IMPACT OF CHURCH ADMINISTRATION ON EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CHURCH

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background of the Study

Administration in the 21st-century church is critical for doing effective ministry. You don't have to travel too far back in time to identify what would have been considered a typical church. It was small in numbers and size and limited to spiritual functions. That was fine, and it met the needs of that day.

However, today is a new day. The needs that are brought to the church are complex and varied. The church has to offer more than a sanctuary and a sermon.

The 21st-century church has been catapulted into arenas that were hardly accessed a few years ago. It now offers so much more than just a sanctuary and a sermon. The 21st-century church is now a conglomerate, offering all the spiritual help it should and so much more. Examples include day care centers, grade schools, high schools, training institutes, youth organizations, senior citizen programs, help for coping with divorce, drug rehabilitation, vocational training, ministry to the incarcerated, anger management, ministering to those with HIV/AIDS, economic development, working with the homeless or business incubators, just to mention a few.

All of these facets require qualified personnel to run them; qualified personnel require human resources and business management; and human resources and business management require the application of state and federal rules and regulations. Someone has to be a steward of the interest of the church and its leadership. In growing churches, it often becomes important that someone other than the pastor be able to respond to the many issues that occur on a daily basis.

This person ensures that the direction set by the pastor is implemented, and that there is accountability. The pastor certainly cannot do it all. This is where the role of church administrator becomes so important. He or she is the valuable liaison between the pastor, the staff and the membership.

The administrator has to have a corporate view and treat the church like a Fortune 500 company, no matter what the church's size. For so long, the local church has been run in a haphazard manner. Often, the leadership tries to avoid becoming worldly, or losing spirituality. Those left in charge shy away from any practices that appear too businesslike. But this mind-set is extremely detrimental to the growth and success of the church as well as its varied outreaches and programs.

The church administrator has to understand that the church must be run like an efficient organization. While the church is an organism--a living, breathing thing established by God and left to affect this world--it still must be organized in order to be completely effective and maintain integrity in business. The administrator should have the business savvy to deal with the complex nature of the 21st-century church.

A church administrator has to have a well-rounded business background on one hand, yet have a strong ability to integrate that information into the uniqueness of the church environment. He or she should have experience dealing with human resource management, risk management, budgeting, purchasing, local government issues, land acquisition and building programs, to name a few.

The administrator acts as a liaison between the pastor, the congregation and the staff. Because of this, he or she should have excellent communication skills. Many churches have experienced devastating events, all due to a lack of people-to-people communication. Not letting the congregation or the staff know what is going on, or not listening to the church people and staff, only leads to problems.

Church administrators must be excellent communicators and listeners. Misinformation, inappropriate information, or even too much information, can be a hindrance to the development and functioning of the organization. If a church administrator follows the biblical principles that have been laid out for us in the Word of God, there will be less communication problems, less time wasted and less money spent when money is not the answer.

1. 1. Statement of the Problem

The challenges of church administration in the effective management of a church cannot be over looked. Most churches, both big and small are faced with administrative challenges as most of the administrators are either the pastors themselves or voluntary members of the church. Church administrators are often loaded with almost all the church functions and this can be very cumbersome.

1. 1. Objectives of the Study
2. To evaluate the impact of church administration on effective management of church.
3. To know whether effective management of a church impacts on the growth of a church.
4. To find suitable administrative strategy for church effective management.
   1. Research Questions

1. What is the impact of church administration on effective management of church?
2. Does effective management of a church impact on the growth of a church?
3. What is the suitable administrative strategy for church effective management?

1.5   Research Hypotheses

Ho: There is no significant impact of church administration on effective management of church.

Hi: There is significant impact of church administration on effective management of church.

1.6   Significance of the Study

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this topic and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a bench mark or guide for other work or study.

1.7   Scope/Limitations of the Study

This study is on the impact of church administration on effective management of church.

Limitations of study

1. Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
2. Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8   Definition of Terms

Church: A building for public and especially Christian worship, the clergy or officialdom of a religious body.

Administration: The role of an administrator in today's church is important and essential, whether it's on a volunteer, part-time or full-time basis.