Church Administration Handbook
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
What’s new about this third edition of the long respected and often used Church Administration Handbook? In addition to time and technological-sensitive updates to the basic organizational details, editor Bruce Powers writes:
“The needs of people and churches have continued to change, with questions now being raised about the quality of congregational life, nature of leadership, and responsibility for ministry among all believers . . . As we have prepared this edition, we have sought to address five primary needs.
1. Leadership skills and administrative tools that can be adapted for use in a variety of contexts from traditional to contemporary, from rural to urban, and from unicultural to multicultural settings;
2. Spiritual formation that relates to all of life (from birth to death);
3. Mission consciousness (in community, regionally, nationally, and globally);
4. Ministry of all believers (particularly calling out and equipping vocational, bivocational, and lay ministers); and
5. Leadership competence (the ability to inspire, motivate, and equip the saints for the work of ministry).”
- Deals with leading and transforming those within the congregation, as well as those who live in or participate in the life of the community or parish
- Moves sequentially through three broad categories on how a minister: 1) relates to organizations and people, 2) performs administrative functions, and 3) develops leadership and ministry skills.
- Seeks to guide church leaders and students into a commitment to the mission of the church in every facet of life and to equip them with theological understanding and administrative sills
Top Highlights
“What are we trying to do to people? The bottom line is that we want people to come to faith, grow in faith, serve in faith, and live in faith—just as Jesus taught. The primary job of ministers and of the congregation is to (1) bring people to Jesus Christ, and (2) help them grow in his likeness. As described in Eph 4:11–13, the task of church leaders is to equip, or prepare, God’s people for the work of Christian service.” (Page 7)
“But what is the life and work of the church? It is the same as God’s call to all Christians: to be his people and to continue the earthly ministry of Jesus.” (Page 6)
“People work out of meaning perspectives, frames of reference that serve as a (usually tacit) belief” (Page 15)
“A church is successful when members of the congregation are growing in faith as the body of Christ, in all ways unto him, and disciples are discovering, developing, and using their gifts in Christian service within the body, in the community, and in partnership with other believers around the world.” (Page 13)
“The first shifts came as churches began to insist that their ministers be prepared not only to know and preach the Bible but also to work effectively in the areas of leadership, administration, and education.” (Page xiii)