In January of this year, Monona UMC changed its administrative structure from an Administrative Council of over 20 people to an Accountable Leadership Board of approximately 10, who include the following members of our congregation:
Louise Belk--Chair; John Huston and Tim Eberle representing the Trustees; Phyllis Stertz and Dan Medenblik representing the Finance committee; Dorilee Miller and LeeAnn Sinclair representing the Staff Parish committee; Deb Munroe and Kay Cowing, who represent the ministries committees, and, of course, Pastor Paul.
The intention of this streamlined leadership board is to make efficient and prompt decisions regarding the functioning of the church without having the burden of multiple steps and meetings over several months to reach consensus regarding decisions affecting church operations or committee requests.
For a number of years, retired Methodist pastor Dick Jones has been offering education and leadership about the Accountable Leadership Board model to Wisconsin churches. Last year Pastor Paul invited a cohort of members of our congregation to participate in an ALB model for our church. In preparation for this transition, several of us have attended workshops and meetings with other Wisconsin churches which are currently operating with an ALB structure, including the staff and laity at Sun Prairie UMC.
Each committee represented on our ALB board still has team members who carry out the work of the committee: For example, the trustees maintain their indoor and outdoor work teams. The Worship Team, which includes our choir directors, organist, and those who carry out scheduling and sanctuary arrangements, still meets regularly to plan the details of services and music offerings for upcoming worship experiences. Our ministries and missions teams and fellowship groups will continue their work, maintaining regular communication with the ALB, one another, the congregation and Pastor Paul.
The ALB has a slightly different process for carrying out the work of the church. Before tackling our business agenda at each meeting, we begin as usual with a short devotion. But there is a new piece to the meetings of the ALB, a study to help us discern our way forward and discover how God is leading MUMC into the future. We are currently discussing Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World by Kay Kotan.
Through studies like this, we will be learning how to listen for God’s direction for MUMC’s path into the future; how we can best serve the community of Monona and people on the east side of Madison with the resources that God has provided us; how to discover our own gifts for leadership; how to be more accountable to the congregation; and how to be stronger disciples of Christ.
Initially I had reservations about a new administrative structure for our congregation, but even in our first five meetings this year, we are getting more done, more quickly. We are acting with more efficiency and a new energy—as are other groups within our congregation, as well.
After three years of praying our breakthrough prayer, we are now beginning to experience the first fruits of some of God’s desires for MUMC.
God’s spirit is breaking through our lives and our church and is leading us into our community with new ideas, new hope, and the future God desires for us—using us individually and together for new purposes, some of which we have yet to imagine.
As the year unfolds, you will be hearing about continuing, returning and NEW opportunities and events for service, ministry, and fellowship in our church. Please take advantage of these. But also share your ideas with any of the members of the ALB about where you are discerning that Monona UMC can do God’s work in our community and in the world.
LeeAnn Sinclair
