This document discusses principles of effective church administration. It emphasizes that administration should be both God-centered and people-oriented. The mission of the church is to help people experience God's love and grace. An effective administrative structure involves lay leadership, clear policies, and delegating responsibilities. The administrative process includes recognizing needs, planning, organizing, stimulating growth, and implementing plans. Time management is important for pastors to prioritize tasks and avoid burnout.

1. Church Administration
Adapted from a manuscript by
Larry G. Hess

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. I. Philosophy
• The Biblical formula for ministry is
contained in Colossians 1:9-12, which
calls the church to prepare people for a
productive purpose.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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).

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

15. 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
E. Implementing

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. VI. Priority/Time Management
A. 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.

23. VI. Priority/Time Management
B. Executing the Priorities
– “Plan the work and work the plan”
– “Plan + do + check + act = Quality”
– “Do it right the first time.”

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. VI. Priority/Time Management
C.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.

28. 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.

29. 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?"

30. VI. Priority/Time Management
D. 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.

31. VI. Priority/Time Management
E. 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.

32. VI. Priority/Time Management
F. 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.

33. VI. Priority/Time Management
– Start each new day with faith in God and
with an open mind.

34. VI. Priority/Time Management
• SUGGESTIONS:
A.Start each day by reviewing your
appointments, schedule of tasks, list of to-
do, etc.
B.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.

35. VI. Priority/Time Management
C. Block out on your appointment
calendar special sections of time to
accomplish your A's and B's.
D. Always allocate priority time when
completing an important task.
E. Eliminate mind clutter by writing down
the task as soon as you decide to do
it.

36. VI. Priority/Time Management
F. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.