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An overview of John Carver's Policy Governance model applied to churches, with examples from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua
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Policy-Based Governancefor Churches
An Overview Presented by Gary Lerude
What is Governance?
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How a group or body organizes itselfto carry out its Mission and Vision
Effectively
Efficiently
In harmony with its values
What Are We Trying to Achieve?
A governance system that
Clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the governing board, staff, committees, volunteers
Enables the governing board to focus on the church’s vision, long-range goals, and policies
Builds community, encourages programs, and empowers initiative
Supports growth
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The Policy Governance® ModelDeveloped by John Carver
Integrated system of governance
First adopted by non-profits
Since used and tailored by UU churches, districts, and the UUA
The governing board discerns the strategic goals (Carver calls them “Ends”) and defines the “limitations” within which the church must operate
Minister, staff, committees, volunteers work to achieve the goals within the limitations defined by the board
How are we going to get
there?
Where are we going?
Governing Board
Minister, Staff, Committees, Volunteers
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Flow of Authority and Accountability
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Church Members• Ultimate
authority
Governing Board• Elected by
church members
“Executive”• May be an
individual (the Minister) or a team
• The Minister typically leads the team
“Staff”• Paid staff• Committees• Volunteers
Reflects Congregational Polity,where each congregation is autonomous
An Integrated Governance System
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Larger Community
GoverningBoard
CongregationThe governing board identifies the needs of the congregation and larger community
The board discerns and articulates goals to address the needs –consistent with the church’s vision and mission
The Minister, staff, committees, and volunteers offer programs and provide services to achieve the goals.
ClosedLoop
Executive Team
Minister
VolunteersStaffCommittees
Executive
Staff
Carver’s Four Governance Policies
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BylawsOverarching governing document for the church
Governance Process The Board’s job and how the Board will do its job
Board-Executive LinkageThe Board’s relationship to the “Executive” and how the Board monitors Executive performance
Strategic Goals or “Ends”What the church aims to achieve
Executive LimitationsThe boundaries within which the “Executive” and “Staff” are free to operate
Church Bylaws
Governance Process
Board – Executive Linkage
Strategic Goals
Executive Limitations
Common Topics for Discussion
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Is our church big enough for Policy-Based Governance?I don’t like the language – Executive, CEO – we’re not a businessShould we have a single Executive or a team?We’re giving too much power to the Minister, Board, etc.I don’t want the Board to lose visibility into what’s going on!We spend every Board meeting wordsmithing policies. I want to dosomething!Do we have to write all the policies before adopting Policy-Based Governance?
• Adopting a new Governance model is a big change – so the process generates lots of questions and requires considerable dialog.
• Don’t become paralyzed by over analyzing. Try and iterate.• Policy Governance won’t build trust in a congregation if trust is lacking.
UU Nashua’s Governance Structure
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Church Membership Financial
Records Review
Nominating
Board of Trustees
Executive Team
Minister
Staff Committees
Executive Team• Minister• Director of Religious
Education• Church Administrator and
Membership Coordinator• Treasurer
Board Committees or Linkages• Investment Review• Personnel• Stewardship• White Wing School
Volunteers
UU Nashua’s Strategic Goals
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Worship & Spiritual
Development
Religious Education
Community Involvement
Denominational Presence
Social & Environmental
Justice
Congregational Fellowship
Maintenance of Our Facility
Vision & Mission
UU Nashua Strategic Goal Examples
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Worship & Spiritual DevelopmentWe enable spiritual growth, for each of us and as a church community.We provide a place where new and long-time members from various religious backgrounds feel free to question their beliefs and find support in seeking their own personal insights into life's meaning and value.We encourage each member to decide what is truly important in his or her life and to make life changes accordingly.
Religious EducationOur religious education program uses the sources, traditions and principles of Unitarian Universalism and the world’s religions to help our youth and adults develop a religious and spiritual basis for living life, with all of its joys and difficulties.We help them to think for themselves in developing their own beliefs, values, and principles.
Executive Limitations Examples
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Treatment of Church Members and VisitorsWith respect to interactions with Church members and visitors, including children, the Executive Team shall not cause or allow conditions, procedures, or decisions that are unsafe, undignified, unnecessarily intrusive, or that fail to provide appropriate confidentiality or privacy.
Financial Condition and ActivitiesWith respect to the actual, ongoing financial condition and activities, the Executive Team shall not cause or allow the development of fiscal jeopardy or a material deviation of actual expenditures and income from the annual budget approved by the congregation or Board priorities established in the Church Purpose and Goals.
UU Nashua Timeline
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Church Year Activity
2002-2003 • Board began studying Policy Governance
2003-2004 • Church Goals developed and adopted by the Board, and presented at the Annual Meeting (June 2004)
2004-2005 • Board drafted remaining Governance policies• Executive Team defined by Board and Steve Edington• One year trial of Policy-Based Governance model planned for
2005-2006 church year• Dialog with committees and the congregation
2005-2006 • Trial of Governance model, September – May • Board officially adopted Policy-Based Governance, based upon
initial experience and positive feedback
2006-2007 • Board formed Bylaws committee to recommend updates to the Bylaws, to be consistent with Governance model
June 2010 • Congregation adopts revised Bylaws
Summary
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Policy-Based Governance has proven effective in UU churchesBetter defines roles and responsibilitiesAllows Board to focus on the long-term and strategic questionsEmpowers paid staff, committees, and volunteersEnables us to better carry out our mission
Implementation of the model can and should be tailoredNeeds and circumstances of the congregationWill evolve with time
Resources for Further StudyPolicy Governance® web siteUUA’s Wiki web site on Policy Governance
Policy-Based Governancefor Churches
Policy-Based Governance for Churches by Gary Lerude is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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