Leadership

What is SAS? — Simplified Accountability Structure is a nine-member Leadership Board that combines the Finance Committee, Trustees, Staff-Parish Committee, and Administrative Church Council into one leadership group.

According to the authors of Mission Possible: A Simple Structure for Missional Effectiveness, (Expanded Third Edition) by Kay Kotan & Blake Bradford, the primary purposes and benefits of simplified, accountable leadership are:

• Removes bottlenecks in the decision-making process (i.e. time, energy, resources, multiple committees/layers, silos, disjointed focus and priorities, etc.)

• Systems, procedures, and policies in place that are flexible and adaptable

• More people released and available for ministry

• Leadership Board responsible for church’s faithfulness to The Great Commission (making disciples)

• Leadership Board aligns church resources to the mission and vision

• Guiding Principles in place for efficiency and permission-giving within healthy boundaries

• Leaders are held accountable at all levels

• Leadership Board is responsible for focusing on the areas of stewardship, strategic alignment, generative future-focus, and accountable leadership

• Missional focus, priority, and alignment are non-negotiables.

FAQ:

Q: Why are we restructuring? What is wrong with how the old administration was set up?

A: SAS is simply a new way of focusing the church on our mission. By consolidating administrative committees into a single governing team, disciples can focus on using their spiritual gifts and passions for ministry to contribute to the vitality of the congregation. One group oversees goal-setting, providing resources, and holding ministries accountable. All other groups, called "Ministry Teams" are empowered and equipped to focus on fruitful and effective ministries. SAS makes it possible for a church to better focus on leadership equipping, missional alignment, and goals that will strengthen its witness for Christ.

Q: If the SAS Board is responsible for all the administrative duties of the church, how are they held accountable?

A: Per our United Methodist Discipline, currently we are accountable to the church’s Annual Charge Conference. All members of SAS are elected by the church’s Annual Charge Conference, and held accountable by the goal setting, budget, and vision adopted. The yearly reporting structure provides accountability to the congregation.

Q: Is SAS in line with the Book of Discipline?

A: Yes, it is found in Paragraph 247.2. “The church, with approval of the district superintendent, is provided the opportunity to restructure in order to be more missionally focused.” Many UM Churches have adopted SAS, and are working within the model.

Q: Will there be any committees with an SAS?

A: Committees become teams that work together for the mission. The SAS Leadership Board provides the administrative oversight and organization to the church. Ministry Teams empower and equip people, and manage events and ministry opportunities. Teams can be temporary, permanent, and may not require a fixed meeting schedule.

Q: How would committees form and move forward with their mission of interest?

A: A structure will be created to provide guidance. The process will include: creating and developing a plan for the ministry; partnering with the pastor and Leadership Board to discern how the ministry aligns with the church’s mission and what resources are needed. If the interest area is affirmed, then it can proceed. These interests could include short-term projects or events or be more long-term, on-going ministries.

Q: How many members are on the SAS Board?

A: Nine.

Q: How are the members of the SAS Board selected?

A: They are nominated by the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development, then elected at the church’s Annual Charge Conference. Ministry Teams are created by inviting people to serve in an area of need, interest; to serve as part of a short-term event or an on-going ministry.

Q: How long do SAS Board members serve?

A: Members serve three-year terms. (The initial Board will be created with an alternating term-limit schedule so as to help with transition.)

Q: How will the all-new SAS Board be trained in all the areas they need to be familiar with?

A: The Michigan Annual Conference is providing coaching and training as we move to newly formed Leadership board. This includes a Retreat, as well as on-going coaching. There are also numerous other churches and pastors who are also familiar with SAS who can serve as resources.

Q: How will new board members be trained when they start a new term (after the board has been established and roles need to be filled again)?

A: An on-boarding process will be established.

• Download and update your device's software well before the start of a meeting: OS, Chrome or other web browser, apps, etc.

• Leave battery-powered devices plugged in. Virtual meetings can have a significant drain on your battery.

• Turn off any power saving modes your device may have, and/or turn on any high performance modes.

• Close any unnecessary apps or programs.

• Sign into your Google account if you have one. Currently, Google accounts are not required to join the meeting.

• Use the Google Chrome web browser on a desktop or laptop computer instead of the Google Meet app on a phone or tablet.

  • When using a laptop or desktop, go to the Settings menu inside of Google Meet (3 vertical dot button), select "Video", then change both the Send and Receive video resolutions from "Auto" to "Standard Definition 360p". "Auto" mode will try to send too high quality of video, which may lower your connection quality. At this point, mobile devices do not have this feature.

• Open the working copy of the public meeting minutes beforehand with the button above in a separate tab (or on another device if possible). Leadership members should also open the private portion of the meeting minutes.

• Disconnect other internet devices from your home network during the meeting.

• Use headphones instead of speakers. Headphones reduce the feedback generated from your speakers that gets picked up by your microphone.

• Leadership members should leave their cameras on during the meeting (unless cameras need to be turned off to increase connection quality). If you are not on the Leadership team, turning off your camera may improve the quality of your connection for yourself and others.

• Mute your microphone when you are not speaking (especially if you are not a Leadership member). This may help the quality of your connection, as well as eliminate the potential of feedback.

• During the meeting, change your screen layout so that the "main" camera is the largest account that you see on your screen.