![]() ![]() Fewer people on the Board means more people are available to do ministry. If the church moves to the simplified structure, how does ministry happen?Įven though the re-structuring occurs, ministry teams are still needed and in place. There is still a requirement that there be a separate Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development to nominate the Board Members to the Charge Conference each year. One third of the Board is required to roll off each year. The Senior Pastor is a member of the Board, while other paid church staff can have a voice, but no vote on the new board.Īre there still three-year terms and classes? For separation of powers, so that no one person is in charge of all areas of the church, there would officially still be the four committees, each with their own chair, but they would share a common membership (9-15 people) and meet at the same time.Ĭhurch leadership experts recommend a total of 9-15 people make up the new board.Ĭan other church staff be on the New Board? What committees are impacted by moving to the Single Board model?Īll of the Administrative Committees (i.e Trustees, Finance, SPRC, and Administrative Council) would become one. Who needs to approve going to a Single Board model?Ī church conference and the district superintendent must approve moving to a single board model of leadership. The Book of Discipline requires that the Board meet quarterly at a minimum, but would most likely meet monthly, perhaps more often as needed to begin with. I have included a list of frequently asked questions below. ![]() ![]() It has also proven ineffective in some locations where they did not get congregational buy in. The format is being used across the denomination to great success, including churches in our area, such as FUMC Boca Raton. For many years, Trustees and Finance met together as one committee. In short, no decisions have been made and full and open participation is important.Ĭason is no stranger to this structure. While approval of the plan is my ultimate goal, it is possible that in the end, Cason will decide that they do not wish to go in this direction. ![]() The meetings will be open to all members of Cason, and congregational input will not only be welcome, but is essential for appropriate discernment. Please know that this is a work in progress, and congregational approval, in the form of a Charge Conference, is needed to approve formalization of a plan AS WELL AS approval of the new plan. In 2023 we would research and create the framework and have it fully adopted next fall at charge conference, with names attached to new model through nominations. We will have some preliminary meetings and discussions with the intention of presenting to our upcoming Charge Conference, and asking for a vote on exploring and creating a plan for this change. I have sought, and obtained, approval from our District Superintendent Cynthia Weems to move forward in a process of discernment. When the membership size, program scope, mission resources, or other circumstances so require, the charge conference may, in consultation with and upon the approval of the district superintendent, modify the organizational plans, provided that the provisions of ¶ 243 are observed. The charge conference, the district superintendent, and the pastor shall organize and administer the pastoral charge and churches according to the policies and plans herein set forth. This alternative structure is based on ♢47.2 of the 2016 Book of Discipline: The 4 committees would still have chairs, but the administrative work is done by one committee, so that no one person has power over every aspect of the church. This Committee of Stewards would only meet once a month, freeing up people from endless Tuesday meetings. This model moves churches from four administrative committees (trustees, finance, staff-parish relations, and church council) to one Leadership Board encapsulating all responsibilities and authority of the previous four separate administrative committees. We must acknowledge that part of the issue is our current membership numbers, and while we foresee an increase in the number of congregants over the next year, the truth is the demand on people’s time will continue.Īs such, I have had discussion with leadership about adopting a new administrative structure, known as the Simplified Accountable structure, or One Board Model. The common response is that there are too many meetings and people don’t want to commit. Over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to get people to serve on committees, let alone in leadership. ![]()
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