{"id":50010,"date":"2026-10-06T09:39:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T14:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/?p=50010"},"modified":"2026-10-06T09:39:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T14:39:04","slug":"roberts-rules-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/roberts-rules-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Just Church Meetings\u2014Debunking Myths About Robert\u2019s Rules of Order"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many people know that 2026 marks the 250<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of the United States of America, but this year we also celebrate the anniversary of <a href=\"https:\/\/robertsrules.com\/\">Robert\u2019s Rules of Order<\/a> (RONR). For 250 years, communities, organizations, churches, and civic groups have embraced a simple but important idea: good decision making depends on good process. This anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the enduring influence of Robert\u2019s Rules of Order and how it has helped shape communities, meetings, and lives. In celebration of Robert\u2019s 250th anniversary, let\u2019s debunk some myths surrounding parliamentary procedure.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth 1: Parliamentary procedure doesn\u2019t matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-50042 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"four hands meet in a fist bump over a table, coming in at different angles\" width=\"300\" height=\"205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920-850x580.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rawpixel-action-2277292_1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Most organizations, including churches and non-profit organizations, have bylaws which dictate a specific parliamentary authority or decision-making framework. According to the National Association of Parliamentarians, the most used parliamentary authority is Robert\u2019s Rules of Order. Parliamentary procedure allows groups to make decisions fairly by giving voice to all members and protecting the rights of those in the minority. It also allows bodies to establish and empower effective leadership. Robert\u2019s Rules of Order in particular allows groups to make decisions in a fair, efficient, and respectful manner.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information on Principles Underlying Parliamentary Law, please review RONR: XLIX.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth 2: It is always necessary to have a <em>second<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The use of the <em>second<\/em> is a very important part of the life cycle of a motion. It is used to signal to the group that more than one individual is interested in discussing and disposing of the motion. The individual making the second does not need to be in favor of the motion, they need to be in favor of spending time on the motion. However, there are several cases where <em>seconds<\/em> are not needed, including if the motion is coming from a committee or if the group has fewer than 12 members.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information on seconds, please review RONR 4:9-14; t44-t45.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth 3: It is appropriate to yell, \u201cQuestion!\u201d to stop debate on a motion. <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-50043 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"a young person expresses gentle frustration and exasperation to the others seated around a meeting table\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-850x1275.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jessica-da-rosa-wXJViXxHP44-unsplash-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>Many individuals who have attended meetings, especially a Presbytery meeting, can remember a time when discussion was dragging on and someone yelled from their seat, \u201cquestion!\u201d What the individual was attempting to do was immediately move to close debate on a motion. However, this practice is not the correct motion or respectful to those present for the meeting. The appropriate motion would be to <em>move the previous question<\/em>. It is important to note, that individuals must obtain the floor and seek recognition from the chair\/moderator to make this motion. The only reason that a member may interrupt or yell from their seat is in raising a <em>Point of Order<\/em> about parliamentary procedure.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information regarding the Previous Question, please review RONR 16.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth 4: Tradition and culture do not matter when using Roberts Rules of Order.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Robert\u2019s Rules of Order does allow for flexibility when incorporating the cultures and established traditions of a group. According to Robert\u2019s, a custom is an unwritten practice that has been repeated over time. If the custom directly contradicts bylaws, established parliamentary procedure, or other authorities, a member may raise a <em>Point of Order<\/em> in which case the custom \u201cfalls to the ground\u201d immediately. If there are no <em>Points of Order<\/em>, groups may incorporate customs into their deliberations as if they were prescribed by a rule. An example of this would be to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of all meetings.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information on customs, please see RONR 2:25.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Myth #5: To <em>lay on the table <\/em>and to <em>postpone<\/em> are synonymous<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-50044 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"a man speaks to the others gathered around a small table, while they listen attentively\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/vitaly-gariev-T1utEU5s9QU-unsplash-850x478.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>When members make the motion to <em>lay on the table<\/em>, they generally mean <em>to postpone<\/em>. Generally, if a member attempts to push discussion or vote to another meeting, it is a motion <em>to postpone to a certain time<\/em>. \u00a0Any attempts to kill a motion would be considered a motion <em>to postpone indefinitely.<\/em> The motion to <em>lay on the table<\/em> is only in order under certain circumstances, mainly setting aside a pending question temporarily to address something else of immediate urgency. The question on the table must be <em>taken from the table <\/em>during the same meeting session or the following session otherwise the question dies.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information on Laying on the Table, please review RONR 17.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Robert\u2019s Rules of Order will forever be appreciated and loved by those who use it to guide their meetings. It has a beautiful way of working with the Holy Spirit to ensure a fair and in order discernment process. To learn more about Roberts Rules of Order, please consider picking up a copy of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised 12<sup>th<\/sup> Edition. The world needs more parliamentarians, and if you are interested in becoming a parliamentarian, consider visiting the <a href=\"http:\/\/parliamentarians.org\">National Association of Parliamentarians website<\/a> and join your local Parliamentary Law Unit.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-50011 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-244x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"185\" height=\"227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-834x1024.jpg 834w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-768x943.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-1252x1536.jpg 1252w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-1669x2048.jpg 1669w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-300x368.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522-850x1043.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AnnamariePicture-scaled-e1790175585522.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/>The Rev. Annamarie Groenenboom &#8217;17 is the associate stated clerk of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan. She is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA) and a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians. She enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering with the General Assembly, and playing Dungeons &amp; Dragons. She is a graduate of the M.Div. and M.S.W. joint degree program through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the University of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Read Next<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_49763\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-49763\" style=\"width: 179px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/success-and-failure-in-ministry-owens\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-49763\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-255x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"179\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-871x1024.jpg 871w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-768x903.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-1306x1536.jpg 1306w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-1742x2048.jpg 1742w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-300x353.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Roger-Owens-2026-850x999.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 179px) 100vw, 179px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-49763\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Few, Many: Success and Failure in Ministry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_49989\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-49989\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/mcclure-2026\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-49989\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.pts.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Beth-on-WMI-trip-Turkey-2011-850x566.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-49989\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Challenges of Being a Neighbor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people know that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, but this year we also celebrate the anniversary of Robert\u2019s Rules of Order (RONR). For 250 years, communities, organizations, churches, and civic groups have embraced a simple but important idea: good decision making depends on good process. This anniversary offers&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":50041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,4,5,1],"tags":[1196,1199,1210,1197,1207,1198,1200,1204,1203,1201,1202,1195,1206,1205,1211,1194,1208,1209],"series":[],"class_list":["post-50010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-church-planting","category-ministry","category-protestant-spirituality","category-uncategorized","tag-becoming-a-parliamentarian","tag-church-meetings","tag-communicating-with-lay-leaders","tag-democracy","tag-diffuse-church-leadership","tag-effective-church-meetings","tag-fair-airspace-sharing","tag-fair-decision-making","tag-fair-process","tag-group-discernment","tag-just-decision-making","tag-parliamentary-procedure","tag-polyphonic-church-leadership","tag-polyphonic-leadership","tag-presbyterian-session-meeting","tag-roberts-rules-of-order","tag-shared-leadership","tag-shared-leadership-in-church"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\r\n<title>Just Church Meetings\u2014Debunking Myths About Robert\u2019s Rules of Order - Pittsburgh Theological Seminary<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rev. 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