Worshipful Work -

**Waterfalls on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park**

In my faith tradition, the business of the church is done in committees and congregational business meetings, all of which are conducted by Robert’s Rules of Order. All the judicatory levels of the denomination operate by this protocol as well.

Robert’s Rules of order is a great tool for providing order for conducting official business. It assures everyone has the opportunity to participate. By its very nature, however, It creates an atmosphere of debate, which easily lends itself to a combative mode. It also tends to favor those who are more familiar with parliamentary procedure and those who are extrovert in personality. Then when a vote is taken, you have winners and losers. It is still a valid tool for use in the church, but is not sufficient by itself. It is not a tool for spiritual discernment, and the church is a spiritual organism. When a body comes to a decision by vote using Robert’s Rules of order, you have discovered the will of the people, but you have not discerned the will of God.

“Worshipful Work” is a concept developed by Charles M. Olsen, which combines current methods of doing business with spirituality, so that God has a seat at the table in deliberations, and the meetings are structured in a way that gives the Spirit sacred space to work in the hearts and minds of the people involved. This creates a worshipful atmosphere for doing business. The meeting proceeds with the grace of God at work; people are inspired; their faith is renewed; and Christ’s mission is engaged. There is renewed hope that ministry has occurred and not just a meeting.

Under Robert’s Rules of Order, a parliamentarian monitors the procedure of the meeting. In Worshipful Work, it is suggested that there also be a discernmentarian. This person pays attention to the spirit of the meeting and discerns the promptings of the Spirit for times of prayer and silence.

A business meeting can be structured with elements of worship built into the agenda. One example is as follows:

Typical Business Agenda

Call to Order
Opening Prayer
Reading of Minutes
Committee Reports
Team Reports
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn with Prayer

Worshipful Work

Call to Order
Opening Prayer, giving the agenda to God
Reading of Minutes
Reading of Scripture and Time of Worship
Committee Reports
Hymn of Praise
Team Reports
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Old Business
Prayerful Silence
New Business
Adjourn with Prayer – letting go and trusting our work to the providence of God

The typical agenda for business has “bookend” prayers, and the meeting proceeds as tasks with no structured consultation with the Holy Spirit.

Worshipful Work is interspersed with elements of worship. These can be done as creatively as desired. There should also be the protocol that anyone may call for silence and prayer when they sense the need for it.

The purpose of prayer during a meeting: so God is included in the conversation. It gives opportunity to set aside one’s own agenda and reactive emotions and to open oneself to the presence of God in order to discern what God desires for the meeting.

Following are some opportune moments for prayer in a meeting:

At the beginning
When agenda items change
When conversation gets bogged down or testy
When there is confusion and uncertainty
At regular intervals (so no one feels as though prayer is being called due to what they have said)
During difficult subjects, pause for silence between speakers so that each person and God is heard.
At the adjournment of the meeting.

The main point is to pay attention to the prompting of the Spirit for when prayer or silence is indicated.

Typical Business Agenda

Worshipful Work

Further Reading