5 Warning Signs Your Church Board Is Overstepping (And What to Do About It)
In my role at LeadingSmart, I often get the opportunity to coach church boards “up.” I say “up” – because often they find themselves in the weeds. Perhaps the church has grown but the board is still operating like it was when the church was much smaller. This is not unusual.
Governance is supposed to bring clarity. But too often, it brings confusion.
Church boards are vital. But when they step too far into day-to-day operations, things can go sideways. Staff feel micromanaged. Decisions get delayed. Trust begins to erode. And soon, you have a ministry team that is stuck waiting for approvals instead of moving forward in faith.
5 Red Flags Your Board Is Overreaching
Board members regularly weigh in on hiring or firing staff. Unless it’s the Lead Pastor role, personnel decisions should stay with the leadership team.
Meetings drift into ministry strategy instead of governance. Boards exist to guard mission and steward resources, not to debate sermon series or student ministry curriculum.
The Lead Pastor feels like they need permission for every decision. Empowered leaders lead boldly. Over-regulated leaders hesitate.
There's confusion about who owns vision versus execution. Boards should affirm vision, not micromanage the path to get there.
Board members are more active than some staff... and everyone knows it. If board members are acting like unofficial staff, it’s a signal your structure needs attention. This kind of over-involvement stunts growth and erodes team culture.
Here’s what to do about it:
Clarify roles in writing. Define what decisions belong to staff and what decisions require board involvement. Documented decision rights remove ambiguity and build trust.
Train the board annually on healthy governance. Just like staff need development, boards need a refresher on roles, responsibilities, and boundaries.
Invite outside evaluation. An objective third party can bring perspective and help depersonalize the conversation.
Normalize the conversation around boundaries. It's not about power grabs—it's about health. Great churches have clear lanes and mutual trust.
Healthy boards empower staff. Unhealthy boards confuse everyone. Clarity is kindness.
Let’s Talk
LeadingSmart can come alongside you and coach your board to health. We specialize in equipping boards to lead well—so pastors are empowered, staff are trusted, and the mission moves forward without friction. We’d love to have a conversation about how one of our experienced team members can partner with your board to:
Assess your current governance structure
Rewrite governance documents, if needed
Coach your board toward healthy, growth-minded leadership
Let’s set your church up for long-term impact—with the right people making the right decisions. Get started here.