Managing the Church
For council chairs, trustees, and others with
gifts of administration
Eyes on thc church's mission
By Mark L. Vincent
Say what you will about “seeker” churches; they have the best bulletins. It is not their artwork or layout that stands out. Rather, they are so tightly focused on the congregation’s mission that they contain fewer announcements. They give both visitors and members an uncluttered and memorable presentation of what is involved in being part of this church. Far from compromising or hiding high membership expectations, the bulletin highlights them—including tithing, ministry involvement, and church attendance.
Such bulletins often signal that the church has done an effective job of administration.
Seeker congregations evaluate all program and administrative areas in light of their mission. Everything in the church’s life must invite people to faith or lead Christians to involvement in ministry. Without such focus churches can easily add (or resist) new activities and goals without evaluating or adjusting the old. Congregational life becomes cluttered. Bulletins get crammed with inserts. Functions compete—few of which are directly connected to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If inviting others to receive and live the gospel is the reason for your church, then council chairs, trustees, and all others who administer the life of the congregation will be organized around that purpose. There will be no other reason to administrate. If there is no connection between core administrative duties and the gospel, however, it is a sure sign the congregation has drifted from its purpose.
What you can do if…
As an administrator (committee chair or trustee), you do not have the support to introduce change that you think is necessary.
- Strengthen your own evangelistic life. Bring neighbors, friends, and family to church, or begin a Bible study in your home.
- Become an advocate for younger and newer people in your congregation. Invite them to faith and ministry involvement. Help them succeed.
- Build evangelistic training expectations into staff and volunteer support budgets for the next year. Find out what your area conferences, retreat centers or seminary have planned. If their offerings are not exactly what you need, become an advocate and supporter for what is needed.
Your congregation has been working on this for some time but you feel stuck. What else might you do?
- Re-establish periods of testifying to God’s grace. Open congregational meetings with someone’s faith story. Include the journey of faith when introducing families in your church newsletter. Post testimonies on the church web page.
- Move fully into first-fruits congregational spending. The first expenditures of the congregation are given to ministries it supports rather than to the congregation’s own use. Doing so requires faith in God’s provision and invites faith from the congregation’s members. There is no better method to teach generosity and worshipful giving than the congregation’s commitment to do what it asks members to do. First-fruits congregations find it easier to focus on administering the gospel.
You have invested heavily in becoming a church of invitation, and you are experiencing some success. What else would help?
- Prepare for criticism. A congregation with clarity of vision is easier to support. It also is easier to criticize. Clear targets draw all types of arrows. If congregational supporters become defensive, the focus on the gospel gets lost. The focus becomes who is the most right. It is better to remain non-anxious and open to learning from detractors than to try to convince them.
- Support and deepen the congregation’s prayer life. Success means more people will find their lives transformed in Christ. Making changes brings spiritual shackles into the light where God’s mercy goes to work. Prayer support is needed in these moments. Be ready when they come.
Administrating the gospel is the reason for budgets, programs, worship services, personnel and facilities. Effective church administrators know this and administrate accordingly—even when others forget.
Mark L. Vincent, formerly with Mennonite Mutual Aid and the Giving Project
is lead partner of Design For Ministry™ , and author of Hosts For God:
Recovering Love for the Gospel.
(See page 38.)