Church Administration
This course introduces students to the principles of church administration and non-profit management. It focuses on:
- Management and leadership in church settings
- Administrative structures and systems
- Financial and legal responsibilities
Key areas include:
- Church governance and leadership
- Organisational management
- Financial administration
- Legal issues in ministry
The course applies a problem-solving approach to real-world church management challenges and leadership responsibilities.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to church administration and the management of non-profit organisations. It equips students with management principles, procedures, and practical techniques for leading churches effectively.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will:
- Apply biblical principles (especially from Pauline letters) to church administration
- Understand roles of pastors, boards, and officers in financial management
- Apply management and administrative theories
- Improve church operational effectiveness through structured systems
Course Content
A. Introduction
- Church administration (definitions, theology, theory)
- Pauline pastoral epistles
B. Legal Matters
- Legal status of churches
- Non-profit organisation management
C. Governance
- Headship of Christ
- Church polity and structure
D. Leadership
- Leadership theories and styles
- Team ministry
- Leadership qualities
E. Management
- Administrative structures and systems
- Strategic planning
- Human resource management
- Financial management (budgeting, accounting, reporting)
F. Open Forum
- Teamwork discussions
- Financial fraud in churches
Mode of Delivery
- Lectures
- Demonstrations
- Class interaction
- Group discussions
- Assignments
Reading Materials
- Batts ? Church Finance
- Donnellan and Naumann ? Church Management Guide
- London and Boatright ? Church Accounting
- Malphurs ? Strategic Planning for Ministry
- Robert ? Robert's Rules of Order
- Welch ? Church Administration
Evaluation
- Examinations: 60%
- Coursework and continuous assessment: 40%
- Additional: Quizzes, term papers, participation, field reports
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Church Administration |
| 2 | Biblical Foundations ? Pauline Epistles |
| 3 | Legal Frameworks for Churches |
| 4 | Church Governance and Polity |
| 5 | Leadership Theories and Styles |
| 6 | Team Ministry and Leadership Qualities |
| 7 | Mid-term Review |
| 8 | Administrative Structures and Systems |
| 9 | Strategic Planning |
| 10 | Human Resource Management |
| 11 | Financial Management ? Budgeting and Accounting |
| 12 | Financial Reporting and Accountability |
| 13 | Financial Fraud in Churches ? Open Forum |
| 14 | Final Review and Examination Preparation |
Administrative frameworks, leadership and governance notes, and financial and legal guides for this course are available as downloadable files. Materials include structured lecture documents provided by the instructors.
Required Readings
- Batts ? Church Finance
- Donnellan and Naumann ? Church Management Guide
- London and Boatright ? Church Accounting
- Malphurs ? Strategic Planning for Ministry
- Robert ? Robert's Rules of Order
- Welch ? Church Administration
Media Resources
This section includes leadership and management teachings, church administration case studies, and practical ministry training sessions. Audio resources include recorded lectures and teaching sessions. These materials provide practical tools for effective church administration and management.
Types of Assignments
- Essays
- Case studies
- Financial and administrative reports
- Group work
Submission Guidelines
- Submitted via course platform (LMS Drop Box) or instructor-approved methods
- Accepted formats: PDF, Word documents (.doc / .docx)
Requirements
- Logical and structured writing
- Practical application of administrative principles
- Proper referencing (APA or Turabian style)
Academic Integrity
- No plagiarism ? strict enforcement
- Proper citation required
- Academic misconduct may lead to dismissal