John Blevins Governance Working Group UUA Board of Trustees March, 2009 UUA Governance Update

First, getting around here in cyberspace…. How many of you have taken the tutorial on taking a webinar, as was offered during registration? Or already knew how to use Persony? Please raise your little hands! Anyone not seeing the opening screen? Everyone on phone? How to mute your phone? Have copies of the 2 documents emailed to you? Phil Lund will be making an audio recording of this session, so you can review or share it later. Introductions: going down the list on the right, speak your name, district, and current role (30 seconds or less) And now, lets’ roll…

How many of you have taken the tutorial on taking a webinar, as was offered during registration? Or already knew how to use Persony? Please raise your little hands!

Anyone not seeing the opening screen?

Everyone on phone? How to mute your phone?

Have copies of the 2 documents emailed to you?

Phil Lund will be making an audio recording of this session, so you can review or share it later.

Introductions: going down the list on the right, speak your name, district, and current role (30 seconds or less)

And now, lets’ roll…

UUA Board Governance Working Group John Blevins – Prairie Star Chuck Wooldridge – Joseph Priestley Jackie Shanti – Clara Barton Linda Laskowski – Pacific Central For more Governance Information: www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy

John Blevins – Prairie Star

Chuck Wooldridge – Joseph Priestley

Jackie Shanti – Clara Barton

Linda Laskowski – Pacific Central

For more Governance Information:

www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy

Purpose of this webinar… Inform you about where the UUA Board is in defining the ENDS for the Association Briefly tell how we got to this place Share ENDS, and ownership statement (Sources…) Seek your comments, concerns (and praise?) This is NOT a tutorial on governance. I will define terms briefly, but that’s all time will permit. Tutorial help is available thru UUA.ORG, books, consultants, and some District offices.

Inform you about where the UUA Board is in defining the ENDS for the Association

Briefly tell how we got to this place

Share ENDS, and ownership statement (Sources…)

Seek your comments, concerns (and praise?)

This is NOT a tutorial on governance. I will define terms briefly, but that’s all time will permit.

Tutorial help is available thru UUA.ORG, books, consultants, and some District offices.

Transition to Policy Governance: Where we’ve been . . . 1993 Major Commission on Governance Report not adopted by GA 2003 Board discusses “owner linkage” and need for informed, empowered delegates 2004 Board begins homework on governance UUA extends GA delegate subsidy to congregation Presidents

1993

Major Commission on Governance Report not adopted by GA

2003

Board discusses “owner linkage” and need for informed, empowered delegates

2004

Board begins homework on governance

UUA extends GA delegate subsidy to congregation Presidents

Where we’ve been . . . 2005 Team of board & staff attend major Governance Conference Board engages consultant, begins formal training 2006 Board develops very first draft of governance policies Board wrestles with confluence of governance and religion

2005

Team of board & staff attend major Governance Conference

Board engages consultant, begins formal training

2006

Board develops very first draft of governance policies

Board wrestles with confluence of governance and religion

Where we’ve been . . . 2007 Board creates Governance Working Group GA “Open Space” work on ENDS Board decides to implement new governance in 2009 2008 GA “Appreciative Inquiry” work on ENDS District Presidents Assoc. meeting UUMA (Minister’s Association) Exec Cmte meeting Presidential candidates engaged

2007

Board creates Governance Working Group

GA “Open Space” work on ENDS

Board decides to implement new governance in 2009

2008

GA “Appreciative Inquiry” work on ENDS

District Presidents Assoc. meeting

UUMA (Minister’s Association) Exec Cmte meeting

Presidential candidates engaged

Current Activity . . . December 2008 through April 2009: "owner linkage" work reviewing plans, all over the country workshops at District meetings April 2009: Adopt ENDS statement Adopt statement of "Sources of accountability & Authority” Adopt Policy Manual

December 2008 through April 2009:

"owner linkage" work reviewing plans, all over the country

workshops at District meetings

April 2009:

Adopt ENDS statement

Adopt statement of "Sources of accountability & Authority”

Adopt Policy Manual

Coming Right Up. . GA June 2009, Salt Lake Governance track in UU University (Unity Consulting) Governance WG leads workshop Various events for "linkage" engagement Announcement of ENDS as adopted in April Fall 2009: begin operation under policy governance

GA June 2009, Salt Lake

Governance track in UU University (Unity Consulting)

Governance WG leads workshop

Various events for "linkage" engagement

Announcement of ENDS as adopted in April

Fall 2009:

begin operation under policy governance

Where we’re going . . . Learning to live in “owner linkage” Developing and practicing systematic, rigorous monitoring Developing governance capabilities of Trustees and the UUA Perpetual “tuning” of Governance Policies Recruiting and supporting next generation of Trustees

Learning to live in “owner linkage”

Developing and practicing systematic, rigorous monitoring

Developing governance capabilities of Trustees and the UUA

Perpetual “tuning” of Governance Policies

Recruiting and supporting next generation of Trustees

Current drafts of foundational governance work Global END Statement Sources of Authority and Accountability (owners) ENDS (desired outcomes) Global END or Mission Statement: Grounded in our covenantal tradition, the UUA will inspire people to lead lives of humility and purpose, connection and service, thereby transforming themselves and the world. Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions (words & sentences, not paragraphs, please)

Global END Statement

Sources of Authority and Accountability (owners)

ENDS (desired outcomes)

Global END or Mission Statement:

Grounded in our covenantal tradition, the UUA will inspire people to lead lives of humility and purpose, connection and service, thereby transforming themselves and the world.

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond, and Questions (words & sentences, not paragraphs, please)

Sources of Authority and Accountability (owners) : Our member congregations Current and future generations of Unitarian Universalists The heritage, traditions, and ideals of Unitarian Universalism The vision of Beloved Community The Spirit of life, love, and the holy Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond and Questions

Our member congregations

Current and future generations of Unitarian Universalists

The heritage, traditions, and ideals of Unitarian Universalism

The vision of Beloved Community

The Spirit of life, love, and the holy

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond and Questions

ENDS - what outcome, for whom, at what cost or priority? The ENDS statement is a full page of text, which we will review next, in sections. In outline, it covers four areas: Impact on individuals Engagement with and by congregations Covenanted community Seeking justice and sustainability in the larger community The Board will charge the UUA President to move our Association toward these ENDS.

The ENDS statement is a full page of text, which we will review next, in sections. In outline, it covers four areas:

Impact on individuals

Engagement with and by congregations

Covenanted community

Seeking justice and sustainability in the larger community

The Board will charge the UUA President to move our Association toward these ENDS.

Our ENDS are growing Unitarian Universalist congregations that: Unlock the Power that Transforms Lives. In our congregations, people deepen their spiritual lives. They: Develop a personal spiritual practice Participate in meaningful worship Learn and practice empowered leadership and generosity. Find their ministry in the world Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions

Unlock the Power that Transforms Lives.

In our congregations, people deepen their spiritual lives. They:

Develop a personal spiritual practice

Participate in meaningful worship

Learn and practice empowered leadership and generosity.

Find their ministry in the world

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond, and Questions

Our congregations are: Vibrant — joyful and excited about their ministries Intentionally multi-generational and multi-cultural. Networked with each other Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions?

Vibrant — joyful and excited about their ministries

Intentionally multi-generational and multi-cultural.

Networked with each other

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond, and Questions?

Congregations are: Active participants in ministerial preparation and development Shared ministries Agents of mission and extension Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions?

Active participants in ministerial preparation and development

Shared ministries

Agents of mission and extension

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond, and Questions?

Our ENDS are growing Unitarian Universalist congregations that: Invite people into congregations that live out covenant through: A strong, articulated sense of UU and community identity High expectations of their members Full participation in Associational life An open and inclusive outreach and welcome Embracing and struggling with issues of oppression and privilege Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute) Respond, and Questions?

Invite people into congregations that live out covenant through:

A strong, articulated sense of UU and community identity

High expectations of their members

Full participation in Associational life

An open and inclusive outreach and welcome

Embracing and struggling with issues of oppression and privilege

Personal Reflection – quiet time (1 minute)

Respond, and Questions?

Our ENDS are growing Unitarian Universalist congregations that: Move toward sustainability, wholeness and reconciliation through ministries, partnerships, and alliances. Our congregations answer the call to ministry and justice work: Grounded in the communities in which they live Nationally, internationally With interfaith partners and alliances The public engages in meaningful dialogue and takes action informed by our prophetic voice and public witness. These are all at equal priority and are to be achieved within a justifiable cost. Personal Reflection (1 minute). - Respond, and Questions?

Move toward sustainability, wholeness and reconciliation through ministries, partnerships, and alliances.

Our congregations answer the call to ministry and justice work:

Grounded in the communities in which they live

Nationally, internationally

With interfaith partners and alliances

The public engages in meaningful dialogue and takes action informed by our prophetic voice and public witness.

These are all at equal priority and are to be achieved within a justifiable cost.

Personal Reflection (1 minute). - Respond, and Questions?

Gathering your responses and reflections on the work … What is your initial reaction to the draft ENDS developed by the UUA Board? Does this work reflect your dreams for Unitarian Universalism? Reflects almost all of what I want the UUA to be Reflects most of what I want the UUA to be Reflects some of what I want the UUA to be Captures the right ideas but I don’t like the words Missed the mark entirely Your final thoughts ? (and the one page feedback form titled Global End Statement!)

What is your initial reaction to the draft ENDS developed by the UUA Board?

Does this work reflect your dreams for Unitarian Universalism?

Reflects almost all of what I want the UUA to be

Reflects most of what I want the UUA to be

Reflects some of what I want the UUA to be

Captures the right ideas but I don’t like the words

Missed the mark entirely

Your final thoughts ? (and the one page feedback form titled Global End Statement!)

The Promise . . . Realizing Governance as Holy Work Focused on moving toward shared vision and ENDS Close “owner” linkage Accountability and Monitoring Performance Empowering staff; clear roles and relationships

Focused on moving toward shared vision and ENDS

Close “owner” linkage

Accountability and Monitoring Performance

Empowering staff; clear roles and relationships

In Closing… Thank you for your interest! See you at GA! Thanks to Phil Lund for his help in making this seminar possible. John Blevins, UUA Trustee for PSD, [email_address] Resources for further reading and thinking: The "home page" for UUA Governance today: http://uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy/index.shtml (and see the many informative links from this page...) John Carver's work: http://www.carvergovernance.com/

Thanks to Phil Lund for his help in making this seminar possible.

John Blevins, UUA Trustee for PSD, [email_address]

Resources for further reading and thinking:

The "home page" for UUA Governance today:

http://uua.org/aboutus/governance/policy/index.shtml (and see the many informative links from this page...)

John Carver's work: http://www.carvergovernance.com/