Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board

The Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board is typically made up of experienced and respected members of the faith community who have a deep understanding of the spiritual and social needs of seniors. Their primary goal is to provide guidance and support to older adults in the community, helping them to navigate the spiritual and practical challenges that can arise in later life.

One of the key functions of the Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board is to provide spiritual guidance and support to seniors. They may offer one-on-one counseling, lead group discussions or workshops, or provide resources and recommendations for books, articles, or other materials that can help seniors deepen their spiritual practice.

In addition to spiritual support, the Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board may also offer practical assistance to seniors. This may include providing transportation to medical appointments or grocery stores, organizing social events or activities, or connecting seniors with community resources such as support groups or senior centers.

Another important role of the Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board is to advocate for the needs and rights of seniors within the larger faith community. They may work with other committees or commissions to ensure that seniors are represented in decision-making processes, or they may lobby for changes to policies or practices that may negatively impact older adults.

Overall, the Elderly and Spiritual Advisory Board plays an essential role in promoting the well-being of older adults within traditional faith communities. By offering spiritual guidance, practical support, and advocacy, they help seniors navigate the challenges of aging with grace and dignity, while also deepening their connection to their faith and community.

Functions and Powers

This commission/Board shall be composed of nine (9) mem­bers headed by the chief faith elder and patrons/patroness (Ssabayima/Nabayima). The board is mandated to provide strategic advice on the management of the faith and they’re custodians of all sacred places and the faith theological facts.

This board shall be stationed at Walusi nsi cultural heritage site in Bulemeezi Luweero district. They will have their peri­odic meeting quarterly. The board shall provide advisory re­ports to relevant boards and commission whether on request or not depending on the need. Three (3) members of this board shall be ex-officio of the High Council of priest. The presiding Patron (Ssabayima) shall nominate all members of this board subject for executive approval of the High Council of priest. The Patron/Patroness shall be nominated by the chief elder and the candidates shall be presented to the High council of priests for executive approval. The advisory board shall give greater flexibility in structure and management of the faith.

It will be divided into two departments which includes;

i) The technical advisory department

ii) The spiritual advisory department

i) The Technical advisory department offers: It is com­posed of accomplished adults and experts on matters of this faith offering innovative advice and dynamic perspectives. They can provide strategic direction, guide quality improve­ment, and assess spiritual program effectiveness.

The advisory department may provide suitable solutions, mature/adult conflict alternatives and patronage to all work­ing personnel. The Advisory board shall provide non-biased information and advice to the faith working departments and personnel. They must not be drunkards and drug addicts.

ii) The spiritual advisory department provides all forms of spiritual, liturgical and different forms of deep theological and philosophical advice. They are very experienced and ac­complished elders in the spiritual significance, history, faith practices, norms, values and provide alternatives to proper standards of worship.

Functions and Power

i) Provide “wise counsel” on issues raised by the management

ii) Provide unbiased insights and ideas from a third point-of-view (not involved in the operation of the faith affairs)

iii) Encourage and support the exploration of new faith practical ideas

iv) Provide social networking platform for the faith

v) Encourage the development of a governance framework that enable sustainable growth of the institution

vi) Monitor performance

CREATING AND OPERATING AN ADVISORY BOARD

The advisory committee of elders shall advise who is to achieve what from an advisory committee meeting, how the business of the committee should be conducted both in the spiritual and technical aspects

MANDATE

The advisory committee of elders shall be determined by the nature of what is sought and expected from them. Advisory comittee members shall have distinctive knowledge on differ­ent aspects of the faith and during some occasion they may employ the services of professional experts such as Lawyers, cultural officers, administrators etc for informed decision undertaking

FOCUS

The advisory committee of elders shall advise on the focus of the boards and commissions, whether it is a broad focus or a narrow one on a specific common goal or similar interests of the faith.

SIZE

The faith shall establish a small size of the advisory commit­tee of elders to influence the efficiency of delivering ongoing information and effectiveness of the faith boards and com­mission meetings. A large advisory board may result in man­agerial issues.

Meetings of the committee of elders and frequency

The advisory committee of elders shall be significantly con­ducted by how effectively the boards of commission’s activi­ties are organized and directed. Fixed meetings shall be held regularly (quarterly or otherwise) and the advisory committee of elders shall always be well informed of the purpose and background information of the meeting in order for them to provide valuable advice. They will always work with the secre­tariat for easy coordination.

A skilled facilitator, administrator or corporate secretary is required to organize schedules of advisory committee of el­ders and meeting materials. The facilitator or chair of the meeting should be committed and aware of time management for the meeting. An agenda could always improve the organi­zation and time management for the meeting. They will de­sign internal working arrangement for effective execution of their affairs.