Foothills is a policy governance-based church. As a large and growing congregation, we shifted to this form of governance in 2017. Governing through thoughtfully crafted written policies—rather than case-by-case decision-making or managing current operations—allows the Board of Trustees to focus on visioning, long-range planning, and listening for the dreams and needs of the congregation, our community partnerships, and our collective future.
The highest level of governing document is our Bylaws. These are legally required and set by the congregation. They define, in the broadest strokes:
How the church is formed and governed
Who the members are
Who makes which decisions, and when
What our core purpose is as a congregation
(The Board and its Governance Committee are currently leading a thorough rewrite of the bylaws to reflect our current size and structure.)
The next level is the Board Policy Book, created and maintained by the Board of Trustees. These policies must not contradict the bylaws, and they define:
The outcomes our church exists to achieve (Ends)
The boundaries within which the Ministry must operate (Executive Limitations)
How the Board relates to and evaluates the Ministry
Board policies guide the work of the Ministry—our staff and congregational teams who carry out the mission day to day. They are values-driven and flexible enough to allow for creativity and adaptation in a changing world.
At the final level are the Ministry’s Organizational Guidance, Procedures, and Guides. These documents are created by staff to implement the Board’s policy direction and include:
Organizational guidance: how we interpret and apply Board policy in our operations
Standard Operating Procedures: step-by-step instructions for carrying out recurring tasks
Sometimes it makes sense to collection Organizational Guidances into a Handbook. A Handbook is a curated collection of Organizational Guidances focused on a specific area of church life or ministry. While each individual guidance document may stand on its own, grouping them into a handbook provides clarity, cohesion, and ease of reference for teams and ministries navigating complex or evolving domains.
Each layer builds on the one above it. Each serves a distinct purpose. And together, they allow us to lead with integrity, clarity, and care.