TN126 The small-church administrator

First published on this website in October 2020 and last updated in September 2024

Synopsis

These notes call for fresh thinking on how the model of a paid Church Administrator needs to be adapted for small churches. The ‘small’ in the title refers to the church, not to the administrator, hence the hyphen!

We are used to the idea of a paid member of staff working from a church office which becomes the hub of church activity. But that does not work for most small churches. So, instead, the notes give seven different ways of thinking. Each is expressed in the format A rather than B.

1. Assistant rather than Administrator
2. 'Gofer' rather than Secretary
3. Responsibilities rather than tasks
4. Home rather than office
5. Flexible rather than fixed
6. Voluntary rather than paid
7. Limited rather than open-ended

There is then a final note on how to go about finding such a person with three possible areas to search: the congregation, the local community and other local churches.

These notes were updated in September 2024 with minor amendments to the text and layout.