Employ, manage church personnel the right way

The work of the personnel team is among the most important tasks in any church, and accordingly, members of the group must be chosen carefully, according to Chip Smith, associate in the office of LeaderCare and church administration for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).

“The personnel team is 1 of the 4 major committees that should be included in the church’s bylaws along with property and space, nominating and stewardship,” Smith said during the Sept. 10 “Church Personnel: Managing and Employing” conference in Montgomery. 

“Their work is vital, so the members should be objective, cooperative and good communicators. They should also be sympathetic listeners. Sometimes what they hear might seem trivial, but these matters may be important to someone employed by the church.”

Rotating teams

Smith recommended members of the personnel team serve set terms and new members rotate on the team as a way of sharing responsibility and power. 

“There are different models for supervision but generally the team works with the pastor in supervising the paid staff. Job descriptions for all workers should be written. Employees should know to whom they’re accountable and who has the authority to terminate.”

Sample job descriptions are available from the office of LeaderCare and church administration.

Churches also should institute annual job reviews for the staff. Smith said reviews could be done more frequently for newer staff, but that an annual review is a must.

“This is a good time to voice areas in the employee’s work assignment that need improvement,” he said.

Smith said termination is the least appealing of the team’s possible duties but sometimes it is necessary.

“Termination should never be a surprise,” Smith said. “The disciplinary measures taken should be carefully documented and there should always be another person present as a witness when termination is given.”

Smith recommended that churches be generous with severance and that care should be taken with church-owned housing.

He also offered a number of models for hiring additional staff based on resident membership, worship attendance and budget. For more information, contact Smith at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 342, or csmith@alsbom.org.