Administration
I am a believer that the most effective administrative model for Unitarian Universalist congregations is the shared ministry model as articulated by Dan Hotchkiss, a Unitarian Universalist minister and church consultant.
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In this version of shared ministry, the minister is both the spiritual leader of the community and the lead administrator of the organization that is the church. These seem like completely different jobs that require completely different skill sets, but when viewed through the lens of mission, it begins to make sense that one person would fill both roles. Dan Hotchkiss says,
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In theory, everything a congregation does should serve its mission.
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- Dan Hotchkiss -
As the spiritual leader, that means orienting people’s hearts and minds to the congregation’s mission. As the lead administrator, that means overseeing the staff and volunteers that carry out that congregational mission. This includes the minister serving as the head of staff. For the lead administrator (and any staff position, really) accountability must come with the authority to do the work they are accountable for. If the minister (functioning as lead administrator) is to be held accountable for the results of the staff’s work, then the minister must have the authority to supervise them, including the authority to hire and fire.
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Hotchkiss’ shared ministry model also calls for a collaborative relationship between the minister and the board, for if the minister is tasked with overseeing the carrying out of the mission, it is the job of the board to do the visioning of the congregation that sets that mission, and sees to the long-term health and well-being of the congregation as it works to live out that mission.