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Governance as a Spiritual Practice. North Texas Association of Unitarian Universalist Societies June 1, 2013. Definition of Governance. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Governance as a Spiritual Practice
North Texas Association of Unitarian Universalist Societies
June 1, 2013
Definition of Governance
A shared ministry of the board and staff with processes and structures implemented by the board to enable the achievement of the congregation’s vision Jim Key
Seeing to it that the organization achieves what it should and avoids unacceptable situations Carver
June 2013 Jim Key 2
Benefits of Good Governance
Provides continuity through hard times Maintains a framework to ensure all
members will be represented Offers stimulation for member participation Creates methods for urgent action that can
foster responsiveness Builds methods of review to avoid
unproductive reactivity among members
June 2013 Jim Key 3
Benefits of Good Governance
Allows leadership to be transferred with continuity
Fosters community Integrates new members into the community Provides transparency in decision making Protects leaders Produces gains in democracy
June 2013 Jim Key 4
As a Spiritual Practice
What are the spiritual dimensions you see in governance?
June 2013 Jim Key 5
Board Effectiveness
“Effective governance by a board…is a relatively rare and unnatural act…(and) are often little more than high-powered, well-intentioned people engaged in low level activities.”
Chait, Holland, and Taylor, 1996)
“Boards tend to be…incompetent groups of competent individuals.”
John and Miriam Carver, 2001
June 2013 Jim Key 6
Six Primary Functions of the Board
Visioning Policy making Stewardship Sponsorship Advocacy Consultancy
June 2013 Jim Key 7
Visioning and policy-making
Should be at the forefront of the board’s work, in collaboration with the congregation’s professional staff.
June 2013 Jim Key 8
As stewards …
Board holds the congregation’s assets in trust, including moral and other intangible assets.
June 2013 Jim Key 9
As sponsors …
Board should collectively be among the most generous supporters of the congregation with both time and money
June 2013 Jim Key 10
As advocates …
Board represents interests of the congregation as an institution both to its own members and, even more importantly, to the wider community.
June 2013 Jim Key 11
As consultants …
Board members are available to the staff – at the staff’s invitation – to provide counsel and encouragement from their particular areas of expertise
June 2013 Jim Key 12
Some Best Practices
Leadership development replacing nominating committees
Annual board retreat to update long-range plan
Continuing education Fund leadership development
June 2013 Jim Key 13
Governance as Leadership
Type
1: Fi
duci
ary
Type 2: Strategic
Type 3: GenerativeJune 2013 Jim Key 14
Models vs. Modes
Richard Chait and his colleagues argue that we should shift emphasize to modes over models in seeking to govern well.
Richard Chait, William Ryan and Barbara Taylor, Governance As Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards (Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2005)
June 2013 Jim Key 15
Type I: Fiduciary Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 16
Type I: Fiduciary Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 17
Type II: Strategic Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 18
Type II: Strategic Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 19
Type III: Generative Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 20
Type III: Generative Governance
June 2013 Jim Key 21
Going from Good to Transformational
June 2013 Jim Key 22
Considerations
Fiduciary Role of Boards
Fiduciary Considerations
Advocate for stewardship and development
Obtain professional audits Annually for most congregations Change in Treasurer
Set term limits of Treasurer Separate duties of receiving, disbursing,
reconciling, recordingJune 2013 Jim Key 24
Fiduciary Considerations
Review financials monthly Balance sheet, income and expense,
budget YTD and outlook, reconciliations Disclose periodically
Report to the congregation at least quarterly
Make available on members' section of website monthly
June 2013 Jim Key 25
Fiduciary Considerations
Establish covenants (board, staff, congregation, meeting)
Educate congregation on giving, estate planning
Provide board training on financial competence
Understand resources available in District and at the Association
June 2013 Jim Key 26
Fiduciary Considerations
Manage child-safety policies Establish property use and rental
policies Establish charges to committees Establish policies for small-group
ministries
June 2013 Jim Key 27
Considerations
Strategic Role of Boards
Benefits of Strategic Thinking
Precipitates theological thinking Stimulates creative thinking Creates opportunities for
conversations within the congregation and the community
Aligns leadership and the congregation with future plans
Positions the congregation for growth and change
June 2013 Jim Key 29
Benefits of Strategic Planning
Creates congregational connections Assigns ownership of activities Establishes blueprint for change Sets milestones to measure and
report Drives understanding of external
factors
June 2013 Jim Key 30
Strategic Considerations
Confirm sources of authority and accountability
Assess sources needs Reaffirm values Assess the mission Create a vision Perform a gap analysis
June 2013 Jim Key 31
Strategic Considerations
Determine strategic goals vs. near-term objectives
Identify risks/threats/inhibitors Establish milestones and metrics Name owners Develop a monitoring and communications
plan Acknowledge capacity of congregation
June 2013 Jim Key 32
Sources of Authority and Accountability
Members Current and future generations of
Unitarian Universalists The heritage, traditions, and ideals of
Unitarian Universalism The vision of Beloved Community The Spirit of life, love, and the holy
June 2013 Jim Key 33
Considerations
Generative Role of Boards
What is Generative Thinking?
A cognitive process for deciding what to pay attention to, what it means, and what to do about it.
June 2013 Jim Key 35
UUA Shared Vision (draft)
A healthy community of Unitarian Universalists, alive with transforming power, moving our communities and the world towards more love, justice, and peace, in a manner which assures sustainability.
June 2013 Jim Key 36
Generative Thinking
Train boards in generative thinking Practice it
Board retreats Meeting agenda item
June 2013 Jim Key 37
Implications for the Board
Scale governance model to the size of the congregation
Consider annual board retreat Acquire governance training
periodically Consider voices not at the table Acquire cultural competency
June 2013 Jim Key 38
Implications for the Board
Acknowledge ownership of the governance process by the board
Acknowledge the power and authority granted to board via representative democracy
Require a rigorous process observation report for each meeting
June 2013 Jim Key 39
Closing Reading
Take courage, friends.
The way is often hard,
the path is never clear,
and the stakes are very high.
Take courage, for deep down there is another truth:
You are not alone.Wayne B. Arnason
June 2013 Jim Key 40
