Board Article May 2007

Church Governance Matters:

Annual Meeting this Year on 20 May What topic could be drier than church governance? You’re ready to stop reading right now! The trouble is it is just as necessary as it may be boring to some people. We need your participation to keep Starr King Church vital. Please get involved in the sound running of Starr King to ensure that it is always here for us. On Sunday 20 May we will be holding our Annual Meeting.

That’s right, the once-a-year event that doesn’t have built in spirituality, nor music, nor singing, nor uplifting readings. If you are new to Starr King, here is what you can expect: You will hear reports from the Board of Trustees president, the treasurer and our minister, as well as our liaisons to South Hayward Parish, the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition and the Pacific Central District of our UUA. A proposed budget for the coming Church year, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 , will be presented for your approval, and the Nominating Committee will put forth submissions for new officers. The Board of Trustees is comprised of a President, Vice President/ President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and six Members- at-Large. Three of the six Members-at-Large can be designated by the Board to serve as liaisons to the Membership, Finance and Religious Education Committees. The Vice-President serves as President Elect and becomes President of the Board after serving two years as Vice-President. The terms of each Board office are two years, and members may serve a second consecutive two-year term in the same office. The President, Vice President and three of the Members- at-large are elected in odd numbered years (this year). The Secretary, Treasurer and three other Members-at-large are elected in even numbered years.

The Board of Trustees is the executive body of the church. It has charge of church property, conducts the business affairs of the church and reviews the performance of employees. The Board oversees the activities and appoints the chairpersons of all of the standing committees of the church, which include the Nominating, Finance, Religious Education, Membership and the Committee on Shared Ministry Including Conciliation (COSMIC) . The Board is responsible for establishing additional committees as necessary and passes on applications for new organizations and oversees their work. At the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee will put forth nominations for all elective positions. These nominations will be included in the notice of the Annual Meeting mailed to all members prior to the meeting date. Our bylaws give complete freedom of the pulpit to our minister. She/he has the right to express their opinions also outside of the pulpit. The minister is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees and all committees except the Nominating and Search Committees.

My term as President of the Board of Trustees will be expiring at the end of June. Though I have been a member of Starr King for not quite six years, I have served more than five years on the Board. I first served as the Membership Coordinator and then two years as Vice President and now two years as President. I am honored that I was asked to serve my church in this manner. Without church governance, we cannot exist. It has been my pleasure to help.

Please consider being involved in your church through its committees, activities and even church governance. If you are asked to lead a committee, or even fill a church office, please have faith in yourself and do what you can.

~Bob

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