Elements of Church Business Management
Introduction
God brings justice to the oppressed and calls on people of faith to care for the strangers and aliens in their midst as they care for each other. Jesus calls us to be neighbor to those who are victims of violence, persecution, and poverty. Caring for neighbor in need is a response to the grace of God. Jesus reminds us that love for him is to be expressed in actions toward each other. The Gospel calls us to help those who are in need including outcasts and strangers, those who are sick or homeless, and in prison. Our righteousness before God is determined by how we treat these vulnerable people. Starting a new church or ministry is one of the most rewarding and fruitful things. To start a new church we need to take time to make sure both the administrative and spiritual bases are covered.[1]
1. Crusade, new Christians and new converts
In order to survive today, new Christians and new converts will need to be taught to know and apply the Word of God, or they will be deceived and drawn away from the faith. It is their foundation and their compass. Bible reading, Bible exposition, and Bible curriculum are all necessary for the child of God to breathe spiritually, let alone grow spiritually.[2]
If new Christians and new converts are to live by faith, it will take a conscious effort on the part of the spiritually responsible to show them how to live by faith rather than by their senses. At the same time, it is a ministry the national office cannot develop because it is almost entirely relational and as unique as the individuals involved.[3]
The greatest opportunity for transformational discipleship will take the greatest of all commitments: the commitment of love by spiritual moms and dads and brothers and sisters who will become responsible for babes in Christ who need a healthy, Christian, one-on-one mentor .The need is obvious; the process is simple. With love, it is a joy; without love, it is a chore. With faith and persistence, the reward is beyond calculation. To add to the equation, we cannot institutionalize it. It is not a program but life. New converts need someone not something to help them, just like babies because babies do not have any idea how to take advantage of anything given to them.
2. The organizational structure of this church
2-1 Organizing
Starting a new church is perfect for: A church that is considering a new church plant A small church pastor who wants to re-establish his church in the community A church that has launched a new work and needs fresh ideas Starting a New Church gives us all the tools we need to plant a church successfully.[4]
The church is hit by the realization that for the church to survive for any length of time, it will need organizational and administrative structure. For some planters, dealing with administrative matters is second nature.
Organizing is to give a definite structure, to arrange systematically, to order, to bring together or form as a whole or combination, for a common objective, to systematically unite a number of individuals for some end or work.[5]
It can be seen that organizing includes a variety of activities. Every combined effort needs some form of structure. As a skyscraper needs a very strong structure to reinforce it to be able to stand up to strong winds and storms, so every team, business or committee also needs some form of structure. All of the structure has as their base the divine order that God gives us in His Word. There is order among the heavenly beings that God has created archangels, cherubim, seraphim, angels etc. The Divine order God has established in the family unit. The father is the head of the home, and the children relate to him through the mother.[6]
Every organization must pre-determine its objectives and then constantly keep these objectives before it. The more people they can involve in the pursuit of these objectives the sooner they will reach them. There are often an optimum number of people needed for a given task. Organizing without clearly defined objectives is a waste of time. Organizing is not putting people in a box, forcing people into a heavy structure, restricting the creativity of people, not giving a define structure to the placing of people, establishing common objectives and identifying and grouping work to be done.[7]
2-2 Make Group
When starting the new work where we know people, make a list of anyone who might possibly be interested in being a part of new church. Write, call, and visit them. Let them know the churches vision and challenge them to get behind it. Be positive and excited. Be careful about soliciting people who are already committed to a local body. If we can get just a few people who are even remotely interested, set up an organizational meeting.[8] At this meeting we can pray, allow them to get to know one another, and make plans for first service. Don't be discouraged if no one seems to get behind us. Often God wants us to take leadership and just start, exercising apostolic authority. Even if it only has a group of 10 members who have volunteered to be involved in leadership roles, we can go on to build a strong work. It will just take time, hard work, persistence, prayer, and determination.[9] (Romans 4:18-21).
2-3 Identify and group the work to be done
This is essential to the smooth running of any organization. It is in this area that the church often flounders. A certain church begins to grow. As a result it develops various departments to give emphasis to its various objectives. It launches a Youth Department, an Evangelism Department and a Children's Church. This all sounds good until one day they consider the staff situation that has become top-heavy and realize that some changes need to be made. For instance, they now have three secretaries that are not being fully used, and what's more they have three computers and actually only need one. And besides this they have spent much on printing, only to realize that their printing bill is draining them financially.[10]
This means that the time has come for the manager to step in and make some needed changes. He then launches another department, a Printing Department and places one of the other secretaries in this department. In the mean time he sends back one of the leased computers and secures a Photostat machine that covers most of their printing needs. In so doing he groups together the work that needs to be done and organizes it into the correct groupings, where it can be done by those who are more qualified to do that specific kind of work. This is an on-going responsibility of a manager.[11]
2-4 The seven basic Gifts
Romans 12:4~6 "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
[1] if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
[2] or ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
[3] he who teaches, in teaching;
[4] he who exhorts, in exhortation;
[5] he who gives, with liberality;
[6] he who leads, with diligence;
[7] he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness".
Everyone has been gifted in one or more of the above seven ways. What is important is to be able to ascertain in which areas each person is gifted. We need to acquaint ourselves with the meaning and purpose of each of the seven basic gifts. We will be able to flow in our own gift or gifts much more easily if we take time to examine and understand each one.[12]
a) Preaching / Prophecy
Public exposition or presenting truth with force, hence the idea of communicating.
b) Serving / Ministering
A deep concern and desire to help other in practical ways.
c) Teaching
A deep desire to search out and share truths with others.
d) Encouragement / Exhorting
Stimulating the faith of others.
The ability to come alongside someone who is struggling.
e) Giving
A high degree of wisdom in relation to material giving. Possibly also involves the giving of oneself as well.
f) Leading / Ruling / Co-Ordinating
The ability to be able to preside over the activities of others and be able to co-ordinate other people's labours.
f) Sympathy
An ability to be able to show a deep sympathy and understanding towards the misfortunes of others.
The subject of organizing we see that we need to organize people according to their natural gifting and as a result they will find a far greater degree of fulfillment in their work. Once we have ascertained what their basic gift or gifts are, then the next important task, but without adequate training in the principles of teaching that person may only reach forty percent of their potential as a teacher. We can all, always learn and improve.[13] Whether it is in the church or in any organization training is very important. But, if we are unable, see to it that we appoint someone to train people, either from inside or from outside of organization. Don't be threatened by people in team who know more about a given subject. Actually we should expect to have such people in team. Don't rate them as competing with us but rather as being complementary.[14]
Another way of training a team is to arrange for them to attend a course that covers the area in which they need to be trained. The training team and leaders is of paramount importance. It is undoubtedly, important keys to success. Plan well it will begin to see that the overall task can usually be divided in distinct 'bite-size' tasks. It is the manager's responsibility to clearly detail these tasks and then to assign them to the various members of his team. If a person knows exactly what they are responsible to do, then they can tackle their part of the project with certainty and enthusiasm.[15]
A biblical example of this is to be found in the story of Nehemiah chapter 3. This entire chapter is given over to explaining how Nehemiah gave to those working on the wall around Jerusalem specific assignments. They knew precisely what they were to do and so with confidence could get on with the job.[16]
2-5 Groups Actives
Step 1 Make list
First organizing step; add any additional activities that may have occurred, since we worked on planning and then group the activities that are related. These groups could have the following headings: Initial action, Training, Administration, Finance, Printing etc. Team (Personnel) Allow the creativity of the Holy Spirit to flow through.[17]
Step 2 Draw up an organ gram
For ministry business or project, an organ gram, such the chart shows, how an organization functions.[18] For example, London Beautiful Korean church functions as follows.[19]
Steering Committee
| Pastoral | School | Media | Finance | Admin. | Youth | Children | |||||||||
An organ gram gives an overview of what the organization looks like and how it functions. When the organization is small, a basic organ gram will paint a fairly complete picture, but as it grows, it soon becomes evident that several departmental.[20]
Step 3 List names of the people who can assist
List the names of people who are available to help. If we are planning the future of Cell we have every member available. If we are involved in a business the staff is available to assist and where necessary you may have to hire additional staff.[21]
We have strengths and weaknesses. Being involved in the areas of our strengths will always result in job satisfaction. Being forced to operate in the areas of our weaknesses will always bring frustration. However, with adequate training weaknesses can become strengths. List the groups of activities they are good at. Giving them such responsibilities will always bring out the best in them and will result in performance that will result in early achievement of goals and objectives.[22]
Step 4 Place People into Organ gram
In the above we would place the names of the District Pastors under Pastoral; the School Principal under School; the Manager of the media under Media; the Accountant under Finance; the Administrator under Admin; the Youth Pastor under Youth and the Children's Pastor under the Children. Place the names of the people in organ gram who will become the responsible people for the respective tasks. Once we know who is in organization and where they fit into the overall scheme.[23]
3. Provide training and job descriptions
3-1 Job description is Biblical
In any organization Job description are of vital importance, for in a job description clarity is given regarding the specific responsibility of each person in the organization. A job description is a document that describes four things: Responsibility, Authority, to who must I look for direction, which looks to me for direction.[24]
God gave a job description to MOSES. Exodus 3:1 -10.
God gave a job description to JOSEPH. Genesis 37:5 -11.
God gave a job description to ABRAHAM. Genesis 12:1 - 3.
God gave a job description to THE DISCIPLES. Matthew 28:19 - 20.
God gave a job description to THE APOSTLE PAUL. Acts 26:16 -19.
There are three foundation stones to a Job description
| Responsibility | Authority | Accountability |
| An Activity to be involved | The Right to carry out the possibility |
Liability to give an account |
Job Description should be rated as a formal agreement. It is an agreement between an employer and an employee, which amounts to a legal contract. Each party agrees to put something into it with a common goal in mind. In many Christian organizations and in Churches we face the additional problem of people holding honorary positions. These people hold down positions for which they do not receive remuneration and as a result they do not tend to give their full co-operation.[25]
3-2 How to compile a job description
Step 1: Suggest that the person reporting to draws up his own job description as an original draft.
Step 2: Spend some time together discussing this draft, endeavoring to agree on the contents, adding and deleting whatever is necessary.
Step 3: Have the final job description typed and filed in the employee's file.
This process could take several discussions but the outcome is vital to working relationship. These discussions will develop a commitment to and an understanding of what is expected of the person. It is important to note that the job description can only be viewed as a formal agreement after the person reporting to have agreed on its specific contents.[26]
The job description six important point need to be covered: Title, Purpose, Scope, Responsibilities, Level of authority, Relationship.
The Title
This should explain what the person does and what this is their position in the organization: Cell Leader, or Sales Manager or Janitor, etc.
The Purpose
This should be a concise summary of the job. For example, The Cell Leaders purpose is to care for a small group of church people; or The Sales Manager should manage the Sales Department; or The Janitor is to be caretaker of the building.
The Scope
The scope refers to the boundaries or parameters of the job. For example, The Cell Leader is appointed over four or five blocks in a suburb or over a block of flats; or The Sales Manager is given the responsibility for the sales of a company in a province or in the entire nation; or The Janitor is responsible only for the buildings or for the grounds as well.
The Responsibility
Here the specific responsibilities are listed. For the sake a clarity, first the broadest groupings of responsibilities should be listed, and then under each of these detailed responsibilities, explaining what must be done within that grouping, must be given. Because of each responsibility calls for a degree of authority, the next thing that needs to be described.[27]
4. Paying attention to UK charity law
4-1 UK charity law
It is not necessary for the charity's work to be carried out in England or Wales. There are also some types of charities that do not require registration.
Registering of Charities; it is duty to register organisations which are charitable in law. Registering of Charities encourage people who are thinking about setting up a charity to consider whether they should join up with an existing charity rather than create a new one, but Registering of Charities is not able to insist. Register of Charities have a responsibility to the public to ensure that we only register organisations which are established in good faith to further charitable and no other objects.[28]
To work out whether an organisation is charitable we have to look at what it has been set up to achieve (its "objects"), which are described in its "governing document" and, if necessary, how it will achieve it. If it is satisfied that the objects are exclusively charitable, using existing legal principles we will normally register the organisation as a charity and give it a registered number. Some charities are not allowed to register, and in some cases registration is optional.[29]
4-2 The advancement of religion
After an organisation has been entered onto the Register of Charities and then continue to monitor its activities by means of the annual returns and accounts which trustees of charities with a gross annual income or total expenditure over £10,000, have to send to charity. All charities (except those which are not allowed to register) are subject to our supervisory and investigative powers.
In general, no distinction is made between one religion and another. There is a general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit. For the advancement of religion to be charitable, a religion has to be founded on a belief in a supreme being or beings; and involve expression of that belief through worship.[30]
The advancement of religion can include the provision and upkeep of places of worship, paying ministers or priests, and holding services. In some cases the advancement of religion is not charitable. This is where public benefit is clearly lacking. Examples of this include organisations where the benefit is wholly private (such as an entirely enclosed religious order where the activities consist only of private prayer); and where an organisation is set up to promote the beliefs of a particular religion which undermine the accepted foundations of religion and morality, or are otherwise contrary to the public interest.
4-3 The main advantages are that charities
The main advantages are that charities do not normally have to pay income/corporation tax (in the case of some types of income), capital gains tax, or stamp duty, and gifts to charities are free of inheritance tax;
l Pay no more than 20% of normal business rates on the buildings which they use and occupy to further their charitable purposes;
l Can get special VAT treatment in some circumstances;
l Are often able to raise funds from the public, grant-making trusts and local government more easily than non-charitable bodies;
l Can formally represent and help to meet the needs of the community;
l Are able to give the public the assurance that they are being monitored and advised
Conclusion
Today’s church is facing greater challenges than any time since the century. We live in a nation experiencing rapid change and uncertainty in truth, security, community, family, morality, and doctrine. In fact, the current generation is starving for something that is spiritually relevant.[31] Somehow, our 21st century churches are going to have to figure a way to deliver Jesus Christ and biblical truth. God sometimes calls his people to build His kingdom by starting new churches, just as he did with the early apostles. It's a tough ministry, but integral to reaching new people. We will also find tips for what to do first, learn about common obstacles that often lead to failure, and get a checklist for evaluating a new facility.[32] To start a new church you need to take time to make sure both the administrative and spiritual bases are covered. One of the most exciting and rewarding things a church can do is start a new community. In the Churches of God, we use an assessment center to qualify potential ministry business manager.
Appendix
1. Charity Application Pack
To register your organization as a charity you will need to make a formal application to charity. It contains an application form; a trustee declaration form; and a copy of our advice on the responsibilities of trustees. The application form includes notes and asks applicants to provide as much information about their organization as possible. This will reduce the need for us to ask for further details about what your organization will do or how it will be run. We have also included some information about our "gateway" approach to applications.
The Pack is available in both English and Welsh from our contact centre 0845 300 0218 or can be downloaded from the links below (PDF), (but first you will need to have downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 5.0 or later).
(Application Pack)
APP 1 - Application For Registration as a Charity English PDF (132KB) | Welsh PDF (116KB)
DEC 1 - Declaration by Charity Trustees English PDF (53KB) | Welsh PDF (53KB)
CC3 - The Essential Trustee: What you need to know
List of Standard Governing Documents (English)
Model Governing Documents (English & Welsh)
2. Job description example
| NAME: | REV. 1. Kuyper Kim |
| 1. TITLE: | Pastor |
| 2. PURPOSE: | To shepherd a specific flock |
| 3. SCOPE: | suburbs of Brooklyn and Hatfieid |
| 4. | AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: | |
| A. | To shepherd the flock (This is the broad responsibility) | |
| 1 | Visitation (house and hospital visits.) | |
| 2 | Counselling, | |
| 3 | Conduct marriages, dedications and funerals. | |
| 4 | To promote youth and children's activities. | |
| 5 | To develop the congregation into a family. | |
| 6 | To encourage evangelism. | |
| 7 | To prepare new contacts for membership. | |
| AUTHORITY: Authority TO ACT. | ||
| These are detailed responsibilities. See 3:4 above. | ||
| B. To develop a leadership team. ( A broad responsibility.) | |
| 1 | Identify potential leaders in his flock. |
| 2 | Give them specific training and input. |
| 3 | Blend them into a leadership team. |
| 4 | Release them into leadership at the appropriate time. |
| 5 | Train them to train others. |
| These five points are the detailed responsibilities. | |
| AUTHORITY: In points 1,2,3 and 5, AUTHORITY TO ACT. In point 4, AUTHORITY TO ACT AND INFORM. | |
Bibliography
Adrian Sargeant, “Do UK Charities Have a Lot to Learn?”: An article from: Fund Raising Management, Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Books, 1998
Ahlen J Timothy and James V Thomas, One Church, Many Congregations: The Key Church Strategy, Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 1999
Bill Dodds, The Seeker's Guide to the Holy Spirit: Filling Your Life With Seven Gifts of Grace, Chicago, IL, Loyola Press, 2003
Conn M Harvie, Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality, Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Books, 1997
Elmer L Towns & Gary McIntosh, Evaluating The Church Growth Movement, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2004
Glenn McDonald, The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality, Grand Rapids, MI, Faith Work Publishing, 1994.
Lawrence T Slaght, A Single Board for Churches: Organizing for Action, Nashville, TN. Broadman Press, 1978.
Max Anders, New Christian's Handbook Everything New Believers Need To Know, Chicago, IL, Thomson Nelson Inc, 1999.
Millie Griswold, Job Descriptions of Christian Education Personnel, Nashville, TN, Broadman & Holman Publish 2004.
Robert H Welch, Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry, Nashville TN, Broadman& Holman Publisher, 1996.
Warren Bird, Starting a New Church: How to Plant a High-Impact Church, Grand New York, NY, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2003.
- Magazine Source -
William F Buclely ., "The Christian Century," in Christians Protest the war, Issue 124, Chicago, IL, Darling Publishers, 3 April 2007.
- Internet Source -
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc21.asp
http://www.bkclondon.com/sub3.htm?PHPSESSID=b30c39cc1d4ea72a902d77a5c1be3a06
[1] Conn M Harvie, Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality. Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Books, 1997, pp25-26
[2] Ibid., pp26-27
[3] Max Anders, New Christian's Handbook Everything New Believers Need To Know, Chicago, IL, Thomson Nelson Inc, 1999, p142
[4] Warren Bird, Starting a New Church: How to Plant a High-Impact Church, New York, NY, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2003, p2
[5] Robert H Welch, Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry, Nashville, TN, Broadman & Holman Publisher, 1996, p65
[6] Timothy, op. cit., pp24-26
[7] Welch, op. cit., p66
[8] Ibid., pp70-75
[9] Ibid., pp70-75
[10] Glenn McDonald, The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality, Grand Rapids, MI, Faith Work Publishing, 1994, p237
[11] Ibid., pp239
[12] Bill Dodds, The Seeker's Guide to the Holy Spirit: Filling Your Life With Seven Gifts of Grace, Chicago, IL, Loyola Press, 2003,
[13] Ibid., p9
[14] Ibid., pp9-29
[15] Elmer L Towns & Gary McIntosh, Evaluating The Church Growth Movement, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2004, p176.
[16] Ibid., pp29-32
[17] Harvie, op. cit., p26
[18] Lawrence T Slaght, A Single Board for Churches: Organizing for Action, Nashville, TN. Broadman Press, 1978, p42
[20] Ibid., pp50-59
[21] Ibid., p9
[22] Ibid., p9
[23] Ibid., p9
[24] Millie Griswold, Job descriptions of Christian Education Personnel, Nashville, TN, Broadman & Holman Publish, 2004, pp67-69
[25] Ibid., pp67-70
[26] Ibid., p90-97
[27] Ibid., p90-97
[28] Adrian Sargeant, “Do UK charities have a lot to learn?” :An article from: Fund Raising Management, Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Books, 1998, pp91-100
[29] Ibid., p90-97
[30] http://www.bkclondon.com/sub3.htm?PHPSESSID=b30c39cc1d4ea72a902d77a5c1be3a06
[31] William F Buclely ., "The Christian Century," in Christians Protest the war, Issue 124, Chicago, IL, Darling Publishers, 3 April 2007, p22
[32] Anders, op. cit., pp148-149