Transparency

The Internet headline caught my attention. “Avoid These Office Buzzwords.” The article provided a list of clichés that are often overused and somewhat despised in the workplace. The author provided her own definitions, which although humorous, are pretty much on target.

I was surprised at how often we hear the words on her list. We even use some of them with great regularity in the synod office. One of the common words is “transparent.” The article’s author, Marlys Harris, defined transparent as “Open about the facts, but not to be confused with honest.”

My amusement disappeared as I began to wonder if folks in our congregations have this definition in mind while I am encouraging them to be transparent. Transparency in the church involves facts and honesty. We strongly encourage transparency in communications within congregations.

Congregation councils are sometimes unclear on how transparent they should be. Actually, all council meetings are open, the time and location should be easily accessed, and members of the congregation should be welcome to attend. Council minutes should be made available soon after the meeting. Highlights of the council meeting may be included in a newsletter or minutes may be posted after they have been approved at a subsequent meeting.

There are exceptions to transparency. Personnel issues are always dealt with in a closed session. If the entire council serves as a personnel committee, guests are excused from the meeting before personnel issues are discussed. Other sensitive issues may require the council to act in private.

Call committees operate in a semi-confidential environment. Call committees sometimes err on the side of keeping too much information confidential. It is helpful for a congregation to be kept informed as to where they are in the call process. The only information that is kept confidential is the names of the candidates who are being considered. With the exception of the name of the pastor whom the call committee recommends to the council, all other names are never disclosed.

A lack of transparent communications leaves congregation members wondering what is being hidden. I often remind councils that a vacuum of information is quickly filled with rumor and misinformation.

Transparent communication conveys facts honestly. That may seem rare today. However, it needs to be standard operating procedure in our congregations.

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