Policy-based Governance

From 2003 to 2005, UUCF engaged in a focused effort to understand how the congregation was structured for making decisions, providing resources, and evaluating results. At the same time, it investigated possible alternative governance models.

Following considerable study and research by the Review and Renewal Committee and the Board of Directors, and communications with the congregation, UUCF moved to a governance structure based on the Policy Governance® model developed by John Carver. Like other Unitarian Universalist congregations that have adopted some form of policy governance, UUCF has adapted Carver’s model to fit its particular values, experiences, and expectations about the roles of the called ministers, lay leaders, and congregants. These values and expectations include a desire for a collaborative style of ministry, strong lay leadership, and active lay participation in congregational activities.

The principal goals of UUCF’s policy-based governance include: 

• establishing clear lines of authority for and among the Board, ministers, paid staff, and lay leaders;
• empowering the staff and lay leaders to carry out their activities without unnecessary oversight by the Board; and
• developing clear performance expectations and processes for evaluating these persons’ or entities’ success in meeting those expectations. 

UUCF’s governance structure has the following essential characteristics: 

• Authority over day-to-day operations has been delegated by the Board to a Coordinating Team composed of the two ministers, the executive director, and two lay members appointed by the Board.
• The Board will continue to make decisions on major matters that affect the long-term well-being of the congregation, but will not directly participate in management of day-to-day operations. Its primary activities will be communicating with the congregation, articulating UUCF’s goals and priorities, envisioning ways to enlarge or strengthen congregational programs, and systematically evaluating the performance of the ministers, the Coordinating Team, the committees that carry out UUCF programs, and the Board itself.
• The Ministers, staff, and lay leaders will be given freedom to accomplish their goals without having to obtain prior approval of specific plans so long as they operate within the framework of their position descriptions or charters, budgets, and written policies adopted by the Board or the Coordinating Team. All, however, will be accountable to the Board or the Coordinating Team for accomplishment of their tasks, and their performance will be reviewed on a regular basis. The Board will evaluate the performance of the Coordinating Team as an entity, and will separately evaluate the ministers’ performance of their ministerial functions. 

The linkages and limitations of the Board of Directors in relation to the Coordinating Team are spelled out in the UUCF Governance Manual.