The Board of Trustees as elected by the membership acts as the agents of the congregation. The Trustees delegate the carrying out of their policies to the Parish Ministers, who act as the head of staff. The Parish Ministers in turn hire staff, paid and unpaid, to do the daily work and reports directly to the Board of Trustees.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees listens to and learns from the congregation.
All are invited to attend our annual parish meetings. Notices about our upcoming parish meetings will be announced in our News From the Red Floors.
You can also use this form to share a comment or question with the Board. Or connect with the Board between services on the first Sunday of the month at a table in the Commons.
The Board of Trustees sets the short- and long-term mission of the church.
Strategic Focus Areas for 2024 – 2025
- Support each other by practicing deep listening and cultivating authentic relationships.
- Deepen our shared ministry by embracing the unique gifts of every person in the responsibility to contribute to our congregation.
- Mobilize to dismantle racism and other forms of systemic oppression to create a world fueled by love and justice.
The Board of Trustees creates policies to guide the staff and membership in carrying out that mission.
Read our policy manual to learn more about our institutional structure.
You can also read our bylaws.
For more information read the Board of Trustees FAQ
You can view meeting agendas and approved minutes.
An archive of agendas and minutes are available here.
2026-2027 Board Members
Susan Koenig, President-elect
Bryan Rainey, Secretary
Elizabeth Barrett
Joy Stieglitz Gottschalk
Olivia Mote
Roberta Carnes
Asher Rogall, Youth Liaison
Nolan Hicks, Youth Advisor
Tommy Hicks, Youth Advisor
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson
(ex officio)
Rev. Kelly Crocker
(ex officio)
Standing Committees
The Board of Trustees has four standing committees, each with a unique portfolio of responsibilities. Click on each title to see more about the current work of each of these groups.
Personnel Committee
A standing Personnel Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the congregation’s personnel matters. This includes ensuring that the FUS Personnel Manual is adequate and that all FUS staff are operating consistently with all Board policies related to personnel matters. Membership of this committee shall be 4 – 7 people with at least one Board member and the Executive Director and one Co-Senior Minister serving as members.
Review the most current version of our human resources manual.
Governance Committee
A standing Governance Committee helps the Board focus on functioning successfully within our governance model. Its duties include maintaining accurate job descriptions for the Board, leading an annual training session for new Trustees, organizing the Board’s annual evaluation of itself, and other appropriate process monitoring and improvement. Membership of this committee shall be 3-7 people, with a current Board member and one Co-Senior Minister serving as members.
Finance Committee
A standing Finance Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the congregation’s finances. Its purpose is to ensure that routine financial reports are clear and helpful, and to coordinate a periodic audit. The Finance Committee should hold an educational session at least bi-annually to ensure that Board members have an adequate understanding of the congregation’s financial status and goals. Membership of this committee shall be 3-7 people, with at least one Board member and the Executive Director serving as members.
Trustee Nominations Committee
Our bylaws create a standing 6-person Trustee Nominations Committee, consisting of five annually elected members of the Parish and the person that was most recently (but is no longer) President of the Society. The committee shall request suggestions from the congregation and, for the FUS Board of Trustees, the Trustees for the Friends of the Meeting House, and the Trustees for the FUS Foundation Board.
current task forces
As the Board of Trustees deems necessary or desirable, they establish advisory, liaison, or ad hoc task forces. Click on each title to see more about the current work of each of these groups.
Ministerial Review Task Force
Task Force on Volunteer Activities
completed task forces
Click on each title to see more about the results of each of these Board appointed ad hoc task forces.
Mission Task Force (2022)
Safe Congregation Advisory Team
The Safe Congregation Team is not a committee of the Board of Trustees as the ones above are, but is available to anyone in our faith community who has concerns about incidents that cause them to feel unsafe while on the grounds of First Unitarian Society, or while participating in activities sponsored by First Unitarian Society.
View our Safe Congregation Policy.
Growth Task Force (2016)
FUS Growth Task Force was formed in 2016 after a recommendation of our Board of Trustees. Its mission is to identify strategies to increase the growth of the congregation at First Unitarian Society of Madison. This task group studied and identified areas of growth.
View our 2016 Growth Task Force Initiatives here.
Triennial Review of Ministry Team (2016)
The Triennial Review of Ministry Team is responsible for assessing the efficacy of our ministerial staff and our congregation’s larger ministry. Read their 2016 review of ministry report.