Management of Community Leadership

Working with the Executive and Synagogue Council

As Chair, one of your key responsibilities is helping your Executive, Synagogue Council, and other volunteers to fulfil their roles. You may put in place any processes you feel are needed to support this — for example, ensuring the Financial Representative is able to follow the US’s Financial Representative Protocol.

If you or anyone in your Community are ever unsure about responsibilities or expectations, colleagues at US Centre are always available to help.

Regular, open communication is essential for a well-functioning Community. When in doubt about whether to consult, share information, or ask a question of the Executive, Synagogue Council, or any US Centre department, it is usually best to initiate communication (while respecting confidentiality and discretion).

You are expected to provide leadership and support to your Honorary Officers and Synagogue Council, even though you do not have formal ‘line‑management’ authority over them. The Community Development Team can offer guidance on how best to approach this.

All members of the Community must always be treated with respect.

To help structure duties and allocate tasks effectively, the Community Development Team has created Portfolio cards for use by Executives and Councils. We can also attend Executive or Council meetings to support you through this process.

You should implement whatever processes you feel are necessary to enable the Executive, Synagogue Council and other volunteers to fulfil their responsibilities, such as the FR’s responsibility to adhere to the US’ Financial Representative Protocol. If you or anyone in your Community aren’t clear what is expected of your colleagues, and your responsibility for them, are ready to assist.

The Executive: Responsibilities

The Executive are responsible for the day‑to‑day administration of the Community.

Executive members share collective responsibility for the powers delegated to them by the US Trustees. They may meet as often as they feel is necessary.

Where appropriate, the Executive should inform the Synagogue Council about issues that may affect the Community. The Executive is ultimately responsible for ensuring the Synagogue Council fulfils its duties, including duties delegated to it by the Executive.

The Executive will often become aware of sensitive personal or financial information about members. This information must be handled with the highest level of confidentiality. Executive and Synagogue Council Members are therefore required to sign the Volunteer Confidentiality and Data Protection Agreement.

The Executive: authority

Some areas remain the responsibility of the US Trustees and are managed by US Centre. These include:

Major building repairs, alterations, or developments*
Provision of utilities (light, heat, and power)
Legal and employment matters
Safeguarding matters

*Honorary Officers must notify US Centre as early as possible about any issue that may materially affect the value, condition, or status of Community property.

Local Honorary Officers may manage minor repairs within the expenditure limits set by the Chief Executive. For guidance, see the Property – Capital Spend Decision Tree here.

Local Honorary Officers — including the Chair — do not have authority to enter into contracts or agreements relating to the first three areas listed above. Agreements made without US Centre approval may not be upheld. Please always check with US Centre first.

Please note that a Chair may be held personally liable for actions taken regarding recruitment or other HR matters. If in doubt, seek guidance before acting.

The Synagogue Council: responsibilities and authority

The Synagogue Council must meet at least four times a year. Its key responsibilities (as paraphrased from the Byelaws) include:

Providing a forum for discussing Community matters
Supporting the Honorary Officers in running the Community and delivering its strategy
Receiving and considering the annual budget
Receiving and considering reports from the local Selection Committee when appointing a Rabbi and deciding which candidate to recommend to the Community for appointment
Determining the size and composition of the Synagogue Council
Setting the number of Honorary Officers beyond the minimum of three (up to a maximum of nine), and filling any casual vacancies

One of your major roles as Chair is to chair Synagogue Council meetings. If needed, you have a second or casting vote.

Together with the Executive, you are responsible for ensuring that decisions and meetings are properly recorded. This includes minutes of:

Executive meetings
Synagogue Council meetings
Annual General Meetings
Special General Meetings

You must also ensure that Community records are properly kept, displayed when required, and available for review. A full list of required record types can be obtained from US Centre.