United We Stand, Together We Fall: How Church and Nonprofit Boards Can Fulfill Their Mission
I grew up in the Commonwealth of Kentucky where the state motto is “United we stand; Divided we fall.” That motto is illustrated by the Parable of the Sticks. A father on his deathbed showed his children a bundle of sticks and asked them to try to snap the bundle in half. Each child tried and failed. Then the father asked them to untie the bundle and try to break a single stick. The children broke the individual sticks easily. The moral was clear—the children, like the sticks, are stronger together than apart. The meaning applies to church and nonprofit boards, as well. The organization is stronger when the board works together to communicate, advocate, and demonstrate the mission of the church.
Communicate the Mission
Directors enhance their influence by clearly communicating the mission of the organization to others. This ties into the core responsibility of every board member: maintaining missional focus. When the mission is clear, directors can communicate it with clarity to donors, partners, and those the organization serves. By becoming evangelists for the mission within their spheres of influence, directors can expand the church’s reach and effectiveness. As each director communicates the mission within their own network, the board multiplies its overall impact.
Advocate for the Mission
Directors not only communicate the mission but also advocate for it. When public policy changes arise that could impact the church’s mission, directors must use their collective influence to ensure that policymakers understand the ramifications of their decisions. Through their voices, directors can provide crucial information and education to policymakers, amplifying the church’s ability to effect positive change.
Demonstrate Commitment to the Mission
Finally, directors demonstrate their commitment to the mission by getting involved. This includes volunteering in programs that fulfill the mission and providing financial support. For nonprofits, having board members with “skin in the game” is critical. Directors who actively contribute are better positioned to ask others to get involved financially or personally.
This is the seventh and final blog in a series on Responsibilities of Board Members in Churches Nonprofit Organizations, you can check out the first blog about Maintaining Missional Focus by clicking here
For more information about how Reynolds Law Group, PLLC can serve as the outside counsel for your nonprofit organization, give us a call at 757.219.2500 or visit www.reynoldslawgroup.com to set up an appointment with an attorney.
