Church Administration Theology and Time Management

What’s distinctive about church administration? We will examine this crucial question by establishing why theology should matter in church admin. First, we will introduce the course by delineating our overall theological approach to church administration, namely, appropriating management tools as a means to achieving theological ends of church admin. Then, we will draw upon Stanley Hauerwas’s insights on Christian ethics to unpack why church admin constitutes church practices and what this means for its theological goals and stewardship. Closer to home, you’ll poll people in your church to discover their perceptions of “theology” and “church administration.” In doing so, you will better appreciate why Hauerwas’s critiques and insights are relevant for your church. Lastly, we’ll take some time to make sure you have a clear picture of how this course works and where it fits in the Church Administration Specialization.

How important should church admin be to your pastoral role and leadership? To address this question, we will begin by looking at the wisdom of the early church to glean what characterized effective church leadership. We will then examine why church admin is critical to pastoral leadership and competence and, therefore, why it’s crucial for your pastoral credibility, trust, and authority. As an important course assignment, you will identify your key pastoral priorities as the basis for a clear, shared understanding with your church leadership team.

Given the theological foundations of church admin from Weeks 1 and 2, we turn to a concrete application of your time management. Time is one of the most precious resources we have, and in particular for pastors (and lay leaders), time management perennially ranks as a top ministry challenge. This week, you will learn key time management principles, a theology of time stewardship, and how these principles can be used as a tool for stewardship of time. Correlatively, you will examine how you actually spend your time and develop a plan to better steward the time God has given you.