The Board of Trustees is responsible for organizational governance at Cedar Ridge. While the Senior Pastor, along with the Staff Team, lead the church on a day to day basis, the Board is responsible for ensuring that we operate ethically and with fiscal responsibility and that we remain true to our vision and values. The Board is also responsible for holding our Senior Pastor accountable both morally and in terms of performance the role. Each member serves a three-year term and each year as a community we elect new members. Check the links below for more details about the function of the Board and desired qualities in Board members.

If you have a question or suggestion that you’d like to discuss with a Board member, please email a member of the Board of Trustees here.

System of Governance for Cedar Ridge

The Board’s overarching function is organizational governance of the Church

• Spiritual Discernment and Care
  • Partner with Senior Pastor and Staff Leadership Team with regard to “big picture” vision
  • Ensure we remain true to our vision
  • Regular prayer, fasting and mindfulness with respect to the church’s progress and condition
• Final responsibility for approval of strategic plan and budget
  Regular (quarterly) review of progress against strategic plan
• Hold the Senior Pastor accountable
  • For the progress of the church as a whole
  • For personal morality and spirituality
• Ultimate financial and legal accountability
• Conflict resolution and/or church discipline in matters referred by Senior Pastor

Monthly tasks

• Prayer
• Spiritual discernment
• Brief review church finances

Quarterly tasks

• More detailed review church finances
• Review progress on strategic plan

Annual tasks

• Retreat day with Staff
• Approval ofannual strategic plan and budget
• Evaluation of performance of Senior Pastor
• Coordinate Annual Business Meeting
• Review of Board performance
• Manage selection process for new members
• Orient new Board Members

Ongoing tasks (as required)

• Approval of any changes to Vision, Values or Beliefs
• Approval of any new church-wide policies
• Approval of any new policies relating to staff (i.e. Cedar Ridge Employee Handbook)
• Process any concerns raised by congregation that have not been resolved (via Matthew 18) through staff (including Senior Pastor).
• Give feedback, support and looking out for the wellbeing of the Senior Pastor
• Special projects assigned to the Board

Each year a calendar will be established to ensure all these functions are performed in a planned and timely manner.

Desired Qualities for Cedar Ridge Board of Trustees

Qualities of the Board as a Whole

The Board as a whole should reflect a caring, balanced, mature approach to governance of the church. The Board will always strive for unity but incorporate diversity and openness to differing personality types and expressions of spirituality. There should be a balance in terms of age, gender, skills, experience, marital status and race. There should be a mix of ministry experience and practice, involving people from various areas of church life such that the Board maintains an overall sense of the spiritual health and morale of the congregation as a whole (however, Board members should not approach board functions as representatives of any ministry and must avoid a parochial or “siloed” outlook).

Qualities of Individual Board Members

• Evidence of a commitment to and participation in the vision and values of CRCC, including a record of dependability and servanthood. They should be active members who are “at the heart of the church” - true stakeholders and excited about the future.
• Evidence of a life transformed by following Jesus, exemplifying our mission and what membership at Cedar Ridge means. This does not mean leading a faultless life but rather a life that exhibits progress on the journey of becoming more like Jesus. Their life should show signs of growth in the “fruits of the spirit”.
• "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
• Commitment to a prayerful life, demonstrating thoughtfulness, wisdom, and discernment. They should exhibit self-control and the ability to think and reflect deeply about issues rather than react too quickly.
• A humble approach to others. They should be good listeners and able to work through conflict. They must be able to keep confidences and remain spiritually centered in challenging times and situations. They must be recognized as highly ethical and trustworthy.
• Board members should be vision oriented, rather than operational. They should see the changing role of the universal church and CRCC’s role in the changing world. They should not be inclined to “get lost in the weeds” and should make judgments based on long-term, big picture considerations.
• Generally, we expect board members to serve on the board for just one three-year term. We assume it takes 6 months to a year to get adjusted, then work hard for 2 years, then rest or return to other ministries.

According to the Cedar Ridge by-laws: "Candidates for the Trustees, including incumbents, shall satisfy Biblical principles of eldership, shall demonstrate consistent commitment to this church and its mission and shall be recommended by the Trustees. They shall be at least twenty-one years of age, residents of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area and members of the Religious Corporation."