The present invention enables an electronic message to be distributed sequentially to selected recipients. The electronic message is associated with a routing map, which defines the route of the electronic message. The routing map includes a list of operations, at least some of which are implemented in script. A routing engine controls the current state and the state transition of the routing map while predefined routing objects assist in the manipulation and processing of the routing map. Routing maps are associated with folders and any electronic message dropped in the folder is associated with the routing map. The operations of the routing map are executed in a stateful manner in response to events occurring in the messaging system until the electronic message has been sequentially distributed to the intended recipients.