Reflecting on your pastoral work, what tasks do you truly enjoy and feel most competent in? What aspects do you enjoy least? Are there responsibilities you feel are necessary but not Kingdom-related? As pastors, we may find administration to be a distraction from what we consider real Kingdom endeavors. Let’s explore the place and importance of administration in pastoral ministry.
What do we mean by administration? – For some, administration refers to clerical tasks such as filing, answering the phone, scheduling appointments – things an administrative assistant would do. In this post, however, administration refers to the business of the church. In using this term, I mean such things as church finances, policies and procedures, legal obligations, personnel issues, property concerns, and other “nuts and bolts” of keeping things running.
Is administration inherently un-spiritual and opposed to Kingdom work? – Within healthy churches, good systems are part of effective church work, and administration has to do with systems and support structures. Additionally, Scripture teaches us God values and uses order, and we see many examples of order and structure in the Bible. Administration can bring orderliness that increases our efficiency and effectiveness in Kingdom work. Additionally, when we think of the administrative tasks surrounding things like good accounting and safety, the well-being of people and the witness of Christ are at stake. This makes administration an inherently spiritual area of work and a form of worship as we glorify God by taking good care of His business. Conversely, it is possible for administration to hinder Kingdom work. We may hide in administrative tasks – shaping and re-shaping plans – to avoid work with intangible ministry results or to avoid difficult situations or relationships in the church. Thus, rightly executed, administrative work furthers the Kingdom, and wrongly executed, it is a hindrance.
What is the relationship of administration to disciple-making and equipping? – I would suggest an intentional approach to disciple-making and equipping people for ministry is more effective than an unexamined, unplanned, and haphazard approach. Administration should involve plans, indicators of success, and built-in evaluation and correction so we can be intentional and effective in our work with God’s people and our efforts to reach the lost.
Administration through the lens of shepherding – A common and Biblical way of thinking about pastoral ministry is through the lens of shepherding, and shepherding involves leading, feeding, and protecting the sheep. Shepherding does involve building trust and discipling people in relational contact, as well as feeding them the truth of God’s Word. However, making sure the work is done in an orderly way requires organization, and more so the larger the flock becomes. Additionally, as we think about the protecting function and the ways in which church policies and procedures protect people and our witness, it is not hard to see that administration is shepherding work.
Administration and your legal responsibility – As Baptist pastors, we find ourselves in a tenuous legal position. This is because most Baptist churches use congregational governance, but the law does not understand Baptist polity or function as if the church is congregationally-governed. Despite your relative lack of authority and the extent to which decisions may be made without your leadership, you, as the pastor, are responsible for the actions of and in the church. A friend who is a church administration expert with our local association has informed me that, in the event of a legal issue, a church pastor will be scrutinized and held responsible even if that individual is not listed with the state as a person of record for the church. The law holds you responsible, so you cannot neglect administrative work in your church.
Administration in your context – Obviously, every church is different in how it relates to its pastor in terms of its business. Church size, church policy and governing documents, and experiences with previous pastors all affect how a church receives or resists your administrative involvement. Let me make a few practical suggestions for approaching administration in your church.
Familiarize yourself with your church’s governing documents. If anything ever goes to court, the judge will look at whether or not you functioned in accordance with them.
Stay aware of laws and regulations that concern your church.
Lead your church to abide by its governing documents and the counsel of Scripture. The Word is our guide, and gentle teaching and coaching questions can help people understand and follow Biblical and legal guidelines.
If necessary, draw on outside experts for counsel in administrative matters. There are times when the church and lay leaders will listen to others better than to you.
Build relationships with influencers, officers, and committee chairs so you are “in the loop” and have influence with them.
Distinguish between administrative issues that are matters of personal preference versus issues of Biblical truth, ethical responsibility, legal demands, and the well-being of your members and Kingdom work.
Document steps you take on important issues.
Learn to see administration as a form of worship and a means of advancing the Kingdom.