Good Questions

Dear Friends,

The Board Town Hall informational meeting on Sunday included time for several good questions and comments from those who packed the Fireside Room. I won’t try to quote the questions here, but rather offer a perspective (and some facts) on what I heard as major areas of interest.
What the heck is Policy Governance?

Essentially, there are two ways to run a church. The traditional way we can call The Committee System: Most decisions are made by committees composed of pretty much whoever wants to be on them. The Board is generally limited to receiving and approving committee reports. Things move slowly with considerable confusion about who should be approving what, and members spend a great deal of time doing committee business. The system worked fairly well in an earlier era when women were not in the workforce and the world moved at a pace appropriate to snail mail and mimeograph machines.

And then there is the system the First Church Board has been exploring for the past couple of years: Policy Governance was developed by educational psychologist John Carver, who has been active in Unitarian churches and in the American Humanist Association. Carver designed the system for non-profits based on his experience as a leader of health care organizations. It has swept the globe. Dozens of UU churches have adopted the model, including leading congregations like Dallas, Atlanta, and Unity Unitarian in St. Paul.

With this way of doing things, the board is charged with listening carefully and constantly to the congregation, charting the course, identifying priorities, and holding paid and volunteer staff accountable for achieving the ends the board sets out. Churches find that the Carver model makes it easier to get things done, empowers congregants, and frees members from much committee drudgery so that more time and attention can be given to spiritual growth and service to others.

Another good question: How are church finances and budgeting handled?

In short, budgeting starts and ends with the congregation. Administrator Peggy Harvey and I ask for detailed requests from most church groups. Open hearings are held to discuss spending priorities. Financial advisors from the congregation are consulted. A draft budget is prepared and presented to the Board. More open hearings are held. Finally, the budget is presented at the annual meeting for a vote of the congregation.

But why are we offering such a generous salary for a new senior minister?

Unfortunately, numbers tossed about at the Town Hall meeting were, in fact, too high by half. The salary being offered is less than was offered me, and less that the combined compensation previous ministers were paid. The salary is in line with denominational guidelines, and were it much less, there would be little interest in the job on the part of the most promising candidates.

How about this big deficit we are running?

We’re not. Although the congregation authorized some deficit spending this year, the church is on target to avoid it.

I know that these are difficult times financially for many. It is understandable that there would be anxiety about money. But please know that church finances are healthy, member contributions are generous, and spending is in line with what the congregation has authorized.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments—about these matters and all else.

Best,
David