The Importance of Understanding the Administrative Side of Ministry

Understanding the administrative side of ministry is necessary for ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of church operations. Although spiritual leadership is vital, the Bible emphasizes the necessity of sound administrative practices. An example of this is found in Exodus 18:13-27, where Jethro advises Moses to assign responsibilities to individuals to prevent burnout and ensure effective control among the people. Also, Acts 6:1 - 7 describes how the early church appointed deacons to manage daily distributions, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching. These scriptures show us the importance of structured administration in supporting the spiritual mission of the church. Jesus emphasizes the importance of planning and accountability in Luke 14:28-30, where He speaks about counting the cost before undertaking a project. The Apostle Paul also stresses the need for integrity in handling church funds in 2 Corinthians 8:20-21. These scriptures verify that administrative tasks like budgeting, record-keeping, and compliance with legal obligations are not merely governmental duties but are necessary in honoring God and maintaining the trust of the congregation.

Ms. Hope, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that maintaining integrity within the ministry is important. At all times the leader should know what is happening within the church and the functions of the ministry. We cannot use the excuse that I do not know or understand and we are not trying to gain such understanding.

Really enjoyed reading your ideas Ms. Hope! One must really count the cost when taking on a church, because it is a business. We must take the time out to research, get advice and training before moving forward. Find out what it really takes in order to fully carry it out. We must also be about action and not just talk. Many people have the faith for a business but are too lazy or afraid to step out. The bible says in James 2:14, it says faith without works is dead. We must take the first step and partner with Holy Spirit to help us with the other things required to run it.

Hope you used such great examples of utilizing the administrative gifts in ministry. I particularly like the the example from Luke 14 on counting the cost. There is a business structure as outline by our government that we must follow. Being a good steward over people and finances is key as well as a wise person would never begin to build a house without everything needed or a means to pay for it. The administrative structure is a foundational structure of the church and should be treated with extreme importance.