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At the Church Office, we have been busy attending several conferences over the past few months. It has been a real privilege to spend time with church administrators and church leaders from across the country. We have been encouraged by hearing their stories, sharing experiences, and reflecting together on what matters most- glorifying God through the work we do in our churches.
One thing we were reminded of was the importance of developing leaders and cultivating a culture of apprenticeship in our churches. In Exodus 18, Jethro encouraged Moses to share the responsibility of leadership by appointing capable and trustworthy people to serve alongside him. By delegating leadership, Moses was able to focus on his primary calling while empowering others to grow in their own gifts and responsibilities. It is a reminder that effective leadership is not about doing everything ourselves, but about equipping others to serve alongside us.
As churches, we want to cultivate a culture where leaders intentionally invest in others. Jesus modelled this perfectly through His relationship with the disciples- teaching, encouraging, and gradually entrusting them with greater responsibility. When we identify emerging leaders, mentor them, and provide opportunities for them to serve, we strengthen the church for today and prepare it for future generations.
We are grateful for all that God is doing through our churches and for the many faithful people who serve behind the scenes each week. Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and partnership in the work of the gospel.
We would like to highlight a resource to you: The Church Planting Operational Guide. When planting a church there are many things that need to be considered, planned and actioned operationally in order for a church plant to be established. This guide has been written collaboratively by members of the Church Office team where we look at the legal, financial, policy and procedure, building use and operational support. This is our first resource available for purchase and we pray it is a blessing to you!
We also have updated a number of our existing documents including:
General Camp Site Risk Assessment- We hope this general risk assessment for when you are going on a camp is a useful starting point for you.
Risk Assessment: all areas- This risk assessment seeks to cover the general risks whilst using church facilities.
Service Level Agreement- This is an editable service level agreement for use when engaging a service provider, ensuring that the terms of the working agreement are clear to both parties.
Trustees Code of Conduct- Here is an example Code of Conduct for Church Trustees. This is only an example and it is strongly advisable to adapt this Code so that it fits your church context more specifically.
CONFERENCES:
In case you have missed it- we are hosting a conference!
Mind the GAP is a one-day conference for church leaders, operations managers, trustees, PCC members and key team members leading in the space between vision and delivery.
Together, we'll explore what life in the GAP really feels like and how to navigate it well through practical teaching and honest conversations.
We have two locations to choose from:
16th September 2026- Christchurch Centre, Newport (South Conference)
29th September 2026- Cornerstone Church, Liverpool (North Conference)
We pray this conference will serve you and encourage you, and would love to see you in person as we navigate life in the GAP together.
If there are other documents or podcast topics you would find helpful- or if there is anything you would value prayer or support with- please don't hesitate to contact us at info@thechurchoffice.co.uk.
Gavin serves as the Church Manager for Christchurch, Newport, a role he has been in for over 20 years. He is passionate about the gospel and strengthening the church by supporting the work that happens behind the scenes.
