We know that it requires a lot of resources (people, time, and money) to operate a ministry. Each of these resources is valuable and need to be protected. Particulary, a church needs to safeguard its financial resources against embezzlement.
I was saddened to read about a neighborhood church, where my kids used to attend youth events, being yet another victim of church embezzlement. Read the Full Article →
Performance appraisals are a tool used to manage employees and ensure ministry goals are achieved.
We have created an example of a church employee performance appraisal form to help get you started.
The first step in creating a positive evaluation is to ensure that you have well-trained managers, a structured process to document employee performance and to administer the annual performance appraisals. Read the Full Article →
The church is made up of a family of believers who come together to worship and grow in faith.
Similar to our natural families, a healthy church is comprised of members from many demographics.
The church wants the children because they are the future leaders. A healthy church also wants the elderly.
The oldest members remind us of where we have been, and how we would not be where we are without their tireless effort through decades of service. Read the Full Article →
Church strategic planning is an important part of the creation, development, and growth of a ministry.
Churches that are interested in growth are not exempt from planning.
Church planning helps the organization map out strategic steps to achieve its mission and vision.
Ministries can experience a level of success without a plan, but those who invest the time and resources into developing a specific strategy and plan can achieve success at a much quicker pace.
As church leaders, we strive to create healthy work environments that encourage and motivate employees.
However, experience has taught us that occasionally the behaviors of people don’t align with the biblical principles that we embrace.
Sometimes these behaviors are intentional, but often behaviors are unintentional – yet still concerning.
It is difficult to turn on the news without reading about a new sexual harassment or assault allegation. Read the Full Article →
Early in my career, office phones had to be answered by a live person or risk missing a phone call and losing a potential customer.
Back then, we would stagger lunch breaks and vacations to ensure someone was in the office during working hours to answer the telephone.
Things have really changed!
Fast forward to today when technology pretty much runs every aspect of our lives and telephones are no different. Read the Full Article →
I began my career at a time when talking about pay was a no-no.
No one knew what a coworker or the person down the hall made, and we accepted it.
I have to admit that sometimes I did wonder, but for the most part, I didn’t think about it.
My husband, on the other hand, worked in the trades where journeymen pay was the same for everyone. Read the Full Article →
Critical Success Factors are what organizations use to measure its success.
Whether you are managing a restaurant, non-profit organization, or a church, it is important to know that you are focusing on those things that help move the organization closer to achieving its mission.
Anyone who manages an organization understands how challenging it is to stop the day-to-day tasks and check to see how well the organization is performing. Read the Full Article →
I recently had an email from a reader asking “who should make church decisions”? This is a loaded, but great question!
Churches are like many other organizations in that people have opinions and can have strong feelings about how things are done.
The tensions that arise as a result of church decision making are healthy – but often challenging. Read the Full Article →
Churches are dependent on volunteer labor and wouldn’t be able to open their doors without an army of dedicated people who are committed to its mission.
Volunteers are what make the church and a church volunteer program ensures a great experience for this free labor force.
A volunteer program that is designed to manage volunteers helps to ensure that the people who give of their time will experience an efficient and customer friendly process.
