Governance Transformation
Governance transformation was one of three goals set by the Board of Trustees with Rev. Margret O’Neall, Interim Minister from 2011-2014. It was necessary to build a structure which fosters creativity and active, open communication, which reflects the talents and interests of our congregation, and which maintains responsible stewardship of our resources. During this period, a group of congregants and Trustees studied Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership by Dan Hotchkiss, as well as other resources, and participated in a Leadership Governance Retreat with Stefan Jonasson, Director of Growth Strategies and Large Congregation Development with the Unitarian Universalist Association. From this work, the Board appointed a Governance Task Force which developed policies, in consultation with the Board, following the iterative process defined in Hotchkiss’s book. The Task Force worked through 2012-2014 on this project.
The goal of these efforts was the creation of a Board Policy Book to guide decision-making and action on important matters of congregational mission, vision, and direction. Individual policies were affirmed by the Board as they were completed, and these guided the development of procedures for implementing the policies. The Policy Book was completed in Summer 2014. During this time, with Interim Minister Rev. Mary Hnottavange-Telleen, the Board, its newly-formed Committees, and the church staff are now in the midst of the challenging work of determining which policies work, which need developed procedures, which need major revision or to be abandoned, and which are absent and need to be created.
In general, policy-based governance and decision-making is a model within which our congregation strives to operate. It will take time learn what this actually means and what construct serves best so that our congregation might achieve the clear lines of authority and responsibility, the open communication and conflict resolution, and the fiscal stability which will ensure our church’s future.
The goal of these efforts was the creation of a Board Policy Book to guide decision-making and action on important matters of congregational mission, vision, and direction. Individual policies were affirmed by the Board as they were completed, and these guided the development of procedures for implementing the policies. The Policy Book was completed in Summer 2014. During this time, with Interim Minister Rev. Mary Hnottavange-Telleen, the Board, its newly-formed Committees, and the church staff are now in the midst of the challenging work of determining which policies work, which need developed procedures, which need major revision or to be abandoned, and which are absent and need to be created.
In general, policy-based governance and decision-making is a model within which our congregation strives to operate. It will take time learn what this actually means and what construct serves best so that our congregation might achieve the clear lines of authority and responsibility, the open communication and conflict resolution, and the fiscal stability which will ensure our church’s future.