governance as a spiritual practice
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Governance as a Spiritual Practice. North Texas Association of Unitarian Universalist Societies June 1, 2013. Definition of Governance. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Governance as a Spiritual Practice
North Texas Association of Unitarian Universalist Societies
June 1, 2013
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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
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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
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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
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As a Spiritual Practice
What are the spiritual dimensions you see in governance?
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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
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Six Primary Functions of the Board
Visioning Policy making Stewardship Sponsorship Advocacy Consultancy
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Visioning and policy-making
Should be at the forefront of the board’s work, in collaboration with the congregation’s professional staff.
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As stewards …
Board holds the congregation’s assets in trust, including moral and other intangible assets.
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As sponsors …
Board should collectively be among the most generous supporters of the congregation with both time and money
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As advocates …
Board represents interests of the congregation as an institution both to its own members and, even more importantly, to the wider community.
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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
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Some Best Practices
Leadership development replacing nominating committees
Annual board retreat to update long-range plan
Continuing education Fund leadership development
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Governance as Leadership
Type
1: Fi
duci
ary
Type 2: Strategic
Type 3: GenerativeJune 2013 Jim Key 14
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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)
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Type I: Fiduciary Governance
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Type I: Fiduciary Governance
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Type II: Strategic Governance
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Type II: Strategic Governance
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Type III: Generative Governance
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Type III: Generative Governance
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Going from Good to Transformational
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Considerations
Fiduciary Role of Boards
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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,
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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
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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
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Fiduciary Considerations
Manage child-safety policies Establish property use and rental
policies Establish charges to committees Establish policies for small-group
ministries
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Considerations
Strategic Role of Boards
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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
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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
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Strategic Considerations
Confirm sources of authority and accountability
Assess sources needs Reaffirm values Assess the mission Create a vision Perform a gap analysis
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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
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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
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Considerations
Generative Role of Boards
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What is Generative Thinking?
A cognitive process for deciding what to pay attention to, what it means, and what to do about it.
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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.
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Generative Thinking
Train boards in generative thinking Practice it
Board retreats Meeting agenda item
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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
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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
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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
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