On Governance… (Part 1)On Governance… (Part 1)Gini CourterUUA Moderator

http://justgini.blogspot.com/

DemocracyDemocracyDefinition: government by the

people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system

Abraham Lincoln: "of the people, by the people, and for the people"

There are two broad types of democracy – direct democracy and representative democracy.

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy

New England Town Meetings

Small Congregations

Any Small GroupIn direct democracy, everyone is involved in decision making. All members discuss and debate and vote. Direct democracy works well for small groups. It works best when everyone really wants to be involved in making all decisions, and is both willing and able to invest the time necessary to be well informed about and reflect on the issues.

Representative DemocracyRepresentative DemocracyLarger groupsLarger

congregations

With representative democracy, we elect people to make decisions on our behalf. The use of the democratic process is one of our core principles. When we elect board members in our congregations (or districts or to the board of the UUA), we are engaging in a sacred act, authorizing and entrusting the people we elect to make decisions on our behalf.

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

Boards are authorized to make decisions on behalf of the whole congregation. Therefore, it’s vital that we choose board members who focus not one program or area, but on the health and well being of the entire congregation.

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

One of the benefits of representative democracy is that we get to take turns being decision makers. I can spend a few years on my congregation’s board and when my term is up, I know that someone else will take my place and exercise the same level of care and concern that I exercised during my service. While the work of the board continues, I can be a youth advisor or serve on a committee.

UU Congregations Use Both UU Congregations Use Both TypesTypes

Almost all UU congregations use both types of democracy. Direct democracy is typically used for a limited number of important actions: calling a minister, changing the name of the congregation, or engaging in an activity that dramatically changes congregational life (like buying a new building.)

UU Congregations Use Both UU Congregations Use Both TypesTypes

Other decisions are made by the congregation’s elected representatives: either the board, or the minister (who is “elected” by being called by the a vote of the entire congregation). In Unitarian Universalism, a congregation uses a democratic process – voting – to delegate its authority to a board and a minister.

CommitteesCommittees

In every congregation, there are committees that make decisions and do work on behalf of the congregation. Most committees aren’t elected. They’re a group of volunteers with a passion for a specific aspect of church life: religious education, finance, facilities, and so on.

CommitteesCommittees

One of the challenges is continuously connecting the disparate, specialized committees to the mission of the whole congregation, to set up lines of authority and accountability to the board or staff and therefore, back to the congregation.

CommitteesCommittees

Committees may be doing excellent work, but what’s best for a specific program may not be what’s best for the congregation as a whole. If the congregation is not clear about how they delegate their authority (election and call), disagreements between committees and the board or committees and minister can turn into conflicts.

AUTHORIZATIONAUTHORIZATION

How Congregations How Congregations AuthorizeAuthorizeBoards are authorized through election. Ministers are authorized through call. Committees need to be authorized by

the board or the minister. ◦In smaller congregations, most committees

should receive authorization from the board.

◦In larger congregations, and in congregations of all sizes that use policy governance, most committees should receive authorization from the minister.

ROLES & ROLES & AUTHORIZATIONAUTHORIZATION

Committees, Boards, and Staff

Boards and CommitteesBoards and Committees

BOARDIf? What? Elected by “the

people”Accountable to

“the people”Elected/replaced

by “the people”

COMMITTEESHow? Appointed by the

BoardAccountable to

the board*Elected/replaced

by the board*

* In policy governance, or large congregations regardless of governance style, many committees are accountable to the staff rather than the Board

Governance ProcessGovernance ProcessBoard is

◦Mission driven◦Outwardly focused◦Accountable to membership◦Advocate of future direction – what

should be done, how organization should respond

◦Responsible for stewardship – best use of resources

Implementation ProcessImplementation ProcessCommittees are

◦Aligned to mission◦Task focused◦Accountable to board*◦Determiners of how tasks should be

done◦Responsible for planning,

completing, evaluating tasks

* In policy governance, or large congregations regardless of governance style, many committees are accountable to the staff rather than the Board

SHARED MINISTRYSHARED MINISTRYNotes on

Shared MinistryShared MinistryResponsibility for the ministry of

the congregation is shared by elected lay leaders (Board) and called religious professionals (Minister)

Both Board and Minister are accountable to the congregationShared ministry isn’t having a one lay service every month, or having lay

people do other work of a religious professional. Shared ministry is lay people doing the work of governance, while ministers do the work of professional ministry. If both the laity and clergy are doing their work excellently, the result is an excellent shared ministry.

Shared MinistryShared MinistryRequires clear boundariesFreedom of the pulpit, freedom of

the pew

Shared ministry is a partnership. The minister guarantees the laity freedom of the pew. The congregation guarantees the minister freedom of the pulpit. It is the job of the laity – not the clergy -- to defend freedom of the pulpit.