Servant Leadership Board Application Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church Questions and Answers, Qualifications & Application
Application Deadline: October 30, 2026 Please submit your application to: Rev. Dr. Todd D. Anderson tanderson@hpcumc.org
Questions and Answers About the Servant Leadership Board What is the purpose of the Servant Leadership Board? The Servant Leadership Board of Hyde Park Community United Methodist is charged with championing and assuring the implementation of the vision and mission of the congregation and aligning our resources with our values in order to accomplish our strategic priorities.
Our Mission: We strive to embody the hope and love of Jesus for all through service, worship, and companionship. Our Vision: As co-creators in God’s unfolding story, we commit to practices that build a beloved diverse intergenerational community that includes 250 new people investing in the life of the church and community with half under the age of 45 by 2027. Our Values: o Curious: We invite and celebrate questions. We bravely embrace the mystery of God and remain open to how that transforms ourselves and our relationships. o Courageous: Our faith makes us bold, compelling us to do hard things. We honor our word, relentlessly advocate for justice, and remain thoughtful and compassionate, even in the face of adversity. o Connected: True belonging begins with an experience of God’s grace. We extend God’s generous welcome to all, upholding integrity, practicing authenticity, and celebrating diversity across generations and cultures.
Responsibilities of the SLB include but are not limited to:
The SLB is accountable to the charge conference and serves as the executive agency of the charge conference between meetings to oversee the administration and ministry of the congregation. The board determines God’s call to the congregation for ministry that is transformative. The board initiates planning, establishes goals, implements action plans, and evaluates effectiveness for congregational ministries of nurture, outreach, witness, and administration. The board strategizes so that the congregation makes disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in ways that are in alignment with our mission, vision, and values. The board works with the nominations and personnel team to ensure leadership roles in the church are filled and effective pastoral, staff, and lay leadership is developed.
The board recommends to the charge conference the compensation, housing needs, and benefits for the pastor(s) and other staff after receiving recommendations from the committee on personnel. The board fills leadership vacancies between meetings of the charge conference upon the recommendation of the nominations and personnel committee. The board coordinates with the pastor, finance committee, and property team to provide for financial support, physical facilities, and the legal obligations of its local congregation. The board maintains the congregation’s connection with appropriate district and annual conference programs and structures.
When was the Servant Leadership Board formed? In December of 2013, a transitional team, comprised of chairs of ministry groups, such as Finance and Staff-Parish, was created to guide us to the new structure of a Servant Leadership Board. In April 2014, the new board was in place. The purpose of the shift was to move the vision forward more efficiently, engaging more people in ministry and mission, not meetings. When does the Servant Leadership Board meet? This group of servant leaders meets once per month for 2 hours, usually on Monday evenings. Each lay member serves on a sub-committee that specializes in one area of administrative work: finance, property, or nominations and personnel. Additional responsibilities include serving at occasional churchwide events and retreats for spiritual formation and team building. What happens at the meetings? Spiritual leadership is nurtured through devotion and reflection. Leadership is enhanced through training, conversation, and decision making. Ministry areas share highlights and action items from their work. High level decisions are made for the church such as approving the budget and church leaders, approving the strategic direction of the church, and ensuring alignment with vision and mission. What kinds of gifts and skills are needed for those who serve on the Servant Leadership Board? Leadership abilities are essential, including communication, administration, discernment, and healthy and varying relationships within the congregation. Members of the SLB serve on one of the three working groups required by UM Book of Discipline: Finance, Nominations/Personnel, and Property.
How long is this commitment? The typical term of a SLB member has been 3 years. This provides a learning year, a serving year, and a leading year. This may be extended for one additional year in the case of a missional need. What is the process for new members to join the Servant Leadership Board? Applications will be received through September 30, 2026. A team of six laity (including the personnel team and 3 additional members from outside the Servant Leadership Board) and our pastors will review applications and submit a list of names for the new class to the Charge Conference which will be held in November. Whom do I contact if I have more questions? One of the pastors or the current SLB president: Rev. Todd Anderson tanderson@hpcumc.org SLB President Bettye Beaumont bcbeaumont@fuse.net
Qualifications Servant Leadership Board Members shall meet all of the following qualifications: 1. Be an active participant in the life of Hyde Park Community United Methodist for a minimum of two years and be a member for at least 1 year. 2. Fulfill the vows of members in the United Methodist Church, supporting the Church through their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness by: a) demonstrating faithful attendance in corporate worship b) know and be known by other members of the congregation through participation in the life of the church community c) supporting the church through a tithe or a pattern of giving that demonstrates movement toward the tithe d) sharing spiritual gifts: faith in Jesus Christ and gifts of leadership, administration, and discernment 3. Possess a desire to serve Jesus Christ with excellence and demonstrate a history of this through prior service and current priorities (where they invest their resources) 4. Shall be of adult age (18 or older). (If you are younger than 18 years old but would like to serve, please contact a pastor. We would love to find a place for you to serve in the church!)
Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church Servant Leadership Board Application Application Deadline: October 30 Name: Email: Cell Number: HISTORY: 1. How many years have you been a member of Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church? 2. What drew you here? 3. What is your vocation (or previous vocation)? What interests you the most about your vocation? SPIRITUAL LIFE: 4. What spiritual practices are most helpful to you as you seek to grow in faith in Jesus Christ and love of God and neighbor?
5. How many times a month do you participate in worship (in-person and online) at Hyde Park Community United Methodist?
6. Do you support the church financially? Are you striving to tithe (the Biblical concept of giving 10%)?
7. Share 1 or 2 ways that you have recently supported the church with your service.
8. Beyond attendance at Sunday worship, in what ways are you participating in the life of the church?
LEADERSHIP SKILLS: 9. What leadership experiences have you had, inside or outside of the church?
10. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
MINISTRY AND MISSION: 11. Which of the SLB sub-teams, Finance, Personnel, or Property, do you feel most called to serve on?
12. Please describe your call to serve on this board. What excites you about being a part of the SLB at HPCUMC?