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Leading and administrating a church is tough work. We've assembled some resources here to help you in three main areas: Facilities Management, Finances & Stewardship, and Staffing and Personnel. Connect with others, read up on the newest trends, and get answers to your Church Administration questions here!
The Financial Crisis: The Best Ministry Opportunity Since 2001
Dave Travis writes... "I received a few emails this past week from very good, solid church-serving organizations that provide leadership programs for leaders. The emails were advertising specific programs for "dealing with the economic crisis." The messaging speaks of cutting back costs, laying off staff, and bemoaning the hard times. To their credit, these organizations are trying to help church leaders productively deal with these very hard challenges.
I know these are important issues and must be addressed. And I have advised many clients in these matters as well.
But from the ads they appear to approach the issue through the lens of struggle. They approach this economic season as a key obstacle and challenge to the church's mission.
I choose to believe that this is the greatest opportunity for ministry since 2001. The lens of opportunity says that we have a positive message of hope that is the right message for the times.
It is time to seize the day for church leaders..."
Conducting a Responsible Ministy Job Review
Chuck Olson writes: Over the past 20 years, I’ve developed this love-hate relationship with ministry evaluations (aka, performance reviews). On the one hand, I “hate” them because they annually intrude on my calendar pleading for time and attention. And on the other, I “love” them because I have come to realize that they are one of the most significant contributors to leadership development and ministry momentum.
Throughout the years, I’ve attempted to become a student of the ministry evaluation process, desiring each year to platform an approach more robust than the one before, and in that endeavor have started my own personal ‘collection’ of things that I have learned. Take a look.
How to Fire a Church Employee
There... that got your attention.
I found this article, written by Josh Whitehead, an executive pastor, on advice for dismissing church staff members. I'm sure this is a timely thing for many churches... but is still kind of a harsh thing to write about. Here are some of Josh's points:
1. The right staff is about good stewardship.
2. I have never met anyone who believed they should be fired.
3. It is not always spiritual (but sometimes it is).
Definitely agree with number one. Not sure about number two. And of course, #3 is true... Cross Timbers Church GIVES AWAY $500,000!
Hats off to Toby Slough and his crew at Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, TX. If you haven't heard their remarkable story of generosity, check out this story from CNN:
Willow Creek Raises $2 Million to Fight Hunger
According to the Daily Herald, an annual Willow Creek Community Church fundraising campaign benefiting starving African children managed to bring in $1.3 million more this year than in 2008. Willow officials say they raised $2 million for the Feed My Starving Children, a Minnesota-based charity which provides meals and sends them to countries including Sudan and Zimbabwe. Last year the same campaign raised around $700,000.
This is a good example (I'm hearing many) from churches that giving can actually be UP during a time of down economy...
Church Goes To Court to Stop Installation of New “Over Paid” Pastor
OK... so your church hires a new pastor and decides to pay him $600k a year. Granted, your a huge, historical church in a metro area. Your new pastor will receive an annual salary base of $250k per year, plus a housing allowance of $11,500 per month; pension and life insurance benefits; entertainment, travel and “professional development” expenses; an equity allowance for the future purchase of a home; money for a full-time maid; and private school tuition for his 3-year-old daughter. What in the world do you do? People in this large NYC church decided they had only one alternative: court.
Arkansas Church Saves $268,000 in One Year by “Going Green”
First Baptist Church of Springdale, AR has saved, according to their calculations, about $268,000 by doing things like watching their thermostats, shutting off lights, and turning off computers at the end of the day. The 6,000 member church says that it has simply asked its staff to 'act like you are at home'. According to the church, the money saved is money that can be spent elsewhere, such as on missions.
Church Pink Slips
According to an article at Christianity Today, twenty percent of 800 church leaders who responded to an online survey by the Texas-based National Association of Church Business Administration reported in February that they had laid off staff. Complicating the issue for the laid off church employees is the fact that most churches do not pay unemployment taxes, which means that many unemployed church workers to not qualify for unemployment...
Why do pastors leave the ministry? Several common issues emerge from the research of Dean Hoge and Jacqueline Wenger: preference for another form of ministry, the need to care for children or family, conflict in the congregation, conflict with denominational leaders, burnout or discouragement, sexual misconduct, and divorce or marital problems. Of these factors, which form the basis for the central chapters of Pastors in Transition, two are especially important: conflict and a preference for specialized ministry. A close third is the experience of burnout, discouragement, stress and overwork. As the authors explore these factors, they provide significant insights into what can be done to help people stay in ministry. The bestselling author of "The Message" challenges believers to read the Scriptures on their own terms, as God's revelation, and to live them as they read them. Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness.
Pastors In Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders
Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.
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