Follen’s governance transition task force made good progress over the winter on a proposed new governance structure. The task force included 30+ volunteers who developed input in 9 different areas (Ministry Team Structure, Board Structure, Bylaws, Personnel/HR, Safety/Legal, Finance, Facilities, Lay Leader Training, and Transparency).

Through multiple workshops, meetings with action teams, and smaller working sessions with the current lay leaders and minister, a new structure is taking shape on which to base bylaw revisions. The team also incorporated feedback from a February 1 open-congregation meeting. First Parish Sherborn’s recently enacted bylaws served as a potential model. The current Parish Board also worked through several example situations to understand how the model would work in different scenarios.

Review Follen’s current bylaws

The proposed structure:

 

 

Objectives

The proposed model is based on key considerations raised in the directional proposal approved at the May 2025 Annual Meeting.

• Create a single, focused governing board as the primary instrument of governance, with a clearer distinction from ministry operations.
• Create a revised architecture for ministry operations that gives the minister and staff more authority and responsibility to manage day-to-day ministry operations of the church in conjunction with lay leaders.
• Define how specific functions such as finance, facilities, and personnel operations connect with the board, ministry operations, and staff support.
• Assure the new structure does not generate more meetings or increase overall volunteer load.
• Develop systems for onboarding new lay leaders and reasonable turnover of new people in governance.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Board

1. Establish and monitor the strategic and operational goals of the church, ensuring alignment with its mission and bylaws through creation of policies, coming-year annual plans, and review of the minister’s performance while respecting the distinction between governance and day-to-day management.
2. Oversight of finances, physical assets, and personnel through review and approval of the annual budget developed by the Finance Committee in collaboration with Ministry Operations, to be presented to the congregation at the Annual Meeting.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Ministry Leadership Team

• Serve as the principal operational coordination body for the church. Responsible for the effective management and implementation of the ministerial goals and activities of the church, in keeping with the church’s annual plan and approved budget. Ensure that this work conforms to the policies and plans adopted by the board.
• Promote communication and coordination among the minister, staff, ministry areas, and the larger community, providing information about actions, issues and concerns, and emerging opportunities. Encourage cross-fertilization between ministry areas.
• Foster and support new endeavors and innovative ideas aimed at developing spirituality, community, and engagement, and encourage review and potential sunsetting of activities that may no longer serve these same objectives.