Levels of Governance in Congregational Polity

Part of The Congregational Handbook

By David Pyle

Key Takeaways

  • governance is all of the different ways that a congregation makes decisions together
  • Level 1 is the level of the congregational meeting, and its relationship to all the bodies it creates.
    • Making decision as a congregation as a whole (i.e. "the congregation in meeting") is the system of governance called "congregational polity"
    • Level 1 also includes the bodies (i.e. committees) created by the congregation as a whole such as nominating or endowment committees
  • Level 2 is the level of the congregational board
    • Level 2 also includes board committees, such as finance, that helps the board do its work
    • the board operates using a particular system such as "strategic board," "policy governance," "liaison board" etc.
  • Level 3 is the level of the operations or executive (in a church we call this ministry)
    • this includes worship planning, how the social hour is organized, what faith development classes are offered
  • Board Leadership -- Level 2 leadership -- rests at the intersection between the other 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.