3 Signs of Good Church Management

I remember receiving a Connection Card from a first-time guest. I was not present at the time it was filled out, and I never met the person.

She had indicated on the card that she had been recently divorced. This wasn't a selection on the card; she wrote it in the margin on the card. She also said she was looking for a church. I was moved as I read this card. I didn't know who she was, but I felt honored that she had entrusted this personal info she shared, and I stopped to imagine what her situation might be like.

Naassom Azevedo

I remember receiving what we called a Connection Card from a first-time guest. I was not present at the time it was filled out, and I never met the person.

She had indicated on the card that she had been recently divorced. This wasn't a selection on the card; she wrote it in the margin on the card. She also said she was looking for a church. I was moved as I read this card. I didn't know who she was, but I felt honored that she had entrusted this personal info she shared, and I stopped to imagine what her situation might be like.

Information management in today's world is hugely critical. When someone offers just a little info like this person, they provide us with a snapshot into their life. Managing this information well is good stewardship, caring for the people God has entrusted to you. So how do you ensure healthy people data management?

How well is your church doing in this area? Here are a few simple thoughts to help you get started with a healthy self-evaluation.

On Valuing Accuracy
You look up a person to get their address or phone number, only to find the person had moved a year or two ago. You send a birthday greeting using their info in your church management system, but you learn their birthday was last month.

When things like this happen, you begin to question what's accurate and what's not, right? Inaccuracy erodes the integrity of any data system, and your church management system is no different.

Above all else, value accuracy. It is the foundation of your management system. Doing so will lead you to establish defined best practices. Maybe you've centralized the responsibility of creating and editing people's profiles. You've assigned to one person the responsibility of creating and updating people's profiles. In a small church, this can work, but it can soon get away from you in a larger church. In this case, consider decentralizing the action, establish a best practice, and train more people on your team. Valuing accuracy means that anyone with access makes a change when they learn of info that needs to be updated.

On True Ownership
I have said for years that when everyone owns something, nobody owns it. When everyone owns your church management system, nobody is designated for its upkeep. No one person typically steps up to steward your church's data consistently.

I submit that there has to be a champion -- a standard-bearer. This person has to be appointed. This person should have authority in addition to responsibility. They establish best practices for your team to support the value of accuracy. They are responsible for continuing education and training. They set the standards and define protocol and procedures. When the system is updated, they train those who are impacted by the changes.

Owning the information you've been entrusted with means appointing someone to take on true ownership. When you do, others on your team will align themselves and share the burden of faithful stewardship.

On How Well You Know Your People
Pastors rarely step into the ministry role to shepherd an administrative process. But as a church grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to know everyone. So, the best chance a pastor has at becoming at least familiar with his flock is through the personal data they provide you with.

You can get to know a person to some degree by the information they offer.

• How long a person has attended the church or when they became a member
• When their wedding anniversary or birthday is
• When they experienced a traumatic incident or overcame severe adversity
• When their spouse died
• When a child died
• hen they finished a discipleship class
• What small group they attend

Data like this is invaluable when the congregation becomes too large for face-to-face relationships with each person. The more value you place the data you have will determine the level of care you and your pastoral team can maintain as you grow.

So, how are you doing? Let us know in the comments below. We at ChurchCom Solutions want to help your church any way we can in evaluating, selecting, developing, and/or implementing a management system and process. Let us know how we can help you.