Board of Directors Brief

ACPE’s Board of Directors met by videoconference on November 8 and 9, 2021. Unfortunately, the ongoing pandemic forced the association to cancel in-person leadership meetings again this fall. However, although virtual, our time together was productive, meaningful, and exciting. We even participated in a “kindness quest” with volunteers serving on ACPE’s other commissions and committees. The quest was a fun team-building exercise and a rare opportunity to see old and new friends. I included a few screenshots of our time together.

Here are the highlights of the board’s discussions and actions.

Finances & Budget

Treasurer Linda Wilkerson presented the association’s January-September 2021 financial statements. ACPE remains in excellent financial health. Due to the uncertainties of the COVID19 pandemic, ACPE budgeted conservatively this year, currently resulting in about a $500,000 surplus. The board approved to use the reserves in 2022 to cover additional accreditation costs required to catch up from pandemic delays, honoring most CoP event requests to gather, and ongoing merger negotiation legal fees.

The board also approved the 2022 budget, fees, and membership dues, which are now on the website ( accreditation, certification, membership). Only Satellite dues increased from $200 to $300 annually. ACPE continues to slowly migrate to a single CPE unit fee. Over the last six years, ACPE consolidated nine different fee structures to five rates, with the goal to have a single CPE unit fee by 2024.

ACPE Self-Study

Over the last several years, ACPE experienced significant change to its governance structure, accreditation and certification processes, and membership demographics. The board instructed the staff to issue an RFP for a professional research institute to assist the association in conducting a self-study. The board is seeking an experienced academic institution to develop and disseminate a series of surveys and then collect and analyze the data.

Student Unit ‘Yellow Card’ Digitization

From 1967 to 2000, ACPE maintained records of student units on 3.5 x 5 yellow index cards. The ACPE office collected and housed about 250,000 yellow cards for over 50 years. The board approved funds to hire a professional imaging company to scan the cards, which will decrease transcript fulfillment wait times and provide a much-needed backup for these vital records.

Professional Ethics Commission

The board approved a request from the Professional Ethics Commission to add three more commissioners. The commission needs additional volunteer leaders because of more investigations involving racist and bias allegations, the average length of investigations, and increased conflicts of interest because ACPE members are more connected through its CoP model.

Merger/Consolidation Updates

Claire Bamberg, Tammerie Day, and Trace Haythorn updated the board on the progress of the Implementation Workgroup. This overview includes the following:

• Confirmed dates.
• The work of the steering committee.
• The work of the subcommittees.
• Related processes that are being addressed.
  

Confirmed Dates:

• December: Currently, all subcommittees are working to provide draft documents required by law to the Steering Committee and Boards by December 15. The Steering Committee will determine with boards review process with relevant stakeholders.
• By February 15: Subcommittees submit final drafts to the Steering Committee for final approval.
• April: Members will be invited to vote. The poll will stay open for 21 days.
• May 9-12: Joint Conference (online)

(Due to state law, the election must remain open for 20 calendar days. In addition, the members must have the final draft of all documents 45 days prior to the opening of the polls. The Steering Committee is also discussing time for members to review draft documents to provide the Steering Committee with feedback before the final version is submitted.)

Governance Subcommittee:

• Tasks:   
• Articles of Incorporation.
• Bylaws, board, and community governance. 
• Corporate/Operational structure.
• Board and Officer selection process.
• CEO selection process and effective date of the merger.

• Progress:
• ACPE’s lawyers are drafting Articles and Bylaws; the first draft should be available to the subcommittee by November 15.
• Board structure, officers, terms, and selection process will be included in the bylaws draft.
• Next, the committee will draft a CEO selection process for use if the members approve the bylaws. The selection process will be the purview of the new board.

Finance Committee:

• Tasks:
  • Overview of all finances (balance sheets, profit and loss statements, audits).
  • Determination of the fiscal year (APC= Nov-Oct; ACPE=Jan-Dec).
  • Develop principles for crafting dues structure.
  • Draft 2022 budget for the new organization.
  • Should they be needed, plans for staff severance packages and staff salary compensation packages, compensation policies.
  • Written representation and warranties of each party regarding taxes.
  • Clarification that there are no claims against the organizations.
  • Itemization of any outstanding contracts/leases.
• Other considerations:
  • Overview of total assets brought from each organization.
  • Clarification of organizational investment criteria/screens.
  • Clarity around current purposes of designated funds.
  • Review values and principles around finance.
  • Cost/benefit analysis of ACPE affiliation with Emory.
• Progress:
  • Joint budget prepared (showing APC, ACPE, and Foundation 2021 budgets).
  • Sub-subcommittees were formed for specific tasks to address the tasks listed above.

Facilities/Branding:

• Tasks:
  • Name for NEWORG.
    • A complete branding package will be developed if the members approve the merger.
  • Determination of “home office.”
    • Should the office be remote or leased space? If leased, what location?
• Progress:
  • Contracted with Atlanta-based Jackson Spalding: “Namestorming.”
    • Initial names to be presented to subcommittee November 15 (aiming for 5-8 options).
      • *Note: ACPE will maintain our name as a division of the new organization.
    • Finalists to Boards and Steering Committee on or before December 15.
  • Serious consideration of remote offices (permanent WFH).
    • Use of co-working space for those needing office space.

Cultural Integration Framework:

• First interim work product: exploration of current APC/ACPE culture elements.
• Elements to keep:
• Emphasis on valuing diversity and equity.
• Continuous learning.
• Accountability and support for centers.
• Professional and ethical standards for members.
• Representational leadership (members identify people as leaders and feel comfortable approaching them … have people in board positions who reflect what the membership looks like).
• Peer engagement and support.
• Elements to leave behind:
• Old asymmetries of power between chaplains and educators.
• Holding onto where we came from, the ways we used to do things.
• Biases, especially white-centering and Christocentric biases.
• New cultural elements to move us forward:
• Demonstrating diversity more concretely (in leadership and practice) and achieving greater equity.
• Inclusion: Understanding and continually assessing the nature of belonging.
• Developing a culture of feedback.
• Rethinking accountability from a post-failure model to supportive collegiality, coaching, and collaboration.
• Honor our elders.
• Incorporating anti-racism and anti-bias in the integrated culture:
• Focus on processes and behaviors: staff, board, members.
• Recognize the epistemological privilege of BIPOC in leadership.
• More intentional learning and followership from white members.
• Next steps:
• Further definition of values and values-based cultural elements, behaviors, management practices, meeting models.
• Identify questions for members about culture integration and meeting models to be part of an integrated survey or focus group effort.

The board will meet again on December 15, 2021, for its final meeting this year. It’s been a challenging year and overwhelming sometimes, but the work has often invigorated and inspired me. As my term as Board Chair nears its end, I look forward to sharing my final reflection with you next month.