Governance Principles
for
Vibrant, Healthy
Congregations
Facilitated by Laura Park, Joe Sullivan, and Louise Wolfgramm of
Unity Consulting
How could governance liberate the
energy and creativity of congregations to
transform souls and bless the world?
What Is Governance?
“...the processes, structures and organizational traditions that determine
how power is exercised, how stakeholders have their say, how decisions
are taken and how decision-makers are held to account.”
Mel Gill, Governing for Results
The Governance Question: “What is our process for deciding to make a
major change, empowering people to make it happen, and holding
them accountable for the results?
Dan Hotchkiss, Governance and Ministry
Two Actions for Excellence
1.
Fill your congregation’s nested bowls: Values, Mission, Ends.
Two Actions for Excellence
1.
Fill your congregation’s nested bowls:
Values, Mission, Ends.
2. Clarify roles and accountability:
visionary vs. operational leadership
The Nested Bowls
Shared Core Values – What transcendent,
timeless qualities of our religious community will
we carry forward into the future?
Values
The Nested Bowls
Mission – What overarching difference are we
here in the world to make and for whom?
Mission
Values
Mission:
All Souls Church, Unitarian
Washington, DC
To create a diverse, spirit-growing,
justice-seeking community
that transforms ourselves
and our world into one great family
of all souls.
Ends
Mission
Values
Mission:
Unitarian Universalist Association
(Global End)
Grounded in our covenantal tradition,
the member congregations
of the Unitarian Universalist Association
will inspire people to lead lives
of humility and purpose,
Mission
connection and service,
Values
thereby transforming themselves
and the world.
Ends
The Nested Bowls
Ends – What specific, measurable differences
will we make and for whom?
Ends
Mission
Values
Ends: Organizing Structure
Ends – What specific, measurable differences
will we make and for whom?
Within the people of the congregation
Among the people of the congregation
Beyond the congregation, out in the world
Ends
Mission
Values
Ends:
Unitarian Universalist Association
 Congregations that unlock the power that
transforms lives (within).
 Congregations that live in covenant with other
congregations in our Association. (among)
Ends
Mission
 Congregations that move
toward sustainability,
wholeness and reconciliation.
(beyond)
Values
Ends:
Unity Church—Unitarian
 The people of Unity Church – Unitarian have a deeply
meaningful, transforming, liberal religious experience (within)
 Unity Church – Unitarian is a radically hospitable, spiritually vital
and supportive community (among)
 Unity Church – Unitarian is a visible leader and partner, making
Ends
a positive impact in our neighborhood
and in the world
(beyond)
Mission
Values
The Nested Bowls
Moral Ownership – connection with our
sources of authority & accountability adds
the flame
Ends
Mission
Values
Two Actions for Excellence
1.
Fill your congregation’s nested bowls: Values, Mission, Ends.
Ends
Ends
Mission
Values
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Fort Wayne
Two Actions for Excellence
1.
Fill your congregation’s nested bowls:
Values, Mission, Ends.
2. Clarify roles and accountability:
visionary vs. operational leadership
Visionary Leadership
Asks…



What does our membership care about, think
about, ask about?
What is at stake now and in scenarios for the
future? What issues or realities do we need to
address?
How are our core values expressed in the mission,
ends and policies of our congregation?
 What direction could we go?
What direction will we go?
 What priority and portion of our resources should we give to each particular
end in our vision for the future?
Ends
Ends
Mission
Values
Who?
The Board of Trustees
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Fort Wayne
Operational Leadership
Asks…
 What programs and initiatives will
enable us to make our vision reality?
How will our programs and initiatives
flow from the energy and creativity of
our members?
 What do we need to change about our current situation to achieve our Ends?
 Who will be responsible for initiating and managing what programs?
How will
we manage, update and enhance our resources to achieve our Ends?
Ends
Ends
Mission
Values
Who?
The Board of Trustees
Who?
The Executive Leader
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Fort Wayne
Typical Questions about Role Distinction
•
•
Where are all the other congregational
leaders?
How can we make this role clarity happen in a
small congregation?
Example Scenario
Church facility is limiting the congregation’s ability to
advance its mission.
Board asks:
•What do we know about church growth
and what do we need to know?
Particularly, what do we know about how
change in church physical plant impacts
the mission and ministry outcomes of
churches?
•How have we addressed such growthrelated issues in the Ends? What
expectations have we set? What
consequences are anticipated? How
have we addressed safety in our policies?
How are different approaches to growth
consistent with our core values and
mission? How is stewardship addressed in
our ends?
Example Scenario
Church facility is limiting the congregation’s ability to
advance its mission.
Executive leader asks:
Given this vision and values
the Board has articulated,
how can we translate the
creativity and energy of this
church community into either
new ways of utilizing our
current facility, or renovating
or expanding the facility, or
moving elsewhere in order to
make our vision reality?
Two Actions for Excellence
1.
Fill your congregation’s nested bowls:
Values, Mission, Ends.
2. Clarify roles and accountability:
visionary vs. operational leadership
Discussion in Pairs
Take 5 minutes to talk over what you heard
with a partner.
What was most interesting to you?
What questions would you like to ask?
Q&A
Please ask a question that hasn’t been asked
already.
Tell us your name and your congregation.
For questions that don’t get answered here,
we have a discussion session:
Tomorrow, Saturday June 26
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Hilton Marquette III