What would
the ideal leadership team look like today? Who would be a member and what role
should they have? What would the agenda include? These are questions that we
keep hearing as congregations struggle to find ways to function effectively.
So, let's paint a picture of how an ideal Board or Vestry might function.
Selection
We have to begin with who the members of the Board should be. It is not enough to have warm bodies that volunteer to do a task. It is critical that each member have a passion for the role they play and a vision for the life and work of the congregation. This will make it more difficult to find people, but having members that are excited about their role and share a vision for the congregation makes it worth the effort.
It may be time to reduce the size and change the structure of your Board. When Bill Easum took over Collonial Hills Methodist church, he reduced his Board to seven members. His argument was that the others were needed for ministry, not to sit in meetings. A smaller Board or Vestry is better able to make the difficult decisions that will inject new energy and ideas. Changing the labels for standing committees can create new perceptions.
What if the worship committee is made responsible for spiritual development, for example? That sets a new context for thinking about Sunday morning as a time when the emphasis is on practicing the presence of God.
What if Sunday School becomes Children's Ministry? That broadens the task considerably.
Setting up short-term task groups or teams can create pockets of energy that can be the catalyst for other ministries to get started. Think about what it is you want each to accomplish, and design your committee and task force structure with that end in mind. You'll be surprised as the creative ideas begin to emerge.
When someone agrees to serve in a leadership role, they have to put the needs of the overall organization ahead of their specific committee or pet project.
The best way to identify the right people is to listen as folks share their stories and listen for what it is they are most excited or passionate about. If no one is excited or passionate about the congregation's ministry, that is a sign that it is time to make significant changes. When you hear someone with passion, find an opportunity for them to share their enthusiasm with others.
Role of the Board/Vestry
It is the role of the congregation's leadership to be clear why the congregation exists - what it is God is calling the congregation to be and do. Kirk Hadaway, speaking in Lethbridge last year, insisted congregations should be about transforming lives and creating God's new community. It is the role of leadership to provide the resources and support that will enable a congregation to live out its role.
One way to provide focus, support and accountability is for the board or vestry to take the time at the beginning of their term to identify the goals they would like to accomplish over the next year. A board that sets overall goals provides a foundation for the clergy leadership and committee chairs to know where it is they should focus their energy.
Don't try to set too many goals - three would be our maximum. Make them challenging, energizing, and exciting as well as achievable. The result will be a congregation where everyone is working toward the same end. This releases people and groups to work independently and in a way that works best for them, while knowing they are making a meaningful contribution to the congregation as a whole.
Board meetings can then become places to celebrate accomplishments and find support for work to be done - not just places for re-hashing old issues or time absorbing trivia. The focus can be on the future, not the past!
Meetings
How often a board or vestry has to meet depends on the tasks that they are trying to accomplish. Today technology enables us to share information easily. We can use e-mail, websites, Skype, or even Facebook or Myspace as ways to stay connected. (Skype.com lets you talk long distance free over the Internet using only your computer and a headset.) Google now provides many services that enable us to share information over the Internet. Busy people need new ways to stay in touch.
When a Board or Vestry meets it should be a time of transformation. The people involved need an experience of the Holy. They need to feel they are in a caring, supportive community. They need to feel that the work they are doing is contributing positively to significant ministry.
Setting an appropriate agenda for a Board or Vestry meeting is important. Charles Olsen in his book Transforming Church Boards says that meetings of congregational leaders should be times of worship. It's not just about getting the business done, it is about discerning what God is calling the congregation to do.
What might a Board or Vestry agenda look like? Here are some suggestions:
Meetings should never last more than a couple of hours. Most people run out of creative energy after that. Being creative is not just one element of your meeting - it is what your meeting is all about.
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Congregational News February 2008 Vol. 14 No. 3