# 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.

## **Related Content**

### **Bylaws and Board Policies**

[**Board Policy: Global Delegation of Authority**](https://211134-bookstack.peaknetworks.cloud/link/1229#bkmrk-2.2%C2%A0-%C2%A0-global-delega)  
*Establishes the Executive Team’s authority to create operational guidance, including eligibility and leadership requirements.*