1 EXAMINING PARKDALE’S EXAMINING PARKDALE’S GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE Congregational Meeting Congregational Meeting December 7, 2008 December 7, 2008
Jan 28, 2016
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EXAMINING PARKDALE’SEXAMINING PARKDALE’SGOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE
Congregational MeetingCongregational Meeting
December 7, 2008December 7, 2008
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Purpose of today’s meetingPurpose of today’s meeting
Overview of existing governance structureOverview of existing governance structure The need for improvement/restructuringThe need for improvement/restructuring Review of progress to dateReview of progress to date Outline of proposed new governance regimeOutline of proposed new governance regime Implementation issues/timingImplementation issues/timing The Congregation’s views/observations (Is The Congregation’s views/observations (Is
there consensus?)there consensus?) Next stepsNext steps
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Parkdale’s VisionParkdale’s Vision
To form followers of JesusTo form followers of Jesus
in such a way as to transform ourin such a way as to transform our
community and our worldcommunity and our world
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Parkdale’s MissionParkdale’s Mission
Uniting in joyful worship as an act of praise and Uniting in joyful worship as an act of praise and gratitude, and for inspiration and guidancegratitude, and for inspiration and guidance
Providing learning opportunities for the Providing learning opportunities for the Christian way of life, and to enhance Biblical Christian way of life, and to enhance Biblical literacyliteracy
Supporting one another through pastoral care Supporting one another through pastoral care and concernand concern
Reaching out to people in needReaching out to people in need Promoting justicePromoting justice Praying for guidance, wisdom and support Praying for guidance, wisdom and support
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Parkdale’s Governance StructureParkdale’s Governance Structure
The Official BoardThe Official Board
M & P
Trustees
SessionFinance
Committee(was Stewards)
Ministry StaffM & P Rep.Property Trustees Rep.Presbytery Rep.Reps. of other Committees
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Governance StructureGovernance Structure
Official Board: 62 members, meets 4-6 Official Board: 62 members, meets 4-6 times/yeartimes/year
Official Board Executive: 16 members,Official Board Executive: 16 members,
meets prior to full OB or ad hoc as req’d.meets prior to full OB or ad hoc as req’d. Committees of Session & OB: meet at Committees of Session & OB: meet at
various intervalsvarious intervals Session: 46 Elders, meets 4-5 times/yearSession: 46 Elders, meets 4-5 times/year
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Governance StructureGovernance Structure
Official Board CommitteesOfficial Board Committees
Ministry & PersonnelMinistry & Personnel StewardshipStewardship Financial TrusteesFinancial Trustees Property TrusteesProperty Trustees
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Governance StructureGovernance Structure
Session CommitteesSession Committees
Pastoral CarePastoral Care Mission & OutreachMission & Outreach Christian EnrichmentChristian Enrichment Membership DevelopmentMembership Development Communion ArrangementsCommunion Arrangements WorshipWorship
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The Need for ReviewThe Need for Review
Why should our current structure be revised?Why should our current structure be revised?
Healthy for any organization to periodically review its Healthy for any organization to periodically review its mandate, structure and functionsmandate, structure and functions
Existing governing structure essentially unchanged since 1971Existing governing structure essentially unchanged since 1971
Excessive bureaucracy (too many meetings, too long to make Excessive bureaucracy (too many meetings, too long to make decisions)decisions)
Overlap, duplication, “talking - not doing”Overlap, duplication, “talking - not doing”
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The Need for ReviewThe Need for Review
New initiatives stifled, creative thinking inhibitedNew initiatives stifled, creative thinking inhibited
Extreme challenge for succession planning: difficulty recruiting Extreme challenge for succession planning: difficulty recruiting fresh talent for leadership, committeesfresh talent for leadership, committees
Lack of flexibility to enable fulfillment of Vision & MissionLack of flexibility to enable fulfillment of Vision & Mission
Unsuccessful attempts at renewal in 1983, 1995, 1997, 2001Unsuccessful attempts at renewal in 1983, 1995, 1997, 2001
Every Household Visitation (EHV) initiative in 2006 urged actionEvery Household Visitation (EHV) initiative in 2006 urged action
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Steps Taken To DateSteps Taken To Date
Spring/07 –Small group examined governance Spring/07 –Small group examined governance structures of several Ottawa-area churches sharing structures of several Ottawa-area churches sharing Parkdale’s characteristicsParkdale’s characteristics
Fall/07 – Findings reported to Board and Session; Fall/07 – Findings reported to Board and Session; Small group mandated to research further and make Small group mandated to research further and make recommendationsrecommendations
January/08 – Additional consultations with January/08 – Additional consultations with congregational leaders, including with Dr. Baileycongregational leaders, including with Dr. Bailey
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Steps Taken To DateSteps Taken To Date
May/08 – Half-day congregational consultation May/08 – Half-day congregational consultation workshop; (summary of outcome published in June workshop; (summary of outcome published in June issue of issue of TheThe MessengerMessenger))
June/08 – Alternate governance options presented to June/08 – Alternate governance options presented to the Official Boardthe Official Board
Summer/08 – Additional research, and Summer/08 – Additional research, and consultations/discussions with key stakeholdersconsultations/discussions with key stakeholders
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Steps Taken To DateSteps Taken To Date September/08 –Official Board agreement-in-principle September/08 –Official Board agreement-in-principle
(unanimous) to seek congregational approval for Council (unanimous) to seek congregational approval for Council structurestructure
October/08 - Detailed outline of proposal published in October October/08 - Detailed outline of proposal published in October issue of issue of TheThe MessengerMessenger
October/08 – Further examination of other congregations’ October/08 – Further examination of other congregations’ experience with Council model (e.g. Southminster United)experience with Council model (e.g. Southminster United)
December/08 - Congregational meeting to outline proposal December/08 - Congregational meeting to outline proposal and obtain feedback from members of Congregationand obtain feedback from members of Congregation
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Proposed Council StructureProposed Council Structure
CONGREGATION
COMMITTEES
COUNCIL
(A council is a suggested governance model endorsed by UCC)
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Proposed StructureProposed Structure
Congregation
Council
Standing Committees(4) Ministry Committees(8)Task- Oriented
Working Groups
Secretary Presbytery rep.
Life Elders
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Proposed StructureProposed Structure
Standing Committees
Ministry & PersonnelProperty Trustees
Finance Trustees
Recruitment &Succession Planning
PastoralStaff
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Proposed StructureProposed Structure
MinistryCommittees
Worship Stewardship Co-ord.
Pastoral Care Mission & Outreach Co-ord.
ChristianEnrichment
Membership Development & Rolls
Communication
Youth
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Proposed StructureProposed Structure
Working GroupCoordinating Committee
(Project Examples)
Rummage SalesCoffee Shop
Memorial Garden
Fall BazaarIn From the Cold
Special projectsas identified in
carrying out Vision
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Proposed StructureProposed Structure(Cycle of Accountability)(Cycle of Accountability)
CONGREGATION Sets direction
COMMITTEESImplement
COUNCILTakes action
Council’s role: leadership, strategic oversight, coordination & support,
spiritual development & stewardship
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Key Council FeaturesKey Council Features
Replaces existing Session and Official Replaces existing Session and Official BoardBoard
Less bureaucracy; fewer meetingsLess bureaucracy; fewer meetings
More strategic; action-orientedMore strategic; action-oriented
Council of 15-18 + Ministry staffCouncil of 15-18 + Ministry staff
Continuing accountability to CongregationContinuing accountability to Congregation
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Key Council FeaturesKey Council Features
Accommodates broad participation in delivery Accommodates broad participation in delivery of Mission and Vision without long-term of Mission and Vision without long-term commitment to serve on Council i.e. is commitment to serve on Council i.e. is project/goal orientedproject/goal oriented
Taps into un/underutilized talents and energies Taps into un/underutilized talents and energies through empowerment of Working Groupsthrough empowerment of Working Groups
Stimulates individual initiative; encourages Stimulates individual initiative; encourages new members to become involvednew members to become involved
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Implementation MechanicsImplementation Mechanics
Official Board & Session are wound downOfficial Board & Session are wound down
Congregation elects Council members, either as a group, or Congregation elects Council members, either as a group, or to specific posts - e.g. Chair, Secretary. (Option: Council to specific posts - e.g. Chair, Secretary. (Option: Council itself could select Chair, Secretary)itself could select Chair, Secretary)
Members serve 2-year terms; eligible for re-electionMembers serve 2-year terms; eligible for re-election
After initial year of Council operation, “overlapping” of After initial year of Council operation, “overlapping” of terms to provide continuityterms to provide continuity
Council staffs Committees, appoints ChairsCouncil staffs Committees, appoints Chairs
Finance Committee appoints TreasurerFinance Committee appoints Treasurer
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Operating MechanicsOperating Mechanics
Working Group Coordinating Committee Working Group Coordinating Committee receives and evaluates proposals for receives and evaluates proposals for special ministries/projectsspecial ministries/projects
Committee empowered to approve Committee empowered to approve projects within specified limits; projects within specified limits; recommends major initiatives to Councilrecommends major initiatives to Council
Committee provides Council with periodic Committee provides Council with periodic progress reports on activities/initiativesprogress reports on activities/initiatives
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Key Operating IssueKey Operating Issue
Impact of abolishing the SessionImpact of abolishing the Session
- Need to assure ongoing spiritual - Need to assure ongoing spiritual oversight/nurture of the Congregationoversight/nurture of the Congregation
- All Council members are Elders- All Council members are Elders
- Ongoing contact/communications with - Ongoing contact/communications with Congregation will be vitalCongregation will be vital
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Contact/CommunicationsContact/Communications
Pastoral Care Team – highly effective in Pastoral Care Team – highly effective in pastoral care to (mostly) senior memberspastoral care to (mostly) senior members
Current Elders with interest in visiting; Current Elders with interest in visiting; would unlikely need additional PC trainingwould unlikely need additional PC training
““Twinning” or “Buddy” system to ensure Twinning” or “Buddy” system to ensure ongoing contactongoing contact
Publish decisions of CouncilPublish decisions of Council The MessengerThe Messenger is an excellent information is an excellent information
medium; ensure that all members receive medium; ensure that all members receive itit
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Council Advantages/BenefitsCouncil Advantages/Benefits Council Council emphasizesemphasizes the responsibility of all members of the the responsibility of all members of the
congregation to be engaged in ministrycongregation to be engaged in ministry
All councillors are Elders – the Council is the Court and acts as a All councillors are Elders – the Council is the Court and acts as a round tableround table
Principal Council function is strategic direction; Council leadership Principal Council function is strategic direction; Council leadership is focused on planning, priorities, coordinationis focused on planning, priorities, coordination
Increased autonomy to committees – the Council defines Increased autonomy to committees – the Council defines “parameters of permission”; Commitees initiate action“parameters of permission”; Commitees initiate action
Can place people where their gifts/talents can be used most Can place people where their gifts/talents can be used most effectively, rather than selecting “pegs to fill holes”effectively, rather than selecting “pegs to fill holes”
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ChallengeChallenge
> May require a pro-active communication > May require a pro-active communication strategy to demonstrate that there is strategy to demonstrate that there is appropriate accountability for ministriesappropriate accountability for ministries
> Need to dispel any perception of a > Need to dispel any perception of a possible “concentration of power.” Will possible “concentration of power.” Will require effective ongoing two-way require effective ongoing two-way communication with Congregation communication with Congregation membersmembers
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Next StepsNext Steps
If today’s meeting signals Congregational If today’s meeting signals Congregational consensus in favour of a proposed Council, Official consensus in favour of a proposed Council, Official Board moves forward, selects Implementation Board moves forward, selects Implementation team, develops transition scenario and full/final team, develops transition scenario and full/final planplan
Present plan to Congregation for formal vote at a Present plan to Congregation for formal vote at a special meeting special meeting
Obtain Presbytery approval (as per UCC Obtain Presbytery approval (as per UCC requirements)requirements)
Proceed with implementationProceed with implementation
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Tentative TimingTentative Timing
• Special Congregational meeting in spring 2009 to vote on final Special Congregational meeting in spring 2009 to vote on final planplan
• Submission of plan to Presbytery for formal approval Submission of plan to Presbytery for formal approval (estimated turn-around time - approximately one month)(estimated turn-around time - approximately one month)
• Ideally, launch new Council in August 2009, to coincide with Ideally, launch new Council in August 2009, to coincide with traditional resumption of the church program yeartraditional resumption of the church program year
• Transition strategy: Seek approval at AGM (February 15, Transition strategy: Seek approval at AGM (February 15, 2009) to extend terms of existing Session and Board members 2009) to extend terms of existing Session and Board members until August; no fresh appointments during interimuntil August; no fresh appointments during interim
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Governance Review/ProposalsGovernance Review/Proposals
ConclusionConclusion
Discussion TimeDiscussion Time - Questions- Questions
- Observations- Observations
- Comments- Comments