Our Governance

As our fellowship prepared for multiple staff transitions in 2018-2019, the Board decided to create a Governance Task Force (GTF) to review our current governance and board policies and help us craft changes that will allow our fellowship to lead and fulfill our mission.

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Governance Task Force Vision Statement

The vision statement which is a guide and communication tool for governance change process and preamble to the board policy book was reviewed. Following is the statement that the GTF arrived at:

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville elects a board to function as its governing body and a minister to serve as its spiritual, programmatic, and administrative leader. The goals of this governance-change process include:

  • Enabling the Board to spend more of its time defining and developing goals for the long-term benefit of the congregation.
  • Empowering the minister to lead the paid staff and volunteers efficiently and responsibly to fulfill the congregation’s mission and goals endorsed by the board, and
  • Creating a clear policy structure that allocates responsibility for decision-making and ensures that congregation resources are protected and that its activities support its mission.
  • Empower volunteers to make more effective use of their time and effort.

The intended style of leadership will be consultative, collegial, and inclusive. Clarity about ultimate responsibility and authority will exist along with a democratic and egalitarian spirit. All church leaders are expected to practice transparent decision-making, healthy conflict management and mutual support in their respective roles.

Suggestion Box for Governance Task Force

The form below is the online version of our suggestion box for input on the upcoming transition with staff and any changes needed to our roles of Board, Minister, and staff. An in-person version is also available in the foyer and in Fellowship Hall during social hour after each Sunday service.

We ask that all suggestions include your name so that we may be in conversation with you if need be. Please use this opportunity to let your constructive views be known to the Task Force. Don’t just state a problem; be sure to include a solution, too. We want to hear from the entire congregation and will report out our findings and actions in forums where you can join in more discussion.

Governance Workshop – “Leading For the Future”

One of the first big events in the governance change process was a day long workshop on June 2, 2018. You can watch the recording of much of the day below.  Rev. Dan Hotchkiss, author of Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership, is helping to provide the framework for our congregation to move in the direction of greater spiritual growth and service through shared ministry.

Rev. Hotchkiss, a UU minister and long-time senior consultant for the Alban Institute, consults with congregations on strategic planning and board governance. Through his coaching, teaching, and writing, Dan touches the lives of a wide range of leaders. He helps congregations move beyond frustrating and ineffective ways of managing the work of boards, clergy, and staff. Good governance starts with clearly defined roles and authority; it succeeds when lay and professional leaders lead ministry together as collaborating partners in a shared ministry.


Get a quick overview of Governance and Ministry in this four-part video introduction by Rev. Dan Hotchkiss: