Church business meetings

We held our quarterly business meeting Sunday. As a member of the pastoral staff, I was expected to offer a report, the contents of which were delineated by the senior pastor. Not usual. But there were some issues the leadership had discussed over several meetings, and I was a logical spokesperson.

I wrote out my comments because I've discovered that if I allow myself too much wiggle room by merely jotting main ideas and letting my brain fill in the rest, I tend to ramble and chase tangents, and burn a lot of time. And when my brain races, I become more animated. I pace. Not back and forth. But up and down the aisle! Though this tendency serves as an asset in a corporate training environment, it causes church people discomfort, particularly for those sitting in forward rows.

After several tests, I find I'm calmer when I script myself. Not to the point where I'm reading words, but when I take the time to think through what I want to say, organize the thoughts, let my brain do its thing before "show time," I find I cover what I need to without straying too far off point.

I spoke for 15-20 minutes--yes, there was a lot to cover. But I found myself pushing to get through the material, as I noted physical cues in the audience that suggested growing impatience. I interjected an apology for the length, and reminded folks I had several things to talk about (published in the agenda so I wasn't making stuff up).

Afterward, I found myself resenting the impatience displayed by the congregation. They'd NEVER think of doing that to the senior pastor, who talked for almost 40 minutes after I ended. I've only been here two years. The senior pastor has 18 years on me. I'm not competing, but I realize I still am not completely accepted as a pastor yet.

I must be in New England.