Case Study: Grading board governance practices
Before we dive into the responsibilities of a ministry board, take some time to complete this activity. Read the three very short case studies that describe governance scenarios. For each case study grade the board on their performance and explain why.
1. The Committed Board
The Board of Son-Rise Ministries consisted of five individuals who founded the organisation 10 years ago and still accounted for nearly 50% of its financial support. They were strong business people who were committed to the mission and had a strong sense of “ownership” of the ministry.
They saw themselves as the chief architects of the strategy and annual goals. Management’s role, in their mind, was that of implementation. If goals were not achieved, they viewed that as lack of leadership on the part of the Executive Director, a position that had averaged only three years over the last 10.
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2. The Board Builder
Well Spring Ministries was founded several years ago by Sarah Brightsmith, a strong minded woman who believed passionately in Well Spring’s Mission. The board consisted of three family friends who were always amazed at Sarah’s vision, work ethic, and strategic creativity. In last week’s board meeting, she informed the board that she had just asked Jahli Adibu to join the board and was delighted that he agreed. He would join them in their next meeting. The board applauded her wise choice and initiative.
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3. The Creative Strategist
Over a late dinner Emmanuel Laghari excitedly shared the results of this morning’s board meeting. “I could not have asked for a better, more supportive board,” he exclaimed. That morning the board had approved a new ministry, the fifth in as many years. The Kerala Fellowship was founded nearly 10 years ago to train and support church planning pastors working throughout the state. Since coming on board as Executive Director nearly seven years ago, Emmanuel proved to be a breath of fresh air in program development. A literature distribution ministry, an evangelistic radio program, an orphanage for street children, a clean water initiative for villages without ready access to good water, as well as this morning’s new microfinance ministry for entrepreneurial villagers was an example of his kind of creative spirit. “With this kind of board and leadership partnership,” Emmanuel explained, “I see no end of impossible growth.” He smiled broadly as his wife served dessert.
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