Metropolitan UMC Unified Board Leadership Covenant PDF

Metropolitan UMC Unified Board Leadership Covenant – DRAFT Leadership Board members are role models for the congregation. Therefore, members will model mature Christian discipleship by being in worship at least three times per month, tithing or moving toward a tithe, be active on a ministry team, be...

Metropolitan UMC Unified Board Leadership Covenant – DRAFT Leadership Board members are role models for the congregation. Therefore, members will model mature Christian discipleship by being in worship at least three times per month, tithing or moving toward a tithe, be active on a ministry team, be in a discipleship development group, and openly share their faith with others in the secular world. Leadership Board members are encouraged to invest in board conversations and decisions with vigor and passion. However, once the board has come to a decision, each Leadership Board member will openly and publicly support the decision of the Leadership Board with a unified voice. Board members are expected to be present at all board meetings unless ill or out of town. (For those who travel or work at the time of meetings, virtual or call-ins will be offered.) If members miss three (3) meetings the Board chair will converse with the Leadership Board member to see if his/her seat needs to be vacated and filled by someone who can be more active. Leadership Board members will thoroughly review the meeting information prior to meetings coming fully prepared and ready to participate. Information will be sent to the members no later than three (3) days prior to the meeting. Leadership Board members will be on time for meetings, silence cell phones and fully immerse themselves in the meeting without distractions in respect for their fellow Leadership Board members’ time and commitment. Leadership Board members will encourage and support our pastor, staff, and fellow Leadership Board members privately and publicly. Leadership Board members will hold ourselves, the pastor, and other Leadership Board members accountable for their leadership roles and responsibilities. This includes allowing others to hold the Leadership Board members collectively and individually accountable to this covenant, our work as the church body leading the church in its purpose of making disciples and to Jesus Christ. Leadership Board members understand that conflict and disagreements are natural in any community, including the church. As a Leadership Board, we will approach matters of disagreement with transparency and maintain our missional focus as a Board. When approached by a person or group concerning a matter of disagreement or conflict, we will follow the path laid out by Jesus in Matthew 18 by encouraging the concerned party to go directly to the individual, to volunteer to go with a concerned party as a witness, or to invite the concerned party to address the full leadership or an assigned work team to address the issue. In accordance with the UM Discipline, the pastor will be present in all meetings unless the pastor is voluntarily absent. At no time will we support secret meetings that undermine the integrity or authority of the pastor or Leadership Board. This is of particular importance in relationship to staff remembering that staff report directly to the pastor and not to the Leadership Board. The Leadership Board will not triangulate themselves with the pastor and staff members. Appropriate confidentiality will be maintained. The Leadership Board, in its role and responsibility as the staffparish relations committee, is held to a high standard of confidentiality in personnel and clergy appointment matters. Similarly, the Leadership Board, serving as the congregation’s trustees, is required to hold certain legal information confidential. The Leadership Board may, therefore, move into executive session for some agenda items. The Leadership Board will conclude regular meetings with a discussion of a communications plan of decisions to encourage transparency and congregational sharing. Leadership Board members are representatives of the church and the Leadership Board at all times during their leadership terms. Leadership Board members have a fiduciary duty to the Board and the church to uphold the highest standards of integrity of relationships and to support the mission, vision and values of the congregation including publicly supporting other congregational leaders, staff, and clergy of the congregation. Leadership Board members understand that as a leader, comments, or conversations about personnel (pastor or staff) is inappropriate with anyone at any level and is to be avoided. Members are expected to be supportive and encouraging publicly. Concerns are to be processed with the collective Leadership Board only. Signature: ________________________ Date: ____________