Nominating Committees: Writing Congregational Bylaws

Every congregation needs to decide how people will be nominated for various elected positions. Several questions must be answered: Who appoints the members of the Nominating Committee-the board, the membership, or both? How long are the terms? How many terms are best? Should the Nominating Committee offer a single slate with only one candidate for each position, or should it be required to offer a competitive slate? How is the committee structured? How will the process support diversity in leadership?

Once again, no one right answer exists. In some congregations, the Nominating Committee meets only to prepare the slate for the annual meeting; in other congregations, the Nominating Committee meets throughout the year to identify leadership for a variety of committees and roles. The public face of leadership is important in determining who will feel at home in that congregation. Changing a Nominating Committee to include members of historically marginalized groups can help make members of those groups feel welcome.

• Nominating Committee Constitution
• Nominating Committee Procedures