Brief Description
Scripture Union wishes to appoint a successor to the current Chair of the trustee Board when he retires in September 2009. It is intended that the chosen person should join the Board in April 2009 so that there is a handover period of about six months.
Scripture Union is a Christian charity whose vision is:
- every Christian to be engaging enthusiastically with the Bible and growing in their faith;
- every church to be fully equipped to make disciples of children and young people; and
- every community to have a vital Christian witness to children, young people and families.
Scripture Union has led the way for 140 years in children’s ministry and in encouraging regular use of the Bible. Today its activities include residential holidays, missions, schools and family ministries, and support for churches. It has an extensive publishing ministry and is an active member of a wider international SU community. Scripture Union is at a key moment in its history this year having launched its new WordLive website, which allows anyone to step into a multi-media Bible reading experience and deepen their relationship with God, and LightLive website which supports churches in their ministry with children and young people.
While it is not necessary for the chair to have had previous involvement with Scripture Union, it is essential that he/she should be a mature, committed evangelical Christian who shares our vision. The chair must have the ability to lead meetings wisely and efficiently, be able to provide support and challenge to the Chief Executive, be comfortable with the complex,
financial issues of Scripture Union’s operations, and have both time and energy to commit to the role. Being able to communicate Scripture Union’s mission to the wider church and to the general public would be an advantage.
The Trustee Board meets six times a year with the Leadership Team in attendance. In addition a Council, which includes Board members and a wide range of other volunteers, meets for two residential meetings a year. The Board has delegated certain of its responsibilities to two subcommittees;the Audit Committee and the Nominations Committee.
If you would like to find out more, or know of someone who could be interested, please contact Sue Winning on 01908 856135, or download an application pack Application Form (Microsoft Word form)
Application form (PDF version)
Scripture Union Aims and Statement of Belief
Role of Chair of Trustees
Strategic Plan
Scripture Union is a national mission-movement whose aims are to make God’s good news known to children, young people and families, and to encourage people of all ages to meet God daily through the Bible and prayer. It pursues these aims through a variety of specialist ministries and this job, like all others within Scripture Union, is required for that purpose. In all its work, Scripture Union aims to be Bible-based, prayerful, Christ-centred, Spirit-inspired and dependent on God.
Job Description
Purpose
- Under God’s guidance, the Trustees are responsible for controlling the management and administration of the movement so that Scripture Union fulfils its ministry in ways which accord with its Aims, Belief and Working Principles. As chair of the Trustee Board this role additionally provides leadership for the Board as it fulfils its governance duties and responsibilities.
Accountability
Subject to the governing documents and the Charities Act, Trustees are accountable corporately and individually to their fellow Trustees. They are elected by and report to Scripture Union’s Council.
Responsibilities as a trustee
- The Board comprises the trustees, who are directors of the registered company, and the Leadership Team. Together they:
Set and maintain vision, mission and values
- The Board is responsible taking forward the ministry of the movement and, with input from Council, has the responsibility for developing spiritual vision, discerning God’s leading and guarding the movement’s ethos and values..
Develop strategy
- Develop long-term strategy and ensure meeting agendas reflect the key points of the strategy to keep the movement on track.
Establish and monitor policies
The board creates policies to govern organisational activity. These cover:
- Guidance for staff and volunteers
- Systems for reporting and monitoring
- Conduct of trustees and Board business
Set up employment procedures
The Board is responsible for establishing comprehensive, fair and legal personnel policies. These protect the movement and those who work for it. They cover:
- Selection and recruitment
- Support, training and development
- Work reviews
- Remuneration
- Discipline, complaints and grievance
Ensure compliance with Memorandum and Articles
- The Board makes sure the Memorandum and Articles are followed. In particular, the movement's activities must comply with its charitable objectives.
Ensure accountability
The Board should ensure that the movement is accountable as required by law to:
- the Charity Commission
- HM Revenue and Customs
- the Registrar of Companies
The Board is accountable to the Council and also needs to make certain that the movement is accountable to supporters, beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, and the general public through publishing annual reports and accounts and communicating effectively.
Maintain proper fiscal oversight
The Board is responsible for effectively managing the movement's resources so it can meet its charitable objects. It:
- Secures sufficient resources to fulfil the mission
- Approves the annual financial statement and budget
- Monitors income and expenditure
- Provides insurance to protect the movement from liability
- Seeks to define an appropriate level of risk and monitors risk carefully
- Participates in fundraising
- Ensures legal compliance
Maintain effective Board performance
The Board keeps its own house in order. It takes steps to establish:
- Prayerful reflection
- Productive meetings
- Effective committees with adequate resources
- Development activities
- Recruitment and induction processes
- Regular performance reviews
- Partnership with consultants where necessary
Management support
In addition to the above responsibilities as part of the Board, trustees provide support to the Leadership Team to whom they delegate day-to-day leadership and management of the movement.
- The Trustees select the Chief Executive/Team Leader, and are involved in the process of, and required to endorse, the appointment of other members of the Leadership Team.
- The Trustees provide prayerful and practical support for the Leadership Team and reviews its performance on a regular basis.
- The Trustees recognise and respect the domain of staff responsibility. At the same time, they create policy to guide staff activities and safeguard the interests of the movement.
- Each trustee is allocated a particular area of the movement’s ministry for which he or she will have specific interest and provide specific support to the relevant member(s) of the Leadership Team, while retaining shared responsibility for the movement as a whole.
Responsibilities as Chair of Trustee Board
Overall Purpose
The role is one of oversight rather than an executive or a management function. Recognising this context the Chair will work in close cooperation with, and provide support and advice to the Chief Executive.
Main Responsibilities
- Provide leadership to Council in setting vision, strategy and policy.
- Ensure that the Movement and all its meetings are run according to what is set down in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and in line with the Movement’s Aims, Belief and Working Principles.
- Plan and chair the annual cycle of Board meetings, to set the agenda and consultation with the Chief Executive, and to ensure that all attending the meetings are able to contribute to the best of their ability.
- Consult with Trustees about the delegation of various roles and annually review their involvement.
- Ensure that the Movement has the leadership to fulfil the vision and direction that the Board has agreed.
- To chair, or to delegate the authority to chair, panels for the appointment of the Chief Executive and to be involved in the appointment of other members of the Leadership Team
- Form an effective working relationship with the Chief Executive, acting as line manager, and initiating the work review process. Working with the Chief Executive to review the performance of the Leadership Team as a whole, ensuring that it acts as a model to other leadership teams throughout the Movement.
- Take any appropriate role in grievance and appeals procedures according to the Scripture Union policy.
- Encourage good communication and understanding between staff and Trustees to encourage effective communication to and from the Board and Council, and to ensure that both management and Trustees
are able to fulfil their respective responsibilities effectively.
- Represent Scripture Union at functions and meetings, and to act as spokesperson where appropriate.
- Represent Scripture Union on the Britain & Ireland Regional Council.
- Ensure that the international dimension of Scripture Union’s work is kept on the agenda, of the Leadership Team, Board and Council, and to ensure that effective communication is established and maintained
between Scripture Union in England & Wales and the world-wide movement.