Board Governance Policies

Part of A Guide to Creating a Board Policy Book

November 25, 2019

Governance policies augment the bylaws by offering a higher level of detail about the congregation’s governance but with the flexibility of being modified as needed. (Bylaws may refer to the existence of these policies but without the detail.)

Policies in this section may include:

Roles and responsibilities the officers and trustees board members (as a group and as individual roles)
Covenants for the congregation and for the leadership/board
Conduct at congregational meetings and board meetings
Charters for Committees of the board

In This Section

Board Officer Policy
From LeaderLab

The responsibilities are held in common by all officers and directors can be included in a general policy for board officers.
Executive Committee Policy
From LeaderLab

Congregations often have unexpected issues that arise between board meetings that need immediate attention. An Executive Committee typically conducts the current and ordinary business of the congregation between meetings of the Board of Trustees.
Personnel Committee Charter Policy
From LeaderLab

Personnel Committees operate like Human Resources departments in that they don’t hire, manage or supervise staff. Instead they advise on best practices.