Dr. Don Page, Senior Fellow and Professor of Leadership at Trinity Western University conducted a Biblical Leadership Survey for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. His conclusions included, “respondents were very concerned about the failure to develop the Christian Leaders of the future (and the need) for current Christian Leaders to develop a deliberate strategy for discipling, mentoring or otherwise developing these future leaders.” (Faith Today)
There are three kinds of church Boards. The key difference is in two areas. (1) What authority does a Pastor or Board member have outside the Board Room and (2) what decisions go to the Board and what decisions stay with staff.
Working Boards:
A working Board is what the name implies. The Board plans, directs and also does the work. This Board is typical of a tiny church where Board members are the people and the volunteers. There are very few if any staff and volunteers. This style also comes to the forefront when a Pastor leaves. The Board steps up and covers for the Pastor until a new one is hired.
Management Boards:
A church with a Management Board typically has a Pastor, staff and volunteers. The Management Board holds all the authority and makes all the decisions. The work is delegated to the Pastor and staff or volunteers. The major challenge is the Board gets caught up with way too many decisions and if the staff run into difficulty, they have to go back to the Board as opposed to making decisions themselves.
Policy Boards:
Policy Boards often call themselves Governance Boards and take on a significantly different role. They set policies, define the Vision, Mission and Values of the church, always keeping in mind what they believe is God’s plan for the church. The Governance Board is responsible to direct and encourage the Pastor, keep him ‘in between the ditches’ and on target with a strategic plan. The Governance Board also evaluates its own performance.
Within a Governance Board structure an individual Board member only has power and authority at the Board Table. This power and authority, when shared with the rest of the Board, may become a Motion. The motions are directions for the Pastor to implement. Remember, ‘the Board hasn’t spoken until a motion has been passed’ and the Board must ‘speak with one voice’’. Each individual Board member has a vote and opinion at the Board Table.
Leadership Is reviewing your Board structure to accomplish God’s plan.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group