Governance Task Force
Report for Congregational Meeting 1-26-14
From Rita Capezzi on behalf of the Governance Task Force
The overall scope of the GTF’s work this year has been to work with the Board of Trustees in moving the church toward policy-based governance. What this means in a nutshell is that the Board first defines the policies that will regulate church operations and then annually sets general direction for the church in keeping with our mission and outcomes. The Board’s regular function comprises decision-making about policy; annual planning and direction; and oversight of the structural functionality of church ministries and activities. The general operation and tasks of the church’s ministries and activities become the responsibility of the Minister, staff, and volunteers. The goals of shifting to a policy-based Board include clear processes as well as more accountable ways of assigning and completing necessary work in the church and for our Congregation.
Some of the specific work we have accomplished or continue to work on includes:
Report for Congregational Meeting 1-26-14
From Rita Capezzi on behalf of the Governance Task Force
The overall scope of the GTF’s work this year has been to work with the Board of Trustees in moving the church toward policy-based governance. What this means in a nutshell is that the Board first defines the policies that will regulate church operations and then annually sets general direction for the church in keeping with our mission and outcomes. The Board’s regular function comprises decision-making about policy; annual planning and direction; and oversight of the structural functionality of church ministries and activities. The general operation and tasks of the church’s ministries and activities become the responsibility of the Minister, staff, and volunteers. The goals of shifting to a policy-based Board include clear processes as well as more accountable ways of assigning and completing necessary work in the church and for our Congregation.
Some of the specific work we have accomplished or continue to work on includes:
- Using an iterative process with the BOT for creating policies. The iterative process involves research and drafting by the GTF, bringing draft policies to the BOT for discussion, redrafting by the GTF of policies following BOT discussion, and bringing final versions to the BOT for affirmation. Subsequently, the policies are used to govern decision-making and to direct implementation of decisions.
- Teaching the Congregation about the iterative process. The GTF has published in Newsletters and on the Website information about the process of creating policies with the BOT for the church. We have held several forums and reported at Congregational Meetings. We hope to increase our communication with the Congregation heading into the final stages of this process, when the shift to policy-based governance begins to be visible in the way volunteers and activities are organized.
- Creating the BOT Policy Book. A book of policies is under construction and will be readily available to the Congregation when completed. The Policy Book includes policies on the mission and desired outcomes for the church; the self-governance of the BOT; the ways we provide care for the people, staff, and resources of our church; and the methods of planning, evaluation, and oversight we will use to ensure the life and quality of our church both for the Congregation as well as the wider world.
- Organizing BOT Orientation and Retreat. The GTF is developing a series of workshops to assist the BOT. The first will orient new Trustees to the practices of policy-based governance. The second will ready the BOT for its first annual planning retreat, when Trustees will develop a direction for the church year. This work will take place in February and March.
- Developing Ministry Teams. Policy-based governance means in part that the operation of church activities is primarily developed by collaboration between the Minister, the staff, and volunteers. The BOT, however, will review the structure of teams and help to ensure that all the activities of our church fulfill in responsible ways the mission and outcomes of our church. The development of Ministry Teams is a crucial part of good management and of the life of the church. This important work will be established in earnest moving forward this year.