Board of Trustees Application Package

Thank you for your interest in serving on the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees serves an important role as primary fiduciary stewards of the Center, and is also involved in many other aspects of Center business.

Board of Trustees members are elected to serve a three-year term.

The following information outlines the basic position requirements and duties, expectations, nomination process, and election precedures including key dates. If you are called to candidate for the Board of Trustees, please complete the attached questionnaire as soon as possible, return it to Erin Gaffey from the Nominating Committee Member.

The Vision of The Oakland Center for Spiritual Living
is to joyfully reveal the love and oneness of God.
We are a welcoming and Inclusive spiritual community
dedicated to individual transformation and collective growth.
Our purpose is to love, inspire & serve our community
and the world throgh education, music, prayer and play.

Basic Requirements

Member in good standing (two-year min.) and currently highly engaged at the Oakland Center For Spiritual Living

Strong foundation in Science of Mind principles, and completion of Foundations or an equivalent Science of Mind class as well as one other certificated Science of Mind class

Active, loyal and supporting

Ability to generously contribute time and talent to the Center

Recent history of being in service to the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living

Contribute financially to the Oakland Center in a regular, structured, identifiable way

Ease with attention to detail and implementation and completion of projects

Business/finance/stewardship experience and/or organizational skills

Excellent interpersonal communication skillsExcellent at navigating group dynamics

Expections

Have a computer and e-mail account for frequent Board of Trustees communications

Fill a three-year term

Attend monthly Board of Trustees meetings

Actively contribute to planning

Maintain visibility in our community

Communicate with and listen to congregants

Attend and participate in Open Forums, Annual Meeting, Board Retreats and other Center events and functions

Nomination Process and Selection Procedures

Notice of openings

Applicant completes questionnaire and submits biography and photo (.gif/.tif/.jpeg)

Nominating Team screens and reviews applications

Nominating Team interviews eligible candidates

Nominating Team recommends slate of candidates to the Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees reviews nominees and makes recommendations to the Nominating Team

Final slate of nominees is announced to the community

Nominees are presented to members at the Annual Meeting

New Board of Trustees Members are elected at the Annual Meeting

Additional Board Responsibilities to be aware of (this list is not all-inclusive):

Attend monthly meeting(s)

a) A monthly business meeting (2-5 hours)
b) An additional non-business meeting (will be added in the near future to cultivate connect, relationship and heart-centered consideration so as to relate to with each other in a much more holistic ways as we navigate the business of center.

Count donations

Become familiar with counting procedure and count Sunday Service donations at least once a month. Requires 3-45 minutes right after service.

Sign checks

May need to be available to sign checks once a week on specified days, or on emergency basis.

Take notes and write minutes for monthly meetings

As a volunteer in the position of Recording Secretary, or, in the absence of the Recording Secretary, Boards members should understand the process for writing Minutes for monthly meetings. This involves taking notes via pen and ink or entering computer notes during the meeting, and then formatting, editing, and clarifying to create Minutes after the meeting, and sending out Draft Minutes by email for the Board to review.

Chair sub-committees

May be asked to chair sub-committees. This may involve scheduleing and faciliting meetings in addition to the regular monthly Board meetings.

Research, review, assist with projects

May be asked to research, review, and assist with projects as they arise.

Write contract, policies, By-law changes

May be asked to assist with writing/revising policies, bylaws, contracts (e.g. consulting contracts such as gardeners, cleaners, rentals, 1099 consultants, new hires).

Financial oversight

Provide financial oversight by participating in fiscal discussions.

Visibility

Attend Sunday Service regularity and be visible and available to support the Center, its Minister and the congregants.

Board Officers

We are expected to volunteer to serve as officers, such a President, Secretary and Treasure. Detailed description of the duties are in the Bylaws.

Board of Trustees Application Questionnaire

Name

Address

Phone

This address will receive a confirmation email

Before beginning this querstionnaire,
Please meditate on the following:

God is Good,
With great joy I move forward in my greater expression
of love and expanding service to my spiritual community
I allow my divine talents and gifts
to be expressed with clarity, ease and equanimity.

1. What is your motivation for wanting to serve on the Board of Trustees?

2. Provide a history of your Science of Mind affiliation including memtership at the Oakland Center or other Centers, and classes with dates and locations if possible.

3. Please summarize your professional and leadership experience.

4. List your volunteer experience at the Center, especially leadership positions.

5. Briefly describe an interpersonal conflict in which you were involved, including its resolutions.

6. Describe your experience/skill with group dynamics, working with people, and consensus building.

7. Discuss your knowledge, experience, and comfort dealing with accounting and business issues, especially budget development and financial statements.

8. List and describe any special skills you have.

9. What is your tithing practice? (Tithing is defined as giving a percent of your income to the source of your spiritual good, with the Center the primary beneficiary.)

10. How does your spiritual practice show up on how you give your time, talent, and treasure. (Please provide an example).

11. As a prospective trustee, explain your unique characteristics for contributing to or implementing the vision and goal of the Oakland Center.

12. Explain any concerns or circumstances that might hinder you in fulfilling the duties and terms of a Board of Trustees Member.

13. Please include anything else that you want us to know about you.

Application No 2025 - _________ (To be completed by Nominating Team

Please attach a one-page biography to be reviewd by the Nominating Committee, and a clear professional photo of your self to be used for presentation to the membership if you are selected as a Board of Trustees candidate.
Please email to steve@oaklandcsl.org

2025 DATES

Please review the important Board of Trustee date below. Board members are required to attend important Center business meetings. Please confirm that you are able to do so.

ANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, Mar 23, 2025

OPEN FORUM in 2025: July 20, 2025, October 19, 2025

BOARD RETREAT: Friday, Mar 28th (pm, via Zoom) and Saturday, Mar 29th (in person potluck at OCSL)

2025 MONTHLY BOARD MEETING: Typically the 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:00 p.m. 03/16, 04/20, 05/18, 06/15, 07/20, 08/18, 09/17, 10/19, 11/16, and 12/21

* BOT Retreat to thank previous and welcome new BOT members, 03/29 all day retreat.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND SIGNATURES

By confirming this application, I acknowledge that I have carefully read and prayerfully considered the Board of Trustees Application and I am satisfied that I fully understand its cntents. I also certify, that all of my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Please check the box to confirm this application Yes.. Confirmed Board Applicant

Date:

I acknowledge that I have met and discussed the interview questions with the applicant.

Signature:________________________________________________________________

Erin Gaffy
Nominating Chair, Oakland Center for Spiritual Living

I acknowledge that I have met and dicussed the interview questions with the applicant.

Signature:________________________________________________________________

Rev. Dr. Sunshine Michelle Coleman
Senior Minister, Oakland Center for Spiritual Living

Date:

Thank you for your interest and your desire to serve
Please submit the completed application no later than 01/05/2025

Description

Please fill out this form and click submit by January 5, 2025

Board of Trustees Application Package

Description

Please Fix the Following