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Job Descriptions in the Church?

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One complaint I have heard repeatedly about the church is that too often it is run like a business. Suggesting the use of job descriptions might further serve to support that claim. Some will change the wording to “ministry” descriptions to make it sound less business-like. But, it will take more than a name change to move away from this perception. Since both terms are used in churches, you’ll find an interchange throughout these posts.

Benefits of Job Descriptions

Job DescriptionsTo determine the validity of using job descriptions in the church, perhaps we can look at the practical side.

  1. They are useful as a guide in the recruiting process to help you look for the right person.
  2. They let people know what is expected of them if they accept a position.
  3. They provide a sense of accountability, giving something against which to measure oneself.
  4. They serve as a tool for staff evaluations to help the person better serve or perhaps determine if they would be best suited elsewhere.
  5. They can be used as a training tool. Read an example: Using Ministry Job Descriptions in Teacher Training

Certainly these don’t appear to be ungodly uses for ministry descriptions, particularly if their usage in these ways is bathed in prayer.

Development of Job Descriptions

You can purchase a book like The Big Book of Job Descriptions for Ministry for ready-to-use job or ministry descriptions. (Clicking on the link will take you to one of our affiliate stores.) Such resources are great for saving time but do they really fit what God wants to do in your local church? Is God into the “cookie-cutter” approach? I strongly recommend using resources like that merely as a guide.

Instead, . . .

  • Tailor the job descriptions to your particular church or ministry needs.
  • Make them reflect what you believe about God’s purposes for your church, body life, the Great Commission, and the like … the basics covered on this site for leaders that should be brought into consideration in all you do.

As we proceed with this topic in the practicum, we will develop a ministry description template that will grow out of these basics. You can subscribe to receive e-mail notice of new posts so you don’t miss what is to come.

All Posts about Job Descriptions:

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4 Replies to “Job Descriptions in the Church?”

  1. Giving thanks today that you’re using your skills and “gifts” to help us all.
    I love seeing the “body” work together to make a whole!

    • I appreciate your encouraging words, Linda. God’s intent is that every part of the Body does have a part that contributes to the whole (Eph. 4:16). In Him we can impact each other’s lives even though we don’t even know one another. Praise God!

    • Various denominations have different ways of looking at the role of an overseer and the qualifications for someone in that role. Some would require ordination and others would not. Consequently, I cannot give you an answer for your situation. I would suggest you check with the leadership of the church with which you are associated. I can, however, provide some guidelines right from God’s Word.

      Titus 1:7 refers to an overseer as one who “manages God’s household.” The wording suggests that an overseer manages in the sense of being a steward to the owner, who is God. Titus 1:9 adds the responsibility to “ecourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it”, hence making an overseer a guardian, so to speak, of truth. 1 Timothy 3:5 says an overseer is one who takes “care of God’s church” in the sense of providing for its needs. These passages spend more time on the qualifications of someone in that role than the actual responsibilities. You will notice that the qualifications pertain more to character.

      If we turn to 1 Peter 5:1-3, we find the role of overseers as “shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them” (the verb form of the Greek word for overseer). In that passage we read that they are not to be “lording it over those entrusted” to them. Again, we see that concept of stewardship. And, they are to be “examples to the flock.”

      Let me give you some articles that could be helpful:

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