assembly Considers the Committee’s Report and Adopts the Bylaws

Content of Bylaws

Name

Mission (Purpose or Object)

Members

Officers

Meetings

Board of Directors (Elders, Deacons, Trustees, etc.)

Committees

Parliamentary Authority

Amendment of Bylaws

Provisions for Resolving Conflict and Administering Church Discipline

Amending Bylaws

Tips on Drafting Bylaws and Amendments to Bylaws

Be Clear

Keep the Bylaws as Simple as Possible

Be Consistent

Use the Present Tense and the Indicative Mood

Keep Related Items Together

Summary

A Prayer for the Home Church of Each Reader Who Picks Up This Book

Glossary

Notes

Relational Commitments from Peacemaker Ministries

Foreword

When you think of spiritual leadership, what qualities come to mind? No doubt high on your list are such attributes as vision, zeal, perseverance, and integrity.

While those are fundamental, they must all be administered and exercised in an ordered, disciplined manner or else chaos and confusion will reign.

During my tenure as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, I discovered the blunt reality of that truth. Though great plans to carry out God’s glorious call of evangelism and edification were being formulated at all levels during the annual convention, the very mass of people involved in that process, almost 50,000 was overwhelming. How could we seek God’s mind and at the same time acknowledge the often divergent viewpoints of the participants so that we could conclude with one mind and one accord?

Thankfully God’s grace led me to Dr. C. Barry McCarty, now senior pastor of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, past president of Cincinnati Christian University, and a Certified Professional Parliamentarian.

Through his personal involvement on the convention podium, we were able to proceed properly and harmoniously in accomplishing the mighty plans of God. I am indebted to him for his counsel and wisdom, both spiritual and vocational.

Thankfully, Dr. McCarty has now made his expertise available to godly leaders who seek to obey Paul’s admonition that all things be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40).

Whether your church or ministry is large or small, Dr. McCarty’s precise and helpful manual is of enormous benefit. Following the principles established in the renowned Roberts Rules of Orders Newly Revised, Dr. McCarty presents workable guidelines for promoting biblical unity. It provides a streamlined form through which all parties may be duly recognized and through which agreements may be peaceably forged.

As spiritual leaders implement the tenets of this manual, they will earn the respect of those who follow, by doing not only what is right in the sight of God but also of men. The end result is that God’s kingdom is effectively and fruitfully advanced.

Through the crucible of personal experience, I encourage all who are entrusted with spiritual leadership to eagerly digest Dr. McCarty’s A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders. If you haven’t needed its counsel before, I assure you the time will come.

When it does, you will have been prepared to cheerfully experience the fulfillment of Psalm 133:1–2: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard.

Dr. Charles Stanley

1

Introduction

In 1863 a U.S. Army officer who was active in his church was assigned to construct defenses for the port of New Bedford, Massachusetts. While there the gentleman was asked, without warning, to preside over a business meeting of his church. Though he was an officer in the Corps of Engineers and had participated in church and civic affairs wherever he was stationed, he did not know how to preside at a meeting. Embarrassed, but feeling the worst thing he could do would be to decline, he plunged into the meeting hoping that the assembly would behave itself. It did not. The officer emerged from that turbulent meeting determined that he would never again attend another until he knew something about parliamentary law.

Though various parliamentary manuals were available, the gentleman learned that there was no generally accepted set of parliamentary rules for voluntary associations, such as churches and civic groups. So, he set out to write one. That man was Henry M. Robert, author of Robert’s Rules of Order, the famous manual that has dominated the field of parliamentary procedure for over a century.

I tell that story for two reasons. First, if you have picked up this book because you have been or will be put on the spot by having to preside or participate in a meeting and you are not sure exactly what to do, I wanted you to know that the man whose name is synonymous with parliamentary procedure was once in your shoes. Second, I wanted you to know that General Robert wrote his now familiar guide to help churches conduct their business more efficiently.

Then why can’t church leaders and members simply pick up a copy of Robert’s Rules and learn what they need to know to conduct their meetings? The problem is that Henry Robert’s pocket manual has grown larger and more complex with each new edition. When first published in 1876, the book was a modest 176 pages long. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised runs over 700 pages.¹ The book’s comprehensiveness happens to be one of its strengths. Anything about parliamentary procedure that is not in Robert’s Rules, you probably do not need anyway. Still, to most novices the book appears as a tangled web of parliamentary technicalities.

The problem is not so much in the content or size of the book as in how it is used. Whatever it was in the beginning, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is not a textbook, but a reference manual. As a codification of rules, it reads very much like a legal document. In a sense, that is precisely what it is. But trying to learn how to preside or participate in a meeting just by reading Robert’s Rules is like trying to learn how to drive by reading your state’s traffic code.

My purpose for writing this book is to give church