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Effective church management is the appropriate administration of church resources (people, time, and money).
Some are resistant to labeling church management as a business function.
However, whenever people and money are involved, there needs to be structured business practices to ensure that church resources are managed appropriately.
Churches are unique because they rely on (tax-exempt) donations from members to exist and have a responsibility to be good stewards of those resources.
The ability to manage church resources effectively depends on the ministry’s process for overseeing church operations.
Therefore, a church is only as effective and efficient as the systems and processes by which it operates.
9 Keys to Effective Church Management
1. Church Board Governance
Most churches are organized as a 501(c)(3) organization.
This type of tax exemption comes with IRS requirements. One of those requirements is board governance.
The board is responsible for ministry oversight and the proper management of church resources.
Effective board governance lays the groundwork for efficient church management by directing and holding church leaders accountable for proper oversight of resources.
This includes oversight of the ministry budget, capital expenditures, legal compliance, and managing the risks associated with church operations.
Effective boards are diverse in membership and have representatives from business or legal backgrounds to ensure a broad perspective and proper documentation of board documents.
2. Church Strategy
Church growth is the result of a carefully considered church strategy and plan.
The process begins when a church creates a vision, mission, and values statement, which is then implemented through a focused strategic plan.
This structured planning process enables the organization to establish performance targets and outlines the steps to achieve its mission and purpose.
For instance, if your church has a passion for supporting the underserved in your community, a strategy and plan can help your church fulfill that passion.
3. Church Goal Setting
Church strategy implementation depends on how well goals are developed, tracked, and achieved.
Goal setting can be a time-consuming process.
Write SMART goals, and create a structured performance management process to help ensure focus and timely completion of church goals that support its mission.
For instance, create goal documents that identify – what (needs to be done), who (will do it), how (it will be done), and when (the goal is due).
A goal document provides a visual for getting it done and holding responsible persons accountable for their job assignments.
4. Budgeting Process
Churches have limited resources, so they need a structured budgeting process to identify expenditure requirements and prioritization of church spending.
A church budget takes its strategy and helps prioritize spending to support initiatives that align with the church’s mission.
For instance, let’s say you have a strategic objective to develop a feeding program in your community. A church budget would allocate resources to support that outreach.
A budget provides the necessary financial resources needed for the day-to-day operations, church programs, and unexpected building or campus repairs.
Saving for the new building or land acquisition is also an important aspect of the budgeting process.
5. Managing How Work Gets Done
Strategy and goal completion is only as effective as the process that manages it.
A structured process to monitor goal completion holds people accountable and supports the implementation of strategy.
Whether it is church employees, volunteers, or a subcommittee of the board, completing goals, as written, on time is crucial to a church’s ability to achieve its mission.
For instance, let’s say your personnel committee has a goal to write job descriptions for all employees and volunteers; someone would be responsible for managing that process to ensure the assignment gets completed as requested.
6. Facilities Management
Visitors and members appreciate gathering in a clean, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
Consequently, whether a church rents temporary building space or has a full-blown campus, managing the upkeep and maintenance of ministry facilities is crucial.
Buildings require routine cleaning, maintenance, and repair.
For instance, create a scheduled maintenance plan to ensure the building is in good working order and provides a comfortable environment for members and guests.
7. Employee Support
Employees work for a church because they are passionate about the church and feel called to help.
Church employees often work with limited resources and rely on volunteer labor to accomplish their tasks.
Support employees by clearly defining job expectations, providing the necessary resources to complete the job, and recognizing and rewarding their efforts.
For instance, let’s say you give an employee responsibility for maintaining the church building, make sure they have the necessary supplies and equipment to get the job done.
8. Volunteer Support
Churches rely heavily on volunteer labor. This free labor force volunteers freely because of a passion for the church.
Effective volunteer management creates a seamless process for recruiting, placing, training, and overseeing volunteer labor.
For instance, create a volunteer orientation process that helps volunteers acclimate to their new role and trains them on the expected behaviors.
Volunteers offset labor costs. Provide a customer-friendly volunteer experience to ensure an efficient and effective volunteer program.
9. Legal and Risk Management
Churches need to manage their risks and ensure compliance with relevant governing laws.
A ministry needs to understand its risks and be proactive in minimizing exposure.
For instance, Campus safety and volunteer screening are examples of church-related risks.
Manage these risks by understanding legal requirements and being aware of campus safety measures.
Size Does Not Matter
Whether a church has a congregation of 100 or 10,000, effective church management is essential for ensuring the good stewardship of the resources God provides.
Setting the direction by developing a strategy, goal development, and strong performance can go a long way in helping a church achieve all that God has called it to.
How effective is your church management?
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