HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR MINISTRY
Webster’s Dictionary defines to organize as: “To put together into an orderly, functional, structured whole. To arrange in a coherent form; systematize. To arrange in a desired pattern or structure. To arrange systematically for harmonious or united action.”
Once the planning process of setting objectives and goals has been completed, the next step is to organize the work. The way to do this is to ask key questions of each ministry goal. The questions should be: Who is responsible for this project? What materials will be needed? How much money is needed for it? When will the project begin and when will it be completed?
A look at the above paragraph shows that men, money, materials and minutes are the assets needed, and they must be properly organized to complete the task in the most efficient manner.
I believe an organizational chart should be created for the entire church. Each position on it must show the ministry title and the name of the person for that position. The lines between the boxes are a language to let you know who each person reports to and what authority they have, if any. The chart gives you a complete picture of the church, what its ministries are and who is responsible for every ministry. A glance at this will remove the ministerial fog that so often obscures ones vision of what their church should be about.
Remember, your chart should be built on your ministry objectives and not on the existing organization. You may shoot an arrow into the wall and then draw a target around it. It does not prove that you are a good archer. Likewise, by drawing a chart around your existing ministries does not mean that you have planned or that you are doing the right things.
So, the first thing is to plan your ministry with an annual planning conference, then create your organization from those plans. The reason many churches are a train wreck and the people are confused is poor planning or no planning. A carpenter friend of mine said, “It is better to measure twice and cut once than to measure once and cut twice. So, measure your ministry and make a clear cut distinction with a good organization.
If you would like more information on this subject, please let me know.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.