The Church Administrator Bean Counter or Much More?

An administrator is one who is involved in: the act or process of administering, especially the management of a large institution; the group of people who manage or direct an institution, especially a school, church or college; the term of office of an executive officer or body; the dispensing, applying, or tendering of something, such as an oath, a sacrament, medicine or a ministry.

In smaller churches, often pastors are forced into the position of church administrator. This fits some pastors well, as they have the gift of administration. Many pastors, regardless of the quality of their training, simply do not have the gift of administration. In a small church this might be moot, but as the church grows it can become very important.

Lack of administrative skills on the part of a pastor can result in poor growth, a lack of stability, financial difficulties, hostility among the members of the congregation and the loss of membership and attendance.

Administration is not something that can be surmised or absorbed by someone who is not skilled, trained nor gifted in it. That is not derogatory; it is just the way it is. An administrator can look at a church and determine immediately whether it is being administered properly.

Sometimes the gift of administration is assumed to be the ability to oversee financial matters in the church. That is included, but is a small (but important) part of what an administrator does. The spiritual gift of administration is the ability to steer a church toward the fulfillment of its goals by managing its affairs and implementing necessary plans. A person may have the gift of leadership without the gift of administration.

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of administration is Kubernesis. It is found in I Corinthians 12:28 and is alluded to in I Corinthians 14:40. This is a unique term that refers to a shipmaster or captain. The literal meaning is "to steer," or "to rule or govern." It carries the idea of someone who guides and directs a group of people toward a goal or destination in an orderly way. We see variations of this word in verses like Acts 27:11, Romans 12:8c and Revelation 18:17.

In the church, the gift of administration is the God-given ability to give direction to others that result in efficient operation and accomplishment of goals. Administration includes the ability to organize people, things, information, finances, etc. Often the mark of an administrator is the ability to accomplish things in a "fitting and orderly way." The person in the Bible who personifies the profile of an administrator best is Nehemiah. He was the organizer of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Typically, a church administrator exhibits a desire to organize; helps bring order out of chaos; is task oriented; values efficiency and promptness and works well with ministry leaders as well as spreadsheets, budgets, organizational charts and software, files.

There are certain attributes necessary for proper church administration. A few pastors have these attributes, but not many. Here are the main characteristics of a good church administrator.

A person with the gift of administration will have the ability to see the overall picture. He can visualize a project or ministry from beginning to end. He knows how it fits the church’s objective and what resources are needed to facilitate the project.

Self-motivation is a characteristic of a good church administrator.  He has the ability to “dig in” and develop or organize what he’s charge of. The natural motivation is there – a creative desire to take what’s available and produce something that’s never been before – like organizing an office, setting up a committee, or developing a project. And in organizing they have the ability to break down major goals into smaller, achievable tasks.

Administrators must have the ability to delegate. Once an administrator sets his focus and begins to see the resources, he checks the resource of people and begins to put these people to work. He sees what jobs need to be done and finds out who can do them well. He knows what can or cannot be delegated.

Because of keen respect for authority, the administrator will never deliberately usurp authority. Therefore, in any situation where authority exists, the administrator won’t try to move in to utilize his skills, no matter how much they’re needed, unless someone in authority asks him to do so.

Changes are often difficult for church members. Change for change’s sake, therefore is not good. But change for the better is good, and a good administrator knows the difference. He also knows how to effectively implement the change with the least resistance. Often this characteristic revolves around his ability to meaningfully communicate the need skillfully and completely. In fact, effective communication is the hallmark of a good administrator.

Fulfillment, for the good church administrator, comes from seeing others fulfill their ministries and by watching them enjoy the satisfaction of a finished project or ministry. The administrator’s heart doesn’t worry about getting credit for accomplishments. He sees success as a collective achievement. He’s the one to say, “None of this could’ve happened if it hadn’t been for the excellent work of my associates.”

Once a person with the gift of administration has accomplished a goal, he’s ready to go after something else. The administrator’s work is never done. There is always something more God has for the church.

A good pastor or church leader will recognize his own gifts. If those gifts don’t include the gift of administration, a good pastor will seek someone who can serve alongside him who can do the work of a church administrator.