Church Administration Theology and Time Management from Coursera

As church pastors and leaders, how should you manage Christian church administration? Shouldn’t Christian theology matter in church administration? If so, how? At the same time, how should you utilize management principles and techniques to make your church a more faithful church, rather than turning it into a secular enterprise?

In this Duke Divinity+ non-credit course for church pastors and leaders, you will learn the importance of approaching church administration theologically. More specifically, you will engage church admin as church practices whose theological goals are discipleship, formation, witness, and worship. As such, church administration should be a critically important component of pastoral leadership and competence. Given such a theological understanding of church administration, we will draw upon and appropriate management excellence and know-how to serve as tools for these theological goals.

As the first course in the Duke Divinity+ Church Administration Specialization series, this course will focus on developing a theology of church administration and then applying it to time management—a huge, ongoing challenge for pastors and church leaders alike–in such a way as to reshape classic time management principles and practices into a robust Christian stewardship of time.

What's inside

Syllabus

Church Admin as Church Practices

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.

Church Admin as Pastoral Leadership

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.

Time Management to Time Stewardship

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.

Delegation and Meeting Stewardship

Now that you’ve developed a plan to steward your time according to your theological convictions and your pastoral priorities, the challenge is to follow through and align your schedule with the intentions expressed in your plan. This week, you’ll develop the skills you’ll need to get and stay on track by exploring the power of “no,” the art of delegation, and principles of meeting stewardship.

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Offers an overview of how to approach church administration with a theological approach

Taught by Rae Cho, who is recognized for their work in pastoral leadership and competence

Designed for church pastors and leaders

Develops theological understanding of church administration, which is highly relevant to pastoral credibility, trust, and authority

Taught by Duke Divinity School, who are recognized for their work in Christian ethics and church administration

Examines the importance of using management principles to support theological goals of church administration

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Church Administration Theology and Time Management with these activities:

Review Writing Christian Sermons

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Sharpening your sermon writing skills will give you a stronger foundation in course materials

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Outline a sermon on your favorite Bible story
Study the congregation to understand the audience's needs
Draft the sermon incorporating rhetorical devices and compelling language
Practice delivering the sermon aloud
Seek feedback from a mentor or peer group

Read 'Theology of Christian Worship' by D.A. Carson

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This book will provide a deeper understanding of the topic of Christian worship, which is central to this course

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Read the book in its entirety
Take notes and highlight important passages
Participate in a discussion group or forum to share insights

Practice Time Management

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Refining your time management skills will make the course material on time management more impactful.

Browse courses on Time Management

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Identify time-wasting activities and eliminate or minimize them
Prioritize tasks using techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix
Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones
Set realistic deadlines and stick to them
Take breaks and reward yourself for completing tasks

Four other activities

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Interview Church Staff About Time Management

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Gain insights and practical advice from experienced church staff and enhance your grasp of time management strategies.

Browse courses on Time Management

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Identify church staff members with diverse roles and responsibilities
Prepare interview questions focused on time management practices
Conduct interviews and record their responses
Analyze the data and extract key takeaways
Create a summary or presentation to share your findings with your church or peers

Participate in a Church Administration Study Group

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Engaging with peers will broaden your perspective on church administration and provide a support system.

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Identify peers or colleagues who share an interest in church administration
Establish a regular meeting time and format for the group
Discuss course materials, best practices, and challenges
Invite guest speakers or experts to share their insights
Provide mutual encouragement and support

Assist with Church Administration Tasks

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Practical experience will deepen your understanding of the challenges and rewards of church administration.

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Identify specific church administrative tasks you would like to assist with
Contact the church office or relevant staff and offer your help
Receive training and guidance from experienced church staff
Carry out your assigned tasks diligently and efficiently
Seek feedback and reflect on your experiences

Develop a Church Administration Policy Manual

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Creating a policy manual will reinforce your understanding of church administration principles and practices.

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Research best practices and industry standards for church administration
Identify the scope and purpose of your policy manual
Draft policies and procedures covering various aspects of church administration
Seek feedback and input from church staff, leaders, and legal counsel
Finalize and implement the policy manual

Career center

Learners who complete Church Administration Theology and Time Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Church Administrator

A Church Administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of a church, including managing the budget, planning events, and supervising staff. This course could help Church Administrators develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Minister

This course is designed for church leaders and pastors, but the principles it teaches could be useful for any minister, including those who work in non-profit organizations or other religious settings. The course's focus on theology and time management could help ministers develop a more effective and meaningful approach to their work.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of non-profit organizations, including developing and implementing programs, managing staff, and fundraising. This course could help Nonprofit Managers develop a stronger understanding of the role of theology in their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their mission.

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Missionary

Missionaries travel to other countries to share their faith and provide humanitarian aid. This course could help Missionaries develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual care and support to people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, prisons, and the military. This course could help Chaplains develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Youth Pastor

Youth Pastors lead and oversee the youth ministry of a church. This course could help Youth Pastors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Religious Educator

Religious Educators teach about religion and spirituality in a variety of settings, including schools, churches, and community organizations. This course could help Religious Educators develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Theology Professor

Theology Professors teach about religion and spirituality at colleges and universities. This course could help Theology Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Social Work Professor

Social Work Professors teach about social work and social welfare at colleges and universities. This course could help Social Work Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Communications Professor

Communications Professors teach about communications and media at colleges and universities. This course could help Communications Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Religious Studies Scholar

Religious Studies Scholars research and write about religion and spirituality. This course could help Religious Studies Scholars develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Philosophy Professor

Philosophy Professors teach about philosophy and the history of ideas at colleges and universities. This course could help Philosophy Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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English Professor

English Professors teach about English literature and language at colleges and universities. This course could help English Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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Ethics Professor

Ethics Professors teach about ethics and moral philosophy at colleges and universities. This course could help Ethics Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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History Professor

History Professors teach about history and the past at colleges and universities. This course could help History Professors develop a deeper understanding of the theological foundations of their work and how to apply management principles in a way that is consistent with their faith.

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