As we are in the midst of summer and things have slowed down, we have had the opportunity to review our archives and have enjoyed revisiting our old articles. With various authors writing on a variety of topics, we have selected a few to highlight to you which we hope will support and encourage you in your roles.

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The Art of Stamping: An Introduction!

In our first published article, Gavin started a mini-series called ‘The Art of Stamping’ which was inspired by A.W.Tozer’s ‘The Attributes of God Volume 1: A Journey to the Father’s Heart’. In the introduction Gavin talks about how fulfilling our roles behind-the-scenes places the stamp of God’s character on the functioning, operations and administration of the church. Gavin gives a direction on where the series is going in this first article and focuses on how and where we can place God’s stamp in our church roles. The other articles in the series can be found in the “related blog posts” section underneath this introductory article.

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The Ultimate Communicator and What We Can Learn from Him

Spreading the gospel can be summarised as ‘the right message to the right people at the right time for the glory of God’. Jo Black looks at the fact that God is the ultimate communicator and following his example in our communication, especially within church, is important. Whether communicating one-on-one or corporately, we want to ensure our message reflects the tone and culture of the whole church, encouraging an openness and trust which blesses newcomers and existing church members alike. Jo suggests a few ways that this can be achieved but ultimately points us back to the one who can use anything to draw us close to him.

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What is a Charity?

In this mini-series, Nigel Ring opens up church and charitable status. Many churches are registered as charities - why is that? Nigel explains what defines a charity and why churches fit into this category. In the series, he covers a variety of topics such as why churches choose to become CIOs, the objectives of charities, charity regulations and good practice- it is a very useful read, especially if you are in the process of applying to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). The other articles in the series can be found in the “related blog posts” section underneath this article.

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Celebrating Grace

What would it look like if we celebrated every win and success like NFL players do in a game? In church, we see the grace of God displayed throughout our congregation, yet we often miss it as we become focused on our own lives. Here, Gavin talks about how taking a step back and noticing and celebrating with your church family all God has done in your lives can cultivate gratefulness to the one who is above all things.

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99 Reasons to Dislike Change

Change to a church administrator can bring internal stress and strain and a lot of work. We often see this as a negative and try to hide away from all it can bring. Jules Morgan encourages us to rethink our attitude towards change. We serve a God of adventure who is always leading his Church forwards rather than allowing it to stagnate. We may not feel in control of these situations, but we worship and trust in a God who is. He will never forsake you.

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The Invisible Man/Woman

How would you describe the role of a church administrator or operations manager? Whether it is a circus, conductor or secret agent, one big part of the role is to faithfully deliver the unseen without anyone noticing. Gavin reminds us that when we do this, we are reflecting something of God’s own nature. However, Gavin correlates the fact that when we deliver the unseen without anyone noticing, we are in some small way reflecting the very nature of God. We hope this article encourages you as you go about the often unseen work of church life.

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What Affects Your Capacity?

Capacity at work is a topic that all leaders and church administrators should take note of. Tasks that seem straightforward can often take far longer than expected as unexpected issues arise or other priorities take precedence. John Truscott explores the external and personal factors that may be limiting your capacity. The hope is by identifying these issues, practical action can be taken to resolve them.

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Are there any other articles which have been useful to you? Is there a topic you’d like us to cover in a future article? We’d love to hear from you - please get in touch at info@thechurchoffice.co.uk

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