A Governance and Ministry Model of Congregational

Organization

Information Session for the Congregation of Bridge Street United Church

with the Governance Review Committee

3 October 2012

Our Information Session

The Governance Review Committee wishes to begin its presentation with its affirmation of the time, energy, commitment and faithfulness continually evident within and amongst the members of Bridge Street Church, in the congregation, on the Board, on Divisions and committees, in the delivery of services and programs of BSUC. The members of the Committee recognize, respect and highly value these characteristics within their church family members.

Agenda for Congregational Information Session on Governance & Ministry

1. Introduction1. Background 2. Process by Gov’ce Review Cttee

2. Central Role of Our Mission3. Governance & Ministry4. Ministry and its Ministry Teams5. Board Policy Manual and the Governance

Board6. Proposed Process and Schedule for the

Governance Board – Ministry Team Congregational Model at Bridge Street Church

Two reports to the congregation of Bridge Street in 2011 recommended

attention to the governance structure of the church

1. Bridge Street United Church Visioning and Implementation Committee Final Report to the Congregation, 10 April 2011

2. Report of the Pastoral Oversight Visit with Bridge Street Church, Belleville Presbytery Visitation Team, 18 May 2011

The governance review process

1. Scan of BSUC “environment”2. Scan of relevant resources3. Concept Formation4. Ongoing communications with Official Board and

Congregation5. Board Approval: proposed governance-ministry model6. Board Approval: draft Board policies on governance,

management, oversight7. Board Approval: trial of proposed model & policies 8. Congregational Awareness/Affirmation/Involvement: trial

of proposed model9. 2-year Trial, to include concurrent evaluations against

pre-established standards

Reports to the Bridge Street Congregation, 2011

UCC “Denominational Wisdom”

References for Congregational Governance

References on Governance for Non-Profit Organizations

References on Policy Development for Governance

All the references are available for your review

What is the Purpose of a Governance Model?

• The question we ask as a congregation is directly related to the mission of our church: “Whose lives do we as a congregation, with God’s Help, intend to change and in what way?”

• The governance model is intended to make possible the accomplishment of the Mission of the congregation.

Mission-Centred• The mission statement of Bridge Street Church states that

“Bridge Street Church, a congregation rich in history and tradition, is a Christian family that actively commits to welcoming all persons, to living the good news of Jesus Christ through worship, music, education, outreach, and stewardship, and to demonstrating the love of God, the Creator, within the congregation, the community, and the world, as the Spirit leads us.”

• Thus there is a task focus to the model of governance-ministry, its task being the purposeful attainment of the Mission

Governance & MinistryMutually Supportive

When I care for others,God says to me “You’re OK.”

My friend cried todayand I didn’t know why.

So I put my arms around my friendand said, “I’m sorrythat you’re so sad.”

My friend cried for a little whileand then stopped.

Mission-Centred

• Another way to think about the Mission of Bridge Street Church as it relates to the Governance Model is to consider:

• a. the intended effects to be produced• b. the intended recipients of those effects• c. the intended worth/cost benefit/priority of

the effects.

Some uncertainty?

Mutually Supportive Spheres-Governance & Ministry

Board Policy Manual 1.1.2. The philosophy of governance of BSUC identifies governance and ministry as the two mutually supportive spheres of leadership in the congregation. “The congregation of BSUC elects a Governance Board to function as its governing body and selects a Lead Minister to act as its spiritual, programmatic, and administrative leader.”

How the Model Works

The Structure i. a unified structure for making governance

decisions, the Governance Board; ii. a unified structure for making ministry

decisions, the Lead Minister and Ministry Teams; iii. a firm and well-demarcated boundary between

governance and ministry established by written Governance Board policy;

iv. accountability of Ministry to the Governance Board

Governance – the Governance Board

Governance• “Deciding what is to

happen and making sure that it happens”

• Holding the whole institution and its work “in trust”, voicing its intentions, making its biggest decisions, and taking responsibility for its performance

How the Model Works

Interaction of Governance and Ministryi. The work of governance and ministry is

distributed over 4 areas: oversight, management, discernment & strategic planning.

ii. The congregation plays a role in all 4 areas as individuals and as a whole.

Board, Staff and Congregation

Ministry - Ministry Teams

Ministry• Ministry begins with

written clarity from the Governance Board about what is to be done, so Ministry is “deciding how it is to happen & doing it”,

• Includes anyone who is part of the chain of practical activities that constitute the congregation’s work

Possible Ministry Teams

Ministry Team Annual Goal SettingMinistry Team Planning Cycle Given: the BSUC vision & mission; The BSUC strategic plan; The BSUC annual vision of ministry; and BSUC Lead Minister & senior staff goals:Item of Planning Cycle Year 1 Year 2 Year 31. Ministry Team Purpose2. Ministry Team Priority Goals (suggested number being 1-3; reviewed annually) 3. Ministry Team Landmarks (for each Goal)

(performance objectives each demonstrating movement toward a specified Goal) 4. Ministry Team Signposts (for each Landmark)

(enabling objectives each demonstrating movement toward a specified Landmark) 5. Estimated Resource Requirements for and Revenue from each Landmark - Expenses to include personnel hours, operating costs (exclusive of salary) including supplies &

equipment, capital costs (if any) -Revenue projected from each Landmark (if any, but “zero returns” required for planning purposes) 6. Evaluation Plan -States the frequency of Ministry Team self-evaluation and criteria to be utilized in self-

evaluation of Ministry Team signpost, landmark and goal outcomes. Evaluation is not for the purpose of itemizing activities, but rather for measuring outcomes.

Draft Board Policy Manual

• The draft Governance Board Policy Manual presents a background summary of the Governance-Ministry Model and a set of draft Governance Board policies.

• This is intended as a guide to the new Governance Board to assist them in understanding their role and in writing policies.

• The new Governance Board will produce its own policy manual as part of the trial period.

Draft Policy Manual (cont.)

The Governance Board Draft Policy Manual contains:• Background and philosophy of the

governance-ministry model including:• Board job description and responsibilities• Ministry responsibilities and planning cycle• Interaction of governance and ministry• Discernment, strategic planning and annual

vision of ministry

Draft Board Policy Manual (cont.)

• Draft Board policies on:• Administration [of the policies and manual]• Governance• Board-Lead Minister/Staff Delegation• Executive Parameters• Oversight (including organizational and lead

minister performance evaluation against pre-established criteria)

• Appendix 1: Board member skills and attributes

More detail on the structure, the function, and the accountability processes

of the proposed model is available

Where To From Here?

Official Board approval has been received (25 September 2012) for:• Proposed Governance Board-Ministry Team Model • Governance Board Draft Policy Manual• Time-limited (2 year) trial period for Governance-Ministry

Model [during which the Official Board remains intact, delegates

authority and responsibility to the “Governance Board”, and receives regular pre-scheduled reports]

Congregation affirmation/involvement/approval requested for:• Time-limited trial of proposed Governance Board -Ministry

Team model of congregational organization

Proposed Schedule

• August 28: Official Board affirmation of the progress to date, including affirmation of the proposed model and approval of the draft Governance Board Policy Manual

• September 25: Official Board approval of Governance Board Ministry Team model and approval of 2 year trial starting with the Annual General Meeting January 2013

• October: congregational information session on new Governance Board -Ministry Team model

• October-December: recruitment of members for new model, for both Governance Board & Ministry Teams

• November-January: orientation of Governance Board and Ministry Team members

• AGM January 2013: commencement of trial period following election of participants at AGM

Questions?

Board-Centred Congregation

Committee-Centred Congregation Grows

Ultimate Committee-Centred CongregationCompared with Staff-Centred Congregation

Ultimate Committee-Centred CongregationCompared with Staff-Centred Congregation

A balance of efficiency and clarity with democracy, participative decision-making and

group discernment