…by Rev. Stefan Jonasson, from 2007 General Assembly:

Linking Governance and Emotional Systems: Let it be a Dance

…Denominations are differentiated as much (or more) by polity as by doctrine.   If a governance model is alien to a denomination’s tradition of polity, it will prove to be problematic….

…Since size affects the dynamics of any organization, a congregation’s size is an important variable in determining an appropriate model of organization – some would even say the most important variable…

You probably know the formal agreements and written contracts that govern your congregation, but do you know the informal or tacit agreements of your congregation? If you are a long-time member, you may know them subconsciously. However, to a visiting UU from another congregation, they may feel uncomfortable; while to a first-time visitor familiar with another religious tradition they may be bewildering to a degree that may be alienating. For example, within Boston, the behavior expected at King’s Chapel is different from that at Arlington Street Church. How obvious it this to you, and how obvious is it to a visitor? And how do these tacit agreements affect the congregation?

The most important tacit agreements deal with how we treat each other. Does your “beloved community” have a behavioral covenant, wither written or unwritten? Newcomers pick up these signals and may be either drawn in or feel excluded. How do first-time visitors feel when they are from other faith communities, other economic communities, or other ethnic communities?

Does your Board speak with one voice, or as separate individuals? A Board member who throws his/her weight around as an individual is counter-productive, whereas a unified Board that creates a proactive system to anticipate problems is more effective.

Let it be a dance, but not one where we laboriously follow the numbers marked on the floor; that is not dancing. Both in dance and governance, flexibility is essential. Those who know the dance will improvise as needed.

The Size and Shape of Governance,  (2 pgs PDF) by Rev. Stefan Jonasson, UUA Director for Large Congregations