This “next level” training for boards goes into its roles as fiduciary agents, spiritual leaders, strategic thinkers, and change agents.

It’s that time of the year again, when new leadership joins congregational boards. Summer is a time of transformation for some congregational leaders. I often receive questions around this time on how to hold a board retreat. Last year, Pat Infante and I held a webinar on holding a board retreat.

Policies and procedures are a way of telling future boards “this is our best thinking and guidance on this subject.” 

When handling sensititve information, leaders need to understand what they can share and what they need to keep confidential.

Are you wondering how to set up the meeting so it runs smoothly online? Here are some Dos and Don’ts to help get your creative juices flowing! 

Are you a newly elected Congregational Board member? Are you wanting to refresh your Board skills? Does your board need to rethink how to be a board in a virtual environment? Then this is your webinar!

Many congregations’ bylaws require regular board meetings, annual meetings, and meetings of the congregation’s members to call a minister or make other important decisions. During a pandemic, when large group gatherings are prohibited or discouraged, can a congregation legally hold such meetings...

Online Training. Develop a deeper understanding of how to focus your congregation on mission, build trust and develop a cohesive leadership team. Learn about stewardship, strategic planning, annual goal setting and ministry assessment and the basics of congregational governance.

The governing board is the fiduciary agent for the congregation, operating as a single unit in service of the congregation's mission. It may have a different name (e.g. board of directors, board of trustees, board of governors, steering committee, parish committee, etc.) but the basic role of...

Annual reports, often published in conjunction with a congregation's annual meeting, provide an opportunity to report on the annual goals that are serving the mission and vision of the congregation

What are the basic documents that every board member should have at their fingertips? Here is a handy list to construct your own board manual.

What are typical job descriptions for the officers on a congregational board? Here is summary of typical roles and responsibilities....

A supportive board is essential for a successful stewardship campaign. This overview helps congregational boards understand what is needed.

Boards have the fiduciary responsibility to make sure the overall finances of the congregation are in order and the budget is on track. But the line-item spreadsheets given to board often have too much detail and don't give related information that helps the board make sense of the information.

Here are some guiding questions and ideas about including a youth on your congregation's board.

Occasionally, during a conflict or crisis, a board may need some time for candid peer-to-peer discussion.

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.

Many congregations start the church year with a retreat for the Board of Trustees (including the Minister). Ideally, this retreat is held Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, at a site away from the place you usually meet. Perhaps you could go to someone's lake cabin or a local retreat center,...

After a congregational governing board has begun to transition the operations and management of a congregation out of the governing board and towards the congregational staff or a lay and staff leadership team, I will regularly receive the same question from congregational presidents and board...

One of the most common sources of tension in a congregation where conflict occurs that involves governing boards is the relationship between governing boards and the congregation’s professional staff, including the minister.  I have found that much of this conflict arises from the...