Church Administration

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Church Administration

• Adapted from a manuscript by
• Larry G. Hess

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Introduction

• Successful church administration requires the
  involvement of the congregation in discovering
  and committing to the mission and purpose of the
  church.
• Effective organization and administration enables
  the church to utilize all her resources and
  personnel in fulfillment of the mission of making
  God's love known to all people.

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Introduction

• The local church must be both God-centered and
  people-oriented.
• We, first of all, acknowledge God as our source
  and strength in all we do.
• Secondly, we recognize that ours is a ministry to
  people so that God's love and grace may be known
  and experienced.

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Introduction

• A person-oriented approach emphasizes the
  importance of interpersonal relationship as a
  means of communicating the Gospel and caring for
  the needs of people.
• The purpose and the mission of the church is to
  provide an opportunity for individuals to come to
  a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, to develop a
  personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, and
  to be involved in a supportive fellowship as a
  disciple of Jesus Christ.

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I. Philosophy

• The Biblical formula for ministry is contained in
  Colossians 19-12, which calls the church to
  prepare people for a productive purpose.

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II. Mission

• We are to present the essence of the faith and
  the fulfillment of the mission of the church by a
  personal experience with Jesus Christ, by the
  preaching of His Word, and by becoming living
  examples of His love and grace.

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III. Administrative Concepts

• People are more important than programs or
  structure.
• Each person in the body of Christ has a function
  or ministry to perform.

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III. Administrative Concepts

• The ultimate aim of church leaders should be that
  of serving rather than that of being served.
• Leaders must be willing to accept responsibility
  for directing the ministries of the local church.

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III. Administrative Concepts

• Lay leaders must be developed to share
  responsibility for ministry.
• A clearly defined administrative structure is
  essential.
• All positions in local church ministry are
  important.
• Policies of administration need to be written and
  communicated openly.

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III. Administrative Concepts

• Delegating responsibilities to others is a vital
  part of administrative leadership.
• Developing, motivating, and staffing lay leaders
  in positions of responsibilities is one of the
  most important functions of pastoral leadership.

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IV. Administrative Process

• Local church administration demands a clear
  understanding of the purposes and Biblical
  mandates for the church.
• Leaders must make important decisions concerning
  the activities and programs undertaken by the
  church.

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IV. Administrative Process

• Each church should have specific goals moving her
  forward.
• These goals and objectives must be constantly
  re-evaluated.

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IV. Administrative Process

• Leaders must be careful about the selection of
  the specific means used to reach their goals and
  bring about the desired results.
• Church administration should coordinate the
  various resources within the local church to move
  forward in the direction of the common goal(s).

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IV. Administrative Process

• Administrative leadership attempts to bring unity
  and harmony to the myriad of activities taking
  place in a local church.

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IV. Administrative Process

• Alvin Lindgren suggests the following five steps
  as being basic to the administrative process
  within the church.
• A. Recognizing the need
• B. Planning
• C. Organizing
• D. Stimulating and Implementing

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V. Church Administration and Automation

• Administration involves many functions and
  responsibilities, all designed to fulfill the
  mission of the church and to promote growth.
• Automation in church administration is essential
  today. A church must be structured to maintain
  many small groups and their ministries.

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V. Church Administration and Automation

• An example of the administration challenge is to
  keep up with people and to prevent people from
  dropping out because they feel disconnected.
• Follow-up procedures for prospective members are
  vital.

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V. Church Administration and Automation

• 85 of visitors contacted within 36 hours return.
• 60 of visitors contacted within 72 hours return.
• Initial contacts made by volunteers are twice as
  effective as those made by paid staff members.
• Usually takes 6-10 contacts before prospect joins
  church generally this also includes attending
  3-4 worship services.

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V. Church Administration and Automation

• 75 of the new members retain their active
  participation one year later if they were quickly
  assimilated into small groups choir, classes,
  etc.
• 15 of the church income should finance outreach.
• 8 of 10 people joining a church first came as a
  result of small group activities -- Bible study,
  sports, etc.

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V. Church Administration and Automation

• For every 100 members, there should be 100
  prospects.
• Growing churches have a ratio of 225 prospects
  for every 100 members.
• A church will not grow beyond its ability to care
  for its people and involve them in productive
  ministry.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• In order to be effective pastors, we must be
  effective, organized leaders.
• Priority management takes thought, practice, and
  constant attention to details of personal
  behavior and personal relations.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Personal Change and Growth
• Successfully managing our lives often requires a
  paradigm shift.
• We can't run away from change, because there's no
  place we can run that's beyond the range of
  change.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Executing the Priorities
• Plan the work and work the plan
• Plan do check act Quality
• Do it right the first time.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• It is essential that we prioritize our lists and
  learn to live with the end in mind.
• Spiritual and emotional burnout comes from a lack
  of balance and management.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Ministers need to learn how to focus on high
  priorities and at the end of the day turn off the
  professional switch and go home and balance
  family responsibilities.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Every minister needs a good time management
  organizing system in order to keep up with
  appointments and all kinds of communication
  responsibilities.
• Ministers need to learn how to block out time for
  planning, organizing, prioritizing, etc.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Managing People and Building Teams
• So often ministers come across as autocratic
  leaders, as bosses in charge and in control.
• Many people today are exposed to new methods of
  quality management and team building.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Laity must be allowed and trained to be more
  involved in the details of ministry.
• We must take positive steps to break down the
  walls of mistrust and competitiveness.
• As leaders, pastors must learn how to help people
  become jointly accountable for ministry.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• We must get organized and maintain a productive
  environment. We should always ask ourselves
• "Is this really important?
• "What is the priority here?
• "Am I listening to people and do I really
  understand?
• "How am I coming across to people?"

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• New Skills for a New Era
• Education and ministerial development are a must
  today.
• The twenty-first century church requires
  ministers who can make sound judgments,
  communicate effectively, care compassionately,
  discover solutions quickly, think strategically,
  manage people, use time wisely, make disciples,
  and maintain credibility.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Beat Procrastination
• Preparation and time management is vital.
• Procrastination and indecision are among the top
  three time-wasters faced by ministers.
• Planning is bringing the future into the present
  and doing something about it now.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Get Organized
• Remember the four (4) D's concerning details
• Do, without excuse, those little items.
• Delegate without hesitation.
• Date and file, without reluctance, items
  currently being worked on.
• Discard, without sentiment, those items that have
  little or no value.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Start each new day with faith in God and with an
  open mind.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• SUGGESTIONS
• Start each day by reviewing your appointments,
  schedule of tasks, list of to-do, etc.
• Prioritize your to-do's into a list of A's -
  highest priority and B's - lowest priority. Then
  prioritize your list of A's and then your B's.
  Be sure to bring forward today any items not
  completed yesterday.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Block out on your appointment calendar special
  sections of time to accomplish your A's and B's.
• Always allocate priority time when completing an
  important task.
• Eliminate mind clutter by writing down the task
  as soon as you decide to do it.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• Time-activate everything possible so you will be
  reminded
• what to do
• when to do it
• where the information is that you need.
• G. Be realistic in setting deadlines. Allow for
  interruptions and for the unknown.

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VI. Priority/Time Management

• H. Break the urgency habit. Not every problem or
  task has to be resolved immediately.
• I. Set aside the earliest part of the day for the
  most important functions, when possible.
• J. Limit time spent in counseling, if possible.
  Limit meetings and phone calls in the mornings so
  that this time can be given to your most
  important priorities.

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Conclusion

• The keys to effective church administration and
  personal time management are in possessing the
  necessary desire and commitment to details to
  implement the many resources available today.
• Good leadership and stewardship demand
  responsible handling of the administrative tasks
  of the church.

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Conclusion

• Effectiveness and efficiency has to do with how
  we spend our time and how well we organize and
  develop a team of people to administer the church
  for the glory of God.