So if you understand that governance is all of the different ways that a congregation makes decisions together, you realize that the board is only one of multiple ways that a congregation does make its decisions together. I like to think of congregational governance in three different levels.
The first level is the level of the congregational meeting, and its relationship to all the bodies it creates. And at that system -- at that level -- we use a system known as congregational polity. All of you have probably experienced that at some point, being part of a congregational meeting where votes are taken, and motions are placed before the assembly. If you've been to General Assembly, you see the plenary sessions are an example of level one governance. 
Congregational boards are what I call level two governance. In other words, it's the relationship of the board, and its relationship to any bodies it creates; including standing committees, and task forces, and committees of the congregation. That level often operates at a different governance system: sometimes called strategic board, sometimes called policy governance, sometimes called board liaison governance.
There's many different forms of how our congregations operate at that level 2.
Level 3 governance is the congregation's executive, or operations and its relationship to the bodies it creates. That includes everything from how the hospitality committee makes coffee on Sunday morning, to how worship is planned, to how… all of the ways of doing of church -- those are that level 3.
So to understand board leadership, you understand that you are resting in the place between the leadership, and the practices of how to make decisions together at level one at the congregational meeting, and the actual activities of the congregation, and how you make decisions together in doing all the things of church.
Board leadership rests at the intersection between those two, to take the intentions of the congregation -- the purpose, the mission, the values -- and set the structures and systems in place to allow for the congregation to live those values in the world. And so -- as a board leader -- you are at your best helping the congregation to ensure that the resources the practices the systems are all in place, so that your congregation can live its mission in the world.