BEST PRACTICES FOR CHURCH BOARDS .. MINISTRY LIFT

Dr. Lyle Schrag, 4 October 2013

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Basic Questions

For General Reflection: What does “governance” mean to me as

a Christian and as a church leader? What Biblical principles inform

governance practice and enhance spiritual ministry?

What guidelines would I follow regarding my role and relationship that would enhance a healthy leadership environment in the church setting?

Specific Questions

1.How Biblical is organizational Leadership?

2.How is Biblical organization structured?

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Biblical Considerations

Myths to address:1. Governance is not essential

2. Governance is uninteresting

3. Governance is NOT Spiritual

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Governance

“Those with the gift of KUBERNESIS” … I Corinthians 12:28

The Helmsman … Acts 27:11

The Responsible Decision-Maker … Revelation 18:17

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Theological Considerations:

“The practice of ministry (management, administration) … is itself intrinsically a theological activity” … Ray Anderson

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Review:

Core consideration in Church Governance: a Holy Calling …

If seen in this light – how does that impact the life of those who serve?

And if seen in this light – what does that require of those who serve?

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The Architecture of Ministry

“(Governance) involves both organizational and spiritual leadership ... Requires that leaders work through and with people to achieve the group’s goals and purposes” “Church leaders must be architects, not mechanics; managers and shapers of the future, not precedent followers of the past. .. Guiding your church toward an open system through better understanding … will pay dividends .. “ (Norm Shawchuck)Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The BIG Question for GovernanceWho is in charge? - An individual or a group … Staff or Board- Who has final responsibility for the

issues at stake- How are the responsibilities divided …

and what authority is expected … and what accountability is required

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Good Answer

Who Owns a Congregation? Who is in Charge?“A congregation does exist to serve its owner—but the members are not owners in the same way stockholders own business corporations. Who, then, is the owner? Jesus? God? Perhaps, but a more useful answer, I believe, is “The owner of a congregation is its mission.” A congregation exists to serve its mission. The duty of a congregation’s leaders is to discern the piece of God’s will that constitutes this congregation’s mission, to articulate the mission well, and to ensure that what the congregation does will realize the mission. The “bottom line” is not the balance in the bank (important though that is) but the degree to which the mission is fulfilled.”

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Governance Matters

Governance and ministry … the two are joined inextricably .. Boards are at the very heart of good governance and leadership for a congregation. .. They define the mission of a congregation, assess the context in which the congregation pursues its mission, develop resources for ministry (faith, human, and financial), envision the future, and prepare strategies for ministry in the present and in the future. It is a sacred task to offer leadership as a member of a congregation’s board …

(James Lemier)

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The Question

How should leadership in a congregation board differ from other types of board leadership?

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Shared Practices …

Meeting Practices Fiduciary Care Human Resources

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The Church IS Unique

It’s mission is more than a specific product

The nature of the work transforms the life of the servant as well as the one who is served

Those who direct are also expected to be those who act

Personal character matters more than professional competency

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The Church is Unique …

Board relationships have a direct impact on the quality of the Body

There are Spiritual overtones carried by Board members that other agencies don’t have

There are capacities of service that require specialized training

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Review:

“Practicing governance in a religious institution is a calling, an expression of the human vocation to live faithfully in the image of God, to serve God by responding with care in the matters of daily living to God’s sovereignty over all creation. Governance is, then, a practice of faith.”

(adapted from David Hester, Building Effective Boards for Religious Organizations.)

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

A Map for Governance

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The ‘Trust’ in Trusteeship

Three Things Held in Trust

Biblical Terms Key Issues‘Corporate’

Terms

DirectionWhere are we

headed?MissionVision

DoctrineWhat’s

important to us?

CoreValues

DisciplineAre we

healthy?Effectiveness

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The 3 Roles of Church Governance

Church Board Roles and Responsibilities

DirectionVision Doctrine

Values

DisciplineEffectiveness

CHURCH BOARD ROLES

· Determine the church’s mission, values, vision, major strategies and primary constituents

· Guide in the selection of the Senior Pastor

· Recruit potential Board Members for appointment by the congregation and orient new Board Members

· Develop a spirit of collaboration

· Assess achievement of outcomes—accountability

· Ensure effective organizational planning· Ensure right decisions are being made by the

right groups· Financial oversight of the church· Support and encourage the Senior Pastor and

assess his performance· Assess Board effectiveness against established

structure and processes

· Spiritual oversight of the ministry

· Maintain accountability for legal and ethical integrity

· Approve and monitor major programs and services of the church

· Ensure adequate resources (personnel, facilities, finances)

· Enhance the church’s public standing

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Church Board Competencies

Core Competencies for Church BoardsThe ministry of a Church Board is unique and calls for a distinct sense of trained skills and personal practices – or competencies. What makes Church Board practice different from non-profit Boards is that Church Board members serve both a Spiritual Community and a Human Organization. Their involvement is a response of obedience to God’s call, and fulfills a deeply Spiritual ministry. Without the careful ministry of Board members, the Church suffers. But, as Church Board members grow in their capacity together, as a spiritual community they are able to make a difference. This chart outlines the three primary capacities that define the set of skills that Church Board members can discover. As Church Board members measure the results of the Best Practices for Church Boards Survey, the Survey Practice column provides a gauge to assess the level of health in their practice … and resolve on a intentional strategy to develop better skill in addressing their shared issues together.

Core Capacity Competency: Core Issues Relevant Skills – Activities - Capacities Redemptive Ministry

Church Board Role: Doctrine - Values The Church Board defines the spiritual foundations of the relational nature of the Church , the core Biblical values of the community, and embodies those values as the prime community of the church.[the alignment and integration of relationships and partnerships]

Personal Calling: Individual spiritual discipline and preparation, orientation to ministry,

Personal Development, Mentoring, Character Assessment, Board member orientation

Ministry Relationships and Skill Development: between Pastor/Chair, Cross-training between Board and Staff, the Board as a Ministry Team and learning community

Continuing education, group training

Spiritual Community: Retreats, Congregational communication, the Spiritual community of Board and Church,

Retreats, “road trips”, prayer ministry, town-hall meetings, Membership Class policies

Church Discipline: abilities to discern points of tension, and solution strategies for congregational health

Risk Management policy development and implementation

Strategic Leadership

Church Board Role: Direction - Vision The Church Board discerns the strategic dynamics for the health and mission of the Church[the alignment and integration of mission and ministry]

Vision Development, Strategic Planning, : discern Missional mandate: mission, values, vision – into action; monitor mission fulfillment and assess congregational health

Annual goal planning, Church health assessment (consultation)Ministry ReportsCongregational Affirmation/Celebration

Ministry Alignment: Monitor and assess mission fulfillment, assess size/ministry dynamics of the local church, identifying both an appropriate leadership structures to meet the size requirements, ensure robust communication

Reporting system

Decision-Making and Conflict Management: strategies to form wise, God-honoring decisions,

Policy development and adherence, decision profile, discussion guide

Fiduciary Stewardship

Church Board Role: Discipline – Effectiveness The Church Board ensures faithful accounting in the functioning of the Church

Meeting Stewardship: meeting strategies and time stewardship

Consent Agenda strategy

Ministry Designation and Evaluation: ministerial selection, development, and evaluations; Board performance assessment

Search strategies, human resource development, Evaluation strategies

The Church Board confirms the reliability and integrity of the Church in accordance with established structures and processes

Resource Allocation: board reporting translated into resource allocation, fiscal integrity, risk management, and policy development

Financial reporting, Job description development for all ministries, policy developments

CCRA – Legal Responsibilities: ethical responsibilities in accord with CCRA certification

Trustee accountability

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

A Map for Governance

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Size Matters

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL …

Size Matters For the sake of mission and ministry, a

congregations’ leadership must understand its size and the roles of staff on the board … the misalignment of board and staff roles relative to the congregation’s size results in frustration for both staff and the board because each has a different understanding of its role.

- Glenn Lucas, Size Matters: Mission, Ministry, Boards and Staff

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

CHART … Church Size

Church Size Dynamic Charts … Rauthage, et.al.

4 Sizes

5 Categories – general descriptions Structure Board Rule Pastor Role Staff/Team Growth ChallengeChurch Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Church Size Dynamics

Conclusions for Governance:1. “Fit” to the unique size with freedom

and purpose2. Monitor growth as a “threshold” 3. Healthy leadership:

1. Recognizes relevant issues and anticipates unique challenges

2. Aligns responsibilities, authority and accountability with clarity and purpose

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

The Art of Structure

A unified structure makes a way for healthy governing relationships

A unified structure makes a way for effective operational decisions

A unified structure provides for clear and creative promotion of ministry

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Models of Governing Boards

Collective Board Working/Administrative Board Traditional Structural Board Policy Governance Board

Ideas galore: https://www.google.ca/search?q=church+organizational+structure+chart+model&start=10&hl=en&sa=N&prmd=imvnsb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=UMCiT6rKO-WKiALYx7SPBw&ved=0CFEQsAQ4Cg&biw=1230&bih=621

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Review:

3 Key Questions that a Congregation must answer regarding governance:1. What norms and processes should we adopt to structure our governance work?2. What should be the quality of experience of working in the governing of a congregation?3. How should leadership of a congregation differ from other leadership?

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Closing Thoughts:

A proper spirit has greater weight than preliminary competence …

You all share a passion for ministry … find a way to promote each other to fulfill your call

The Board is best when it embraces a learning lifestyle with an eager heart … and becomes a vibrant, growing spiritual community - togetherChurch Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

Key Resources

Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership, Dan Hotchkiss

High Impact Church Boards, T.J. Addington

One Size Doesn’t Fit All, Gary McIntosh (Taking Your Church to the Next Level)

Doing Good Even Better, Edgar Stoetz

Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag