John BlevinsJohn BlevinsGovernance Working Governance Working

GroupGroupUUA Board of TrusteesUUA Board of Trustees

March, 2009March, 2009

UUA Governance

Update

First, getting around here in First, getting around here in cyberspace….cyberspace….

How many of you have taken the tutorial on taking a How many of you have taken the tutorial on taking a webinar, as was offered during registration? Or webinar, as was offered during registration? Or already knew how to use Persony?already knew how to use Persony?Please raise your little hands! Please raise your little hands!

Anyone not seeing the opening screen? Anyone not seeing the opening screen? Everyone on phone? How to mute your phone?Everyone on phone? How to mute your phone? Have copies of the 2 documents emailed to you?Have copies of the 2 documents emailed to you? Phil Lund Phil Lund will be making an audio recording of this will be making an audio recording of this

session, so you can review or share it later.session, so you can review or share it later. Introductions: Introductions: going down the list on the right, speak going down the list on the right, speak

your name, district, and current role (30 seconds or your name, district, and current role (30 seconds or less)less)

And now, lets’ roll…And now, lets’ roll…

UUA Board UUA Board Governance Working Governance Working

GroupGroup John Blevins – Prairie StarJohn Blevins – Prairie Star Chuck Wooldridge – Joseph PriestleyChuck Wooldridge – Joseph Priestley Jackie Shanti – Clara BartonJackie Shanti – Clara Barton Linda Laskowski – Pacific CentralLinda Laskowski – Pacific Central

For more Governance Information:For more Governance Information: www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/policywww.uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy

Purpose of this Purpose of this

webinar…webinar… Inform you about where the UUA Board is in Inform you about where the UUA Board is in

defining the ENDS for the Associationdefining the ENDS for the Association Briefly tell how we got to this placeBriefly tell how we got to this place Share ENDS, and ownership statement Share ENDS, and ownership statement

(Sources…)(Sources…)

Seek your comments, concerns (and praise?)Seek your comments, concerns (and praise?)

This is NOT a tutorial on governance.This is NOT a tutorial on governance. I will I will define terms briefly, but that’s all time will define terms briefly, but that’s all time will permit.permit.

Tutorial help is available thru UUA.ORG, books, Tutorial help is available thru UUA.ORG, books, consultants, and some District offices.consultants, and some District offices.

Transition to Transition to Policy Governance: Policy Governance: Where we’ve been . . Where we’ve been . . .. 19931993

Major Commission on Governance Report Major Commission on Governance Report not adoptednot adopted by GA by GA

20032003 Board discusses “owner linkage” and Board discusses “owner linkage” and

need for informed, empowered delegatesneed for informed, empowered delegates 20042004

Board begins homework on governanceBoard begins homework on governance UUA extends GA delegate subsidy to UUA extends GA delegate subsidy to

congregation Presidentscongregation Presidents

Where we’ve been . . Where we’ve been . . .. 20052005

Team of board & staff attend major Team of board & staff attend major Governance ConferenceGovernance Conference

Board engages consultant, begins Board engages consultant, begins formal trainingformal training

20062006 Board develops very first draft of Board develops very first draft of

governance policiesgovernance policies Board wrestles with confluence of Board wrestles with confluence of

governance and religiongovernance and religion

Where we’ve been . . Where we’ve been . . .. 20072007

Board creates Governance Working GroupBoard creates Governance Working Group GA “Open Space” work on ENDSGA “Open Space” work on ENDS Board decides to implement new governance in Board decides to implement new governance in

20092009

20082008 GA “Appreciative Inquiry” work on ENDSGA “Appreciative Inquiry” work on ENDS District Presidents Assoc. meeting District Presidents Assoc. meeting UUMA (Minister’s Association) Exec Cmte meetingUUMA (Minister’s Association) Exec Cmte meeting Presidential candidates engagedPresidential candidates engaged

Current Current Activity . . .Activity . . .

December 2008 through April 2009: December 2008 through April 2009: – "owner linkage" work reviewing plans, all over "owner linkage" work reviewing plans, all over

the country the country – workshops at District meetingsworkshops at District meetings

April 2009:April 2009:– Adopt ENDS statement Adopt ENDS statement – Adopt statement of "Sources of accountability Adopt statement of "Sources of accountability

& Authority” & Authority” – Adopt Policy Manual Adopt Policy Manual

Coming Right Up. .Coming Right Up. .

GA June 2009, Salt LakeGA June 2009, Salt Lake

– Governance track in UU University (Unity Governance track in UU University (Unity Consulting)Consulting)

– Governance WG leads workshopGovernance WG leads workshop

– Various events for "linkage" engagementVarious events for "linkage" engagement

– Announcement of ENDS as adopted in AprilAnnouncement of ENDS as adopted in April Fall 2009: Fall 2009:

– begin operation under policy governancebegin operation under policy governance

Where we’re Where we’re going . . .going . . . Learning to live in “owner linkage”Learning to live in “owner linkage” Developing and practicing systematic, Developing and practicing systematic,

rigorous monitoring rigorous monitoring Developing governance capabilities of Developing governance capabilities of

Trustees and the UUATrustees and the UUA Perpetual “tuning” of Governance Perpetual “tuning” of Governance

PoliciesPolicies Recruiting and supporting next Recruiting and supporting next

generation of Trustees generation of Trustees

Current drafts of Current drafts of foundational foundational governance workgovernance work

Global END StatementGlobal END StatementSources of Authority and Accountability (owners)Sources of Authority and Accountability (owners)ENDS (desired outcomes)ENDS (desired outcomes)

Global END or Mission Statement:Global END or Mission Statement:

Grounded in our covenantal tradition, Grounded in our covenantal tradition, the UUA will inspire people to lead lives the UUA will inspire people to lead lives of humility and purpose, connection and of humility and purpose, connection and service, thereby transforming service, thereby transforming themselves and the world.themselves and the world.

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Respond, and Questions (words & sentences, not paragraphs, Respond, and Questions (words & sentences, not paragraphs, please)please)

Sources of Authority Sources of Authority and Accountability and Accountability (owners)(owners)::

Our member congregationsOur member congregationsCurrent and future generations of Current and future generations of Unitarian UniversalistsUnitarian UniversalistsThe heritage, traditions, and ideals The heritage, traditions, and ideals of Unitarian Universalismof Unitarian UniversalismThe vision of Beloved CommunityThe vision of Beloved CommunityThe Spirit of life, love, and the holyThe Spirit of life, love, and the holy

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Respond and QuestionsRespond and Questions

ENDS - ENDS - what outcome,what outcome,for whom, at what for whom, at what cost or priority?cost or priority?

The The ENDSENDS statement is a full page of text, statement is a full page of text, which we will review next, in sections. In which we will review next, in sections. In outline, it covers four areas:outline, it covers four areas:1.1. Impact on individualsImpact on individuals2.2. Engagement with and by Engagement with and by

congregations congregations 3.3. Covenanted communityCovenanted community4.4. Seeking justice and sustainability in Seeking justice and sustainability in

the larger communitythe larger communityThe Board will charge the UUA President The Board will charge the UUA President to move our Association toward these to move our Association toward these ENDS.ENDS.

Our ENDS Our ENDS are growing are growing Unitarian Universalist Unitarian Universalist congregations that:congregations that:

Unlock the Power that Transforms Lives.Unlock the Power that Transforms Lives.In our congregations, people deepen their In our congregations, people deepen their spiritual lives. They:spiritual lives. They:

Develop a personal spiritual practiceDevelop a personal spiritual practiceParticipate in meaningful worshipParticipate in meaningful worshipLearn and practice empowered Learn and practice empowered leadership and generosity. leadership and generosity. Find their ministry in the worldFind their ministry in the world

– Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)– Respond, and QuestionsRespond, and Questions

Our congregations Our congregations are:are:

Vibrant — joyful and excited about their Vibrant — joyful and excited about their ministries ministries

Intentionally multi-generational and Intentionally multi-generational and multi-cultural. multi-cultural.

Networked with each otherNetworked with each other

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions?Respond, and Questions?

Congregations Congregations are:are:

Active participants in ministerial Active participants in ministerial preparation and development preparation and development Shared ministries Shared ministries Agents of mission and extensionAgents of mission and extension

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions?Respond, and Questions?

Our ENDS Our ENDS are growingare growingUnitarian Universalist Unitarian Universalist congregations that:congregations that:

Invite people into congregations that Invite people into congregations that live out covenant through:live out covenant through:

A strong, articulated sense of UU and A strong, articulated sense of UU and community identitycommunity identityHigh expectations of their membersHigh expectations of their membersFull participation in Associational lifeFull participation in Associational lifeAn open and inclusive outreach and welcomeAn open and inclusive outreach and welcomeEmbracing and struggling with issues of Embracing and struggling with issues of oppression and privilegeoppression and privilege

– Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)– Respond, and Questions?Respond, and Questions?

Our ENDS Our ENDS are growing are growing Unitarian Universalist Unitarian Universalist congregations that:congregations that:

Move toward sustainability, wholeness and Move toward sustainability, wholeness and reconciliation through ministries, partnerships, reconciliation through ministries, partnerships, and alliances.and alliances.

Our congregations answer the call to ministry Our congregations answer the call to ministry and justice work:and justice work:

Grounded in the communities in which they live Grounded in the communities in which they live Nationally, internationally Nationally, internationally With interfaith partners and alliancesWith interfaith partners and alliances

The public engages in meaningful dialogue and The public engages in meaningful dialogue and takes action informed by our prophetic voice and takes action informed by our prophetic voice and public witness.public witness.

These are all at equal priority and are to be These are all at equal priority and are to be achieved within a justifiable cost.achieved within a justifiable cost.

– Personal Reflection (1 minute). - Respond, and Questions?Personal Reflection (1 minute). - Respond, and Questions?

Gathering your responses Gathering your responses and reflections and reflections on the work …on the work …

What is your initial reaction to the What is your initial reaction to the draft ENDS developed by the UUA draft ENDS developed by the UUA Board?Board?Does this work reflect your dreams Does this work reflect your dreams for Unitarian Universalism? for Unitarian Universalism?

Reflects Reflects almost all almost all of what I want the UUA to beof what I want the UUA to beReflects Reflects mostmost of what I want the UUA to be of what I want the UUA to beReflects Reflects some some of what I want the UUA to beof what I want the UUA to beCaptures the right ideas but I don’t like the wordsCaptures the right ideas but I don’t like the wordsMissed the mark entirelyMissed the mark entirely

Your final thoughtsYour final thoughts? ? (and the one page (and the one page feedback form titled Global End Statement!)feedback form titled Global End Statement!)

The Promise . . .The Promise . . . Realizing Realizing Governance as Holy Governance as Holy WorkWork

Focused on moving toward shared vision and Focused on moving toward shared vision and ENDSENDS

Close “owner” linkageClose “owner” linkage Accountability and Monitoring PerformanceAccountability and Monitoring Performance Empowering staff; clear roles and relationshipsEmpowering staff; clear roles and relationships

In Closing…In Closing…Thank you for your interest!Thank you for your interest!

See you at GA!See you at GA!

Thanks to Phil Lund for his help in making this Thanks to Phil Lund for his help in making this seminar possible.seminar possible.

John Blevins, UUA Trustee for PSD, John Blevins, UUA Trustee for PSD, jblevins@uua.org

Resources for further reading and thinking:Resources for further reading and thinking:

The "home page" for UUA Governance today:The "home page" for UUA Governance today:

http://uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy/index.shtml http://uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy/index.shtml (and see the many informative links from this page...)(and see the many informative links from this page...)

John Carver's work: http://www.carvergovernance.com/John Carver's work: http://www.carvergovernance.com/