Board Member Skill-Up

Part of Leadership Training by Congregational Role

Each of the 6 articles below has two sections.

Your board can use this 12 topics as skill-ups to use as part of your board meetings. (Each section takes around 45 minutes.) You may also use the materials to help craft your board retreat.

Download the Syllabus (PDF) to keep track of your progress!

In This Section

1. Call of Duty: Governance Basics
From LeaderLab

Duties of a Board / Bylaws, Policies and Procedures / Time and Money / Being a Learning Community
2. In the Room Where It Happens: Why We Have Meetings
From LeaderLab

Effective Meetings / Setting the Agenda / Making Room for Multiple Viewpoints / Whole Congregation Discernment
3. Finding Your Center: Spiritual Grounding as Leaders
From LeaderLab

Covenant / Minister as Partner / Serving with Grace / Culture and Identity / Self-Care
4. Knowing Your Purpose: Leading in Alignment with Your Mission
From LeaderLab

Understanding Mission and Vision / Leading from Mission to Action / Seeking Alignment with the Mission / Finding Your Prophetic Voice
5. The Myth of Rationality: Understanding Human Nature
From LeaderLab

Anxiety & the Brain / Self-Differentiation / Stress & the Amygdala / Triangulation
6. In the Wilderness: Change is Hard, Even if it's the Promised Land
From LeaderLab

Emotional Responses to Change / Resistance to Change / Technical vs. Adaptive Challenges / Adaptive Change
7. Good Boundaries: Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality
From LeaderLab

Confidentiality and Healthy Disclosures / Creating Healthy Communication Channels / Avoiding “Parking Lot” Conversations / Peril of Anonymous Feedback
8. From "Me" to "We": Healthy Communications
From LeaderLab

Speaking with One Voice / Team Players: Interpersonal Dynamics / Minutes and Records
9. Who's the Boss? Boards as Employers
From LeaderLab

a. Our Values, Our Staff b. Compensation Guidelines c. The Unique Finances of Your Minister d. Personnel Policies and Best Practices
10. Guarding the Institution: Balancing Stability and Vision
From LeaderLab

Monitoring Policies and Guiding Documents / Goals, Dashboard reports & Accountability / Safety / Systems of Trust and Accountability
11. A Strange Partnership: Governance and Ministry
From LeaderLab

Authority and Accountability / The Mission-Based Board / Ministry as Partnership / There’s Enough Ministry to Go Around!
12. Staying in My Lane: Governance Roles and Responsibilities
From LeaderLab

Officers and Executive Committees / Standing Committees / Open vs. Executive Session / Understanding Boundaries
Boards As Spiritual Leaders

Finding Your Center: Spiritual Grounding as Leaders. Knowing Your Purpose: Leading in Alignment with Your Mission
Boards as Change Agents

The Myth of Rationality: Understanding Human Nature. In the Wilderness: Change is Hard, Even if it’s the Promised Land.
Fiduciary Responsibilities

Who’s the Boss? Board as Employer. Guarding the Institution: Balancing Stability and Vision.
Healthy Communication

Good Boundaries: Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality. From “Me” to “We”: Healthy Communications
What is the Purpose of a Board?

Governance Basics and Why We Have Meetings
Who's on First: Clarifying Board Roles

A Strange Partnership: Governance and Ministry. Staying in My Lane: Governance Roles and Responsibilities

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