Transcript Congregational Governance

EXAMINING PARKDALE’S
GOVERNANCE
Congregational Meeting
December 7, 2008
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Purpose of today’s meeting
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Overview of existing governance structure
The need for improvement/restructuring
Review of progress to date
Outline of proposed new governance regime
Implementation issues/timing
The Congregation’s views/observations (Is
there consensus?)
Next steps
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Parkdale’s Vision
To form followers of Jesus
in such a way as to transform our
community and our world
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Parkdale’s Mission
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Uniting in joyful worship as an act of praise and
gratitude, and for inspiration and guidance
Providing learning opportunities for the Christian
way of life, and to enhance Biblical literacy
Supporting one another through pastoral care
and concern
Reaching out to people in need
Promoting justice
Praying for guidance, wisdom and support
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Parkdale’s Governance Structure
The Official Board
Session
M&P
Finance
Committee
(was Stewards)
Ministry Staff
M & P Rep.
Property Trustees Rep.
Presbytery Rep.
Reps. of other Committees
Trustees
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Governance Structure
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Official Board: 62 members, meets 4-6
times/year
Official Board Executive: 16 members,
meets prior to full OB or ad hoc as req’d.
Committees of Session & OB: meet at
various intervals
Session: 46 Elders, meets 4-5 times/year
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Governance Structure
Official Board Committees
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Ministry & Personnel
Stewardship
Financial Trustees
Property Trustees
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Governance Structure
Session Committees
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Pastoral Care
Mission & Outreach
Christian Enrichment
Membership Development
Communion Arrangements
Worship
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The Need for Review
Why should our current structure be revised?
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Healthy for any organization to periodically review its
mandate, structure and functions
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Existing governing structure essentially unchanged since 1971
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Excessive bureaucracy (too many meetings, too long to make
decisions)
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Overlap, duplication, “talking - not doing”
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The Need for Review
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New initiatives stifled, creative thinking inhibited
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Extreme challenge for succession planning: difficulty
recruiting fresh talent for leadership, committees
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Lack of flexibility to enable fulfillment of Vision & Mission
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Unsuccessful attempts at renewal in 1983, 1995, 1997, 2001
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Every Household Visitation (EHV) initiative in 2006 urged
action
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Steps Taken To Date
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Spring/07 –Small group examined governance
structures of several Ottawa-area churches sharing
Parkdale’s characteristics
Fall/07 – Findings reported to Board and Session;
Small group mandated to research further and make
recommendations
January/08 – Additional consultations with
congregational leaders, including with Dr. Bailey
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Steps Taken To Date
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May/08 – Half-day congregational consultation
workshop; (summary of outcome published in June
issue of The Messenger)
June/08 – Alternate governance options presented to
the Official Board
Summer/08 – Additional research, and
consultations/discussions with key stakeholders
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Steps Taken To Date
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September/08 –Official Board agreement-in-principle
(unanimous) to seek congregational approval for Council
structure
October/08 - Detailed outline of proposal published in October
issue of The Messenger
October/08 – Further examination of other congregations’
experience with Council model (e.g. Southminster United)
December/08 - Congregational meeting to outline proposal and
obtain feedback from members of Congregation
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Proposed Council Structure
COUNCIL
COMMITTEES
CONGREGATION
(A council is a suggested
governance model endorsed by
UCC)
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Proposed Structure
Congregation
Council
Presbytery rep.
Secretary
Life Elders
Standing Committees(4)
Ministry Committees(8)
Task- Oriented
Working Groups
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Proposed Structure
Standing
Committees
Pastoral
Staff
Ministry & Personnel
Property
Trustees
Finance
Trustees
Recruitment &
Succession Planning
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Proposed Structure
Ministry
Committees
Worship
Stewardship Co-ord.
Pastoral Care
Mission & Outreach Co-ord.
Christian
Enrichment
Communication
Membership Development & Rolls
Youth
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Proposed Structure
Working Group
Coordinating
Committee
(Project Examples)
Rummage Sales
Coffee Shop
Memorial Garden
Fall Bazaar
In From the Cold
Special projects
as identified in
carrying out Vision
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Proposed Structure
(Cycle of Accountability)
CONGREGATION
Sets direction
COUNCIL
Takes action
COMMITTEES
Implement
Council’s role: leadership, strategic
oversight, coordination & support,
spiritual development & stewardship
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Key Council Features
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Replaces existing Session and Official Board
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Less bureaucracy; fewer meetings
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More strategic; action-oriented
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Council of 15-18 + Ministry staff
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Continuing accountability to Congregation
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Key Council Features
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Accommodates broad participation in
delivery of Mission and Vision without longterm commitment to serve on Council i.e. is
project/goal oriented
Taps into un/underutilized talents and
energies through empowerment of Working
Groups
Stimulates individual initiative; encourages
new members to become involved
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Implementation Mechanics
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Official Board & Session are wound down
Congregation elects Council members, either as a group, or to
specific posts - e.g. Chair, Secretary. (Option: Council itself
could select Chair, Secretary)
Members serve 2-year terms; eligible for re-election
After initial year of Council operation, “overlapping” of terms
to provide continuity
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Council staffs Committees, appoints Chairs
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Finance Committee appoints Treasurer
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Operating Mechanics
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Working Group Coordinating Committee
receives and evaluates proposals for special
ministries/projects
Committee empowered to approve projects
within specified limits; recommends major
initiatives to Council
Committee provides Council with periodic
progress reports on activities/initiatives
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Key Operating Issue
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Impact of abolishing the Session
- Need to assure ongoing spiritual
oversight/nurture of the Congregation
- All Council members are Elders
- Ongoing contact/communications with
Congregation will be vital
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Contact/Communications
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Pastoral Care Team – highly effective in
pastoral care to (mostly) senior members
Current Elders with interest in visiting;
would unlikely need additional PC training
“Twinning” or “Buddy” system to ensure
ongoing contact
Publish decisions of Council
The Messenger is an excellent information
medium; ensure that all members receive it
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Council Advantages/Benefits
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Council emphasizes the responsibility of all members of the
congregation to be engaged in ministry
All councillors are Elders – the Council is the Court and acts as a
round table
Principal Council function is strategic direction; Council leadership is
focused on planning, priorities, coordination
Increased autonomy to committees – the Council defines
“parameters of permission”; Commitees initiate action
Can place people where their gifts/talents can be used most
effectively, rather than selecting “pegs to fill holes”
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Challenge
> May require a pro-active communication
strategy to demonstrate that there is
appropriate accountability for ministries
> Need to dispel any perception of a possible
“concentration of power.” Will require
effective ongoing two-way communication
with Congregation members
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Next Steps
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If today’s meeting signals Congregational
consensus in favour of a proposed Council, Official
Board moves forward, selects Implementation
team, develops transition scenario and full/final plan
Present plan to Congregation for formal vote at a
special meeting
Obtain Presbytery approval (as per UCC
requirements)
Proceed with implementation
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Tentative Timing
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Special Congregational meeting in spring 2009 to vote on final
plan
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Submission of plan to Presbytery for formal approval
(estimated turn-around time - approximately one month)
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Ideally, launch new Council in August 2009, to coincide with
traditional resumption of the church program year
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Transition strategy: Seek approval at AGM (February 15,
2009) to extend terms of existing Session and Board members
until August; no fresh appointments during interim
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Governance Review/Proposals
Conclusion
Discussion Time
- Questions
- Observations
- Comments
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