Mission in the Front Seat:
6 Questions for Board Agendas
A Leadership Conversation, 001
March 10, 2026
These questions are designed to help a board or leadership team pause long enough to examine not just what fills the agenda, but what is actually shaping the work.
You do not need to force quick agreement or solve everything in one sitting. Simply move through the questions honestly, listen carefully to one another, and pay attention to where there is energy, discomfort, conviction, or clarity.
Even one strong insight can help a team begin to use its time in a more faithful and purposeful way.
Discussion Questions
- When this board is at its best, what kind of work are we doing together?
- What is the unique work this board is called to do that others in the organization cannot do in the same way?
- If someone studied only our agendas and minutes from the past year, what would they conclude matters most to us?
- How much of our meeting time is spent on vision, discernment, and relationship-building, and how much is spent on reports, structures, and management details?
- What essential conversations or leadership work get squeezed out when routine business takes too much space?
- If we truly wanted mission and vision in the front seat, what is one change we would need to make to the way we use board time?
Rights and Use
© Church Commons. 2026
Written by Rev. Matthew J. Skolnik unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
These materials may be used and adapted for worship and formational purposes within Christian communities. They may not be sold or redistributed for commercial purposes without permission.