Overview: Decision-Making Framework

Status

Implementation status: UpcomingDraft adopted — framework and quick card live on this shelf as of April 2026.

Due:Target adoption: 2026-05-06Presented to Servants Council at the May 2026 meeting for formal adoption. Bylaw provisions in the framework are already in force per the March 15, 2026 Constitution and By-Laws.

What’s in this book

• Decision-Making Framework — April 2026 — the full document. Purpose, guiding principles, authority map, four domain threshold tables (financial / personnel / ministry / facility), eight escalation triggers, and day-to-day use.
• Quick Reference Card — April 2026 — one-page companion for staff, board members, and trustees. The four-question check, financial tiers, domain summaries, and escalation triggers on one screen.
• Overview (this page) — status, principle, Mayflower’s practice, references, open questions.

Principle (from Streamline)

Lukaszewski'Lukaszewski’s principleprinciple: (placeholder): Decisionsdecisions should be made at the lowest appropriate level, with clear thresholds that escalate to boards only when warranted. Clarity about who decides what removes bottlenecks and prevents overreach. At Mayflower, this is shaped further by our bylaws’ plural-governance commitments — the boards of Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and Finance each carry real authority within their domain, coordinated by the Servants Council.

Mayflower'Mayflower’s Current Practice

The

WeekFramework 9document above is Mayflower’s practice as of theApril implementation.2026. PlannedIt work:does definenot decisioncreate thresholds,new assignauthority: decisionevery authorityline pereither threshold,restates drafta bylaw provision or proposes a working policy (marked PROPOSED) for the decision-makingServants matrix,Council clarifyto escalationadopt exceptions,under shareits coordinating authority. Where the framework conflicts with staffthe bylaws, the bylaws govern. The Servants Council reviews the framework annually at its January meeting and trustees.whenever Dueany Maybylaw 6,is 2026.amended.

Governance & Document References

• Mayflower Church Constitution and BylawsBy-Laws — governanceMarch authority2026 of(Article eachII.A boardand II.B)
• GrowingStreamline: TogetherHealthy Church Systems — Lukaszewski (ch. 6–8, 10–13)
• The Guide to Healthy Church Operations — Ministry Brands
• Non-Pastoral Staff Hiring SOP (April 2026) — the hiring process referenced in Sharedtier LeadershipP-3
• Event Evaluation Process and Event Debrief Template — supporting tiers M-2 and M-3

Open Questions

• DollarShould thresholdstier forF-2 spending(‘$250–1,500’) authority?require two signatures at a lower threshold than $750? Board chairs to weigh in at the May Servants Council.
• Who approvesholds ministrythe policy“house changesdecision” vs.when operationalmore tweaks?than one board is equally affected and no obvious lead emerges (M-5 cross-board initiatives)? The framework defaults to Servants Council; that may need revisiting after a year of practice.
• EmergencyDoes decisionthe pathquick-card outsideversion normalneed channels?a printed copy in each board’s meeting binder? Recommended yes; confirm at May Servants Council.

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Page template: Principle + Mayflower Practice. Part of The Streamline Admin System, adapted from Michael Lukaszewski'Lukaszewski’s Streamline: How To Create Healthy Church Systems.