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Best Practices for Church Boards .. Ministry Lift

Best Practices for Church Boards .. Ministry Lift. Dr. Lyle Schrag, 4 October 2013. 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?

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Best Practices for Church Boards .. Ministry Lift

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  1. Best Practices for Church Boards .. Ministry Lift Dr. Lyle Schrag, 4 October 2013

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

  3. Specific Questions 1.How Biblical is organizational Leadership? 2.How is Biblical organization structured? Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  4. Biblical Considerations Myths to address: • Governance is not essential • Governance is uninteresting • Governance is NOT Spiritual Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. The BIG Question for Governance Who 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Shared Practices … • Meeting Practices • Fiduciary Care • Human Resources Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. A Map for Governance Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  18. The ‘Trust’ in Trusteeship • Three Things Held in Trust Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  19. The 3 Roles of Church Governance Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag CHURCH BOARD ROLES Church Board Roles and Responsibilities Direction Vision Discipline Effectiveness Doctrine Values • 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 • 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 • 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

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

  21. A Map for Governance Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  22. 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

  23. CHART … Church Size • Church Size Dynamic Charts … Rauthage, et.al. • 4 Sizes • 5 Categories – general descriptions • Structure • Board Rule • Pastor Role • Staff/Team • Growth Challenge Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  24. Church Size Dynamics Conclusions for Governance: • “Fit” to the unique size with freedom and purpose • Monitor growth as a “threshold” • Healthy leadership: • Recognizes relevant issues and anticipates unique challenges • Aligns responsibilities, authority and accountability with clarity and purpose Church Boards - Ministry Lift: 10/4/12 Dr. Lyle Schrag

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

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

  29. 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

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