In his newsletter, Board Leadership, John Carver disagrees, “Most boards would fire their CEOs for filling staff positions as haphazardly as the board recruits for board positions.”

The call to serve on the board of a PRC is a high calling and should be treated as such. A rush to recruit a new member because a spot needs to be filled can create long-term havoc and destruction to your ministry.

I recently interviewed the CEO of a ministry who shared a board recruitment story. With three openings in one year, panic struck and the board thought they had to find anyone to join them. The temptation to rush through the process was strong, but instead, they slowed down and began their search with a disciplined process.

First they evaluated their bylaws to determine if they had the minimum number of board members. Then they began a slow, methodical search to strategically find the right type of board members. It took them over a year, but today the ministry is thriving because they did not let urgency drive them to making a big mistake.

In his article, No More Simplistic Formulas, published in the August 2004 Christian Management Report, Olan Hendrix lists three simple traits to look for in prospective board members:

1.An understanding and passion for the “ends” for which the organization exists.

2.The ability to think clearly, especially conceptually.

3.The emotional ability that allows the board member to debate issues without always winning the debate.

These three traits are critical if the board is going to work together and govern effectively. Remember, a pulse is necessary, but it’s not enough. Each member of the board is critical to your organization’s success and care must be taken to get just the right fit.