Parish council members are called to service. Yet many lack a basic understanding of governance, the key to understanding the task and exercising proper leadership.

1. 14 Best Practices for Orthodox Christian
Parish Council Governance
Stewardship AdvocatesTM

2. The Eight Purposes of a
Governing Parish Council
1. Adheres to the teaching and mission of the Church
2. Advocates for the mission of the parish
3. Supports the work of the priest
4. Always in the process of board development
5. Formulates policy
6. Strategically plans
7. Oversees finances
8. Fundraises

3. 14 Best Practices for Parish Councils

4. 1. Members Cultivate Personal Spiritual Life
 Each parish council member
accepts responsibility for
the maintenance of their
own spiritual condition
 Worship and sacramental
life
 Personal prayer life
 Relationship with God and
others

5. 2. Mission Oriented
 The council focuses on
the mission of the Church
and advocates for the
mission of the parish
Periodically reviews the
mission, vision and values
statements
Maintains consistency
with the mission in
decisions, values, policies
and actions

6. 3. Envisions the Future of the Parish
 Always relates the vision to
mission
 The mission is derived from
the life and teachings of Our
Lord Jesus Christ
 Articulates and explains the
vision of the future of the
parish to the community
 During their term of service
seeks to implement the
vision

7. 4. Supports the Priest
 Respects the sacrament of
ordination and the efforts of
the priest to fulfill his calling
despite human limitations
 Understands that the priest
manages the parish office
(sometimes needs help)
 Accepts priest’s role to lead
the community and chair’s
role to lead the parish
council
 Attends to the well being of
the priest and his family to
avoid burnout

8. 5. Thinks and Acts Strategically
 Exercises a choice for a
preferred future
 Allocates meeting time to what
matters most
 Continuously monitors the
parish environment to ensure
against “mission drift”
 Regularly asks the question,
“What do we wish to
become?”
 Insists on strategic planning
 Works at not focusing
exclusively on operational and
tactical issues

9. 6. Strives for Trustworthiness
 Develops a culture of
transparency
 Ensures that parishioners have
access to appropriate and
accurate information regarding
finances, operations and
results
 Publicly posts financial
statements and council
minutes Follows through on
commitments
 Certain issues may require a
confidential executive session

10. 7. Accepts Accountability
 Willing to be accountable
 Holds themselves accountable
to one another
 Completes parish council
member performance self-
assessment yearly
 Completes regular overall
parish council assessment
yearly
 Reports honestly on
accomplishments and short-
comings to the parish

11. 8. Results-Oriented
 Continuously measures
progress toward mission
fulfillment
 Together with the priest
evaluates efficiency,
effectiveness, and impact of
major programs and services
 Monitors strategic plan goals
and objectives on calendar
with areas of responsibility

12. 9. Embraces Board Development Process
 Plans for revitalization and
renewal
 Tracks goals and objectives
for the parish council
 Accepts the importance of
fresh perspectives
 Energizes the council
through planned turnover
and thoughtful, continuous
recruitment

13. 10. Avoids Conflicts of Interest
 Develops and incorporates a
Conflict of Interest policy
 Members abstain from
voting when there is a
potential conflict of interest
 Members ensure arm’s
length negotiations
 Members disclose conflict
of interest whenever
necessary

14. 11. Models Good Stewardship
 Holds in trust the holy
Tradition of the Church
 Insists on 100% member
participation in generously
giving time, talent and
treasure
 Faithfully attends meetings
 Completes tasks on time
and with best effort
 Diligently maintains
facilities

15. 12. Engages with Fundraising
 Participates in fundraising to
finance programs and
ministries of the parish
 Assists with annual
stewardship effort
 Supports fundraising events
 Identifies and cultivates
potential major donors
 Gives personally meaningful
gift to capital campaigns
 If possible, remembers parish
in estate plans to fund the
endowment

16. 13. Manages Fiduciary Oversight
 Accepts responsibility for
financial oversight
 Links bold visions and
ambitious plans to financial
support
 Approves activities that can be
realistically financed with
existing or attainable
resources
 Always has financials audited
by independent committee or
external CPA
 Background checks on all
those who have hands on
responsibility for funds
 Openly discusses annual
budget before presenting to
general assembly

17. 14. Formulates Policy
 Always in light of the gospel
 Always aligned with the
mission of the Church
 Consistent with the parish’s
strategic plan
 Thoughtful implementation
 Ideally, strong parish council
consensus and sensitive
consideration of parishioners’
response

18. Contact Information and Additional
Material from Stewardship Advocates
phone/text: 347.831.1848
email: orthodoxconsultant@gmail.com
newsletter: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org/
website: http://www.stewardshipadvocates.org
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