As recommended in the final report from the Long-Term Planning Team in May, 2024, the Governance Advisory Task Force was chartered. This group will review Follen’s governance structure and make recommendations. Members have all been lay leaders at Follen and are eager to investigate what does work well and what needs improvement in our current two-board system—Parish Board and Program Council.

Throughout fall 2024, the team was busy interviewing recent lay leadership about their experiences and their ideas about our current system of governance. They are looking for common themes, challenges, and ideas. They also spoke with action teams and staff.

In January 2025, there was a series of information and discussion sessions. GATF engaged Dan Hotchkiss, a UU minister who coaches and consults selectively with congregations and other mission-driven groups, to lead an all-congregation workshop on Sunday, January 26. Dan’s presentation covered the basics of his Governance and Ministry approach, with time for questions and discussion about how Follen might adjust its structure and processes in response.

In March 2025, the task force released a directional proposal that envisions a simpler and more comprehensible governance structure with a robust architecture for the operational work of ministry. If members agree with this direction, the directional proposal, with suggested revisions, will be approved at the Annual Meeting on May 18.