Group Leadership

Purpose

This guidance defines the role, expectations, and eligibility criteria for individuals serving as group leaders within Foothills Unitarian Church. It reflects our values of covenantal community, shared ministry, and mission-centered leadership.

Group leaders are not just facilitators—they are ministers in partnership, co-creators of community, and stewards of our shared mission. This guidance ensures that all group leaders are spiritually grounded, ethically accountable, and relationally aligned with the church as a whole.

Group Leader Requirements

All group leaders must:

Be active members of Foothills Unitarian Church
Attend an annual Group Leader Training
Commit to the Group Leader Code of Ethics
Abide by the Foothills Covenant of Right Relations
Track attendance at all group events and use event promotion and communication tools provided by Foothills
Stay true to the mission of Foothills and never misuse the power of leadership
Reach out for support when challenges arise
Model joy and humility, remembering that leadership at Foothills is about learning to be human together
Hold a personal annual spiritual deepening intention, shared with staff or lay leadership

Why Membership is Required

Foothills groups are not separate from the church—they are the church in action. Groups are how we embody our mission and bring our vision to life. Therefore, the people who lead our groups must also be those who have said yes to this mission, yes to this vision, and yes to this community through the act of becoming a member.

Group leaders are called to be:

The connective tissue between their group and the broader life of Foothills
Mentors and inviters, guiding others into deeper participation
Cultural stewards, upholding and transmitting our values
Partners in ministry, co-creating spaces of transformation and care

Requiring membership ensures that group leaders are equipped to:

Articulate Unitarian Universalist values and Foothills’ mission
Navigate our systems, relationships, and opportunities
Understand the full context of the congregation—not just one slice
Practice accountability and partnership with clarity and integrity

Scope

This guidance applies to all ongoing group leaders at Foothills who operate with autonomy under a Shared Ministry Covenant (SMC). These leaders steward groups that are:

Recurring or open-ended in duration
Mission-driven and community-integrated
Not directly overseen by staff or a designated lay program leader on a weekly basis
Responsible for shaping the group’s spiritual direction, relational culture, and group dynamics

These group leaders are expected to meet the full list of requirements outlined in this guidance, including being active members of Foothills and participating in annual leader training.

Not included in this guidance:

This guidance does not apply to individuals serving as program facilitators, defined as those who:

Implement a staff-developed or staff-directed curriculum
Lead a time-limited group or class, typically within a seasonal offering
Operate under ongoing supervision or coaching by a staff member or designated lay leader
Do not shape the group’s ongoing identity or mission alignment

Examples of Program Facilitators:

Anchors of a single season of Journey Groups or Anchor Groups

While program facilitators are also expected to align with Foothills values and abide by our Covenant of Right Relations, they are not required to be members or complete annual group leader training.

Bylaws and Board Policies

Board Policy: Global Delegation of Authority
Establishes the Executive Team’s authority to create operational guidance, including eligibility and leadership requirements.