Several representatives from Winebrenner Seminary recently participated in the Wise Stewards Initiative sponsored by the In Trust Center for Theological Schools. During a conversation with a member of another school’s Board of Trustees, one of our Board members shared that all faculty, staff, and administration actively participate in the full Board meeting along with the official members of the Board. Upon hearing this approach to governance, the conversation partner was surprised by the openness and lack of hierarchy visible during the meeting.
It has taken several years of intentional work to reach a level of trust and information sharing that permits this type of organizational structure during one of our Board meetings. This approach to collaborative governance was evident at our most recent Board meeting, held at the end of last week. In an effort to name the level of integration required of Winebrenner, at all levels of the organization, I shared the following litany as part of my opening report:
The Board of Trustees doesn’t “own” strategy.
The Administration doesn’t “own” operations.
The Faculty doesn’t “own” curriculum.
I was able to reinforce these three tenets earlier today at our weekly check-in meeting with all staff and faculty. While Winebrenner is not on this journey alone, this type of understanding of organizational life is not as common as it should be. However, there are emerging learning communities that are focused on expanding this understanding of organizational life within those committed to theological education.
I experienced one example early last week, prior to the meeting of our Board of Trustees, when I was at a gathering convened by the Novare Center for Organizational Formation. Several other Presidents and Deans from schools and seminaries across the US and Canada gathered to discuss some foundational elements of Novare.
One of the goals of the Novare project is to focus on organizational formation and develop practices the exemplify the foundation of trust and integration necessary for following Jesus into his mission field.
Winebrenner is excited to be part of the Novare project! In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing more about the Novare project and both the places where Winebrenner’s efforts exhibit and complement the objectives of Novare as well as the areas in which we can grow to better align with the overall purpose of this project.
Stay tuned!