Management & Leadership in Ministry

An overview of the need & value of Robert’s Rules of Order

Why bother with “Roberts Rules of

Order” and Parliamentary Procedures?

1) Robert’s Rules have consistently shown themselves to facilitate the orderly, civil and timely transaction of business.

2) Robert’s Rules have a long track record of demonstrating both fairness and sensitivity to the individual, while at the same time helping the entire organization operate efficiency.

Robert’s Rules are a set of procedural guidelines, developed over one hundred years (1876), designed to help organizations (churches) conduct their business meetings in the best possible manner. Story army engineer: Brigadier General Henry Martyn Robert

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Read the story of the development of “Robert’s Rules of Order”

The great purpose of these rules is to‘serve the will of the assembly, rather than to restrain it … to

facilitate and not to obscure’ the discussion & decision-making of the

group.Paul Mason (Mason’s Manual) Reason #5 for the Necessity of Rules of Procedure. http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/opsc/SAB_Agenda_Items/RulesProcedures/04-13-2010.pdf (20)

You will discover that despite the North American obsession with

‘individual rights and privileges’, out of necessity, individuals can not and must not be allowed to do and say

whatever they wish at business meetings. Robert’s Rules help to delineate what those limits are, in

order that interests of the whole can be achieved and respected.

National Association of Parliamentarians“Parliamentary procedure defines how groups of people, no matter how formal or informal, can most effectively meet & make decisions in a fair, consistent manner—and make good use of everyone's time… These rules relate to the orderly transaction of business in meetings & to the duties of officers in facilitating the conduct of business. Written rules of order help ensure that the organization functions smoothly & that questions about procedure can be resolved quickly and fairly.”

http://parliamentarians.org/definition.php

Three overarching principles of Robert’s Rules of Order

The right of the majority to ultimately decide & rule

The right of the minority to be heard

The right of the individual to participate in a courteous, orderly decision-making process