Church Staff

Church Staff provides practical, Bible-based guidance for pastors and ministry teams serving on church staff. Explore articles on staffing structures, role clarity, hiring and onboarding, communication, healthy collaboration, volunteer development, and leading with integrity. You’ll also find wisdom for managing workload, preventing burnout, navigating conflict, and strengthening staff culture so ministries stay aligned with the church’s mission. Whether you lead a team or serve in a support role, these resources aim to help church staff work well together and serve the congregation faithfully.

August 24, 2015

Christian Standard

Yes, We Hire Members of the Same Family to Serve on Our Church Staff

By Steve Reeves A megachurch minister with decades of experience explains why and how staff members” spouses and children””including his own son””serve together with him. I have been lead pastor at Connection Pointe Christian Church, Brownsburg, Indiana, for almost 29 years. When my wife and our three preschoolers moved here in July 1986, there was a paid youth minister and a church secretary. It proved to be a wonderful place to minister and an encouraging environment in which to raise our family. Life, church work, and family matters were much simpler when we arrived, although my wife probably wouldn”t use

July 9, 2015

Christian Standard

Unpaid but Accountable

By Jennifer Johnson Since its launch in September 2011, Mission Church in Ventura, CA, has grown from a small team of three families to more than 700 people and a large staff. But only six of those staff members are paid. The volunteer culture began with the launch of the church, when several members of the core team agreed to lead without receiving pay. “We have 16 people in our staff meetings, but only a few of them are paid by Mission,” says Jodi Hickerson, herself one of the volunteers. (She serves as programming director and preaches regularly.) “We have

February 19, 2015

Christian Standard

Significant Others

By Jennifer Johnson I have never liked team sports. I avoid group projects. I am a recovering perfectionist who highly values competence and who has found that the quality of an endeavor is often inversely proportional to the number of people involved. Unless I can handpick my team (and, often, be in charge of it), I usually resonate with Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, who said the key advantage of collaboration is that “you end up with something for which you will not be personally blamed.” But God designed the universe to reward teamwork, even to require

August 12, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

Four T”s for Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers

By Mark A. Taylor In many places, the first day of the new school year is on the horizon, if it hasn”t occurred already. And the local church”s Bible-teaching program is ready to gear-up too. A new season of classes, youth groups, children”s choirs, and small groups usually brings a flurry of worker recruitment. Some churches, unfortunately and ineffectively, will post “help-wanted” ads in church newsletters or make impassioned pleas from the pulpit for nursery workers and children”s teachers. But while support from the preacher can be a vital ingredient in worker recruitment, asking everyone is never as effective as

June 17, 2013

Christian Standard

Keepers

By Eddie Lowen   When staff members demonstrate these qualities, hang on to them. “Would you hire him again?” The question was asked by the lead pastor of a faraway church who was deep into the process of hiring away one of our ministers. After I answered, there was an awkward pause, and then he asked, “Are you serious?” Hiring staff is an intimidating responsibility for senior leaders of churches. While there aren”t many horrible people in ministry, there are plenty you don”t want. They survive by knowing how to talk a good game. So, be afraid””be very afraid””afraid enough, at

July 8, 2012

Christian Standard

How a Good Team Is Getting Better

By Barton Shaw This is my sixth year serving as an elder in our church, Eastview Christian Church, Normal, Illinois, and I can honestly say it is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles I have. Over the years, I have had the pleasure to serve with 14 other men””all of them godly and devoted Christ followers whom I deeply respect. Though we are united in a common love for the church, it probably comes as no surprise that we are a collection of men from different stages of life with varied careers, temperaments, and perspectives. This is a

February 1, 2012

Christian Standard

The Homes Where Preachers Live

By Mark A. Taylor Most of us have heard stories or read books about preacher”s kids gone bad. We know about unwed pregnancies, unsavory addictions, and other unwise choices among young people who grew up in a parsonage. Without a doubt, the preacher”s home may face unique pressure and scrutiny. That”s why it”s appropriate for us to dedicate several posts to the problems and possibilities shared only by preacher”s kids. But I”m glad to say this week we present far more of the latter than the former. All these articles were written by preacher”s kids who are happy about their

January 6, 2010

Mark A. Taylor

Why Play Matters

All Work and No Play?

Why Play Matters for Children, Work, and Ministry Mark A. Taylor reflects on research and reporting that connect boredom, play, creativity, and healthier relationships. Drawing from insights about children, engineers, and church leaders, he considers whether playful space may help adults work and serve together better. Boredom can give children room to think, create, and solve problems. Play may strengthen creativity, memory, problem-solving, and workplace relationships. Church staff and leaders may benefit from unstructured time that builds trust. By Mark A. Taylor “The brain in its relaxed state is more creative, makes more nuanced connections and is ripe for eureka

Be Seen, Be Heard - A Live Online Workshop to Increase Online Visibility for Local Churches
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be seen be heard online visibility workshop for churches by christian standard

Learn how to make the Sermon Content you’re already producing draw people into your local church.

For preachers, church media and website teams, and anyone who’d like to learn how to increase the visibility of their local church online.

 


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