What If Our Board Members Don't Show Up?

It's not just annoying when a church board doesn't show up; it's a big risk to the ministry's governance, legal compliance, and long-term health. The board of directors or elders is the governing body for churches. They make important decisions, keep an eye on the church's finances, and set the church's strategic direction. If board members don't show up to meetings or don't engage, it can have an effect on your whole ministry. In this complete guide, we'll talk about why board attendance is important, the hazards of not showing up, how to stop and deal with it, and the best ways to maintain your church's governance strong and in line with the law.

Why Is It Important for Board Members to Be There?

Board members have a legal and moral duty to do what is best for the church. This includes:

• Giving the green light to budgets and money decisions
• Making decisions on policies and priorities
• Making sure that laws and rules are followed
• Hiring and helping church leaders

If board members don't show up, these important tasks will suffer, which could lead to your church being poorly run, facing legal problems, and losing sight of its mission.

Legal Risks for Board Members Who Don't Participate

1. Not Meeting the Quorum: Most church bylaws say that there must be a certain number of board members present for official business to be done. The board can't make decisions legally if not enough members are there. This paralysis could put off essential actions or make people doubt the validity of decisions that have been taken.
2. Breaking a Fiduciary Duty: Board members who don't do their jobs on a regular basis are at risk of breaking their fiduciary duty. This could lead to legal problems, such as being personally responsible, especially if carelessness causes the church to lose money or hurt its reputation.
3. Problems with Following the IRS and State Rules: Regular, active board meetings with written minutes are strong proof that a church is a real nonprofit. During audits, chronic absenteeism and lack of documentation may raise red flags, putting your tax-exempt status at danger.

Reasons Why Board Members Don't Show Up

Knowing why members don't turn up helps deal with the real problems:

• Not being clear about roles and what is expected
• Volunteers who have too much to do and too many priorities
• Bad administration of meetings or agendas that don't matter
• Members may not trust each other or get along with each other.
• Burnout or not being interested in church activities

How to Stop Board Members from Not Showing Up

1. Make Your Expectations Clear: In your bylaws and orientation papers, spell out the roles, responsibilities, and attendance expectations. Make sure that everyone on the board knows how important it is for them to be there.
2. Give Good Training and Orientation: Give incoming board members the information and tools they need to do their jobs well and feel respected.
3. Plan Meetings in a Smart Way: Pick times and ways to meet (in person, online, or a mix of both) that work for everyone and make them want to come.
4. Make Agendas That Are Interesting and Useful: Don't waste time at meetings; instead, focus on themes that will have a big impact. This will make people want to come.
5. Build a Healthy Culture on the Board: To get people to commit, you need to build trust, open communication, and respect for each other.

What to Do When Board Members Don't Show Up

1. Talk to Each Other Directly: Talk to people who are missing in privacy and with compassion. Know what the problems are and ask how the church might help people become more involved.
2. Check the Levels of Commitment: There are occasions when members may not be able to do their jobs well anymore. You could want to ask members who aren't doing well to leave politely.
3. Actively Hire: Fill up the gaps with people who are dedicated to the cause and can add enthusiasm and responsibility.
4. Make Sure That Attendance Rules Are Followed: If your bylaws say that members must attend meetings or be removed, make sure you always follow these rules to protect the integrity of your organization.
5. Use Technology: Use virtual meetings, shared papers, and communication tools to make it easier for everyone to get involved and be accessible.

Best Practices for Legal and Governance

Keep detailed notes of meetings that show who was there and what decisions were made. As your bylaws say, hold regular meetings on schedule. Keep a list of board members who are active and involved. Check the board's work on a regular basis and give them feedback.

How Church Law and Strategy Help Boards Be Strong

Regan runs Church Law and Strategy, which gives churches practical legal and governance advice to assist them in improving their boards. Our services offer customized solutions to help your church stay in compliance and grow, whether you need help amending bylaws, making rules on attendance, or dealing with board disagreements. The FOUNDATION PLUS PLAN and The PASTOR SUPPORT PLAN are two of our subscription levels. They include governance audits, policy formulation, and priority legal support that will help your church leaders make decisions.

A List of Things to Do to Keep Track of Board Attendance

• Set clear expectations for attendance and let people know them.
• Give board members good training and onboarding.
• Plan meetings that are easy to get to and interesting.
• Talk about absence in a direct and helpful way.
• Make sure that attendance rules are followed in line with the regulations.
• Take detailed notes at meetings.
• When you need help, ask an expert.

In Conclusion

A church board that shows up is the key to good governance, following the rules, and a successful ministry. Taking action against absenteeism protects your church from legal problems, makes your leadership stronger, and honors your mission. If you're having trouble getting board members involved or just want to make sure your governance is sound, Church Law and Strategy can help you develop a leadership team that will be accountable and dedicated for years to come.

Links Inside

• Learn about the services of church governance lawyers.
• Find out how to do a legal audit and compliance report for a church.
• Learn about church HR and employment legal compliance.

Links to Other Sites

• IRS guide on Fiduciary Responsibilities for Nonprofits
• Nonprofit Risk Management Center resource on Board Engagement
• Christianity Today’s article on Board Member Commitment

This blog post is only for informational purposes and is not legal advice. Reading this material does not make you a client of Church Law and Strategy or its representatives. Please talk to a professional lawyer for particular legal counsel that is right for your church or organization.