Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 01:1 (Spring 1997)
Article: Computers: The Adversary of Effective Church Administration
Author: Michael W. Firmin

JMAT 1:1 (Spr 97) p. 37

Computers: The Adversary of Effective Church Administration

Michael W. Firmin

Seminary Adjunct Faculty in Pastoral Counseling
Baptist Bible College Graduate Studies Director

Without question, computers and associated technologies have opened a vast new world to American society. Through internet access, e-mail, CD Roms, and other electronic sources, people now possess access to new worlds of information which a few years ago appeared impossible to conceive.

Pastors stand to benefit from this new world of data. Web sites, data base searches, and e-mail are but a few examples of ways pastors can tap into this emerging technological world. While computers are a large benefit for pastoral ministry, they pose a significant danger relative to exercising principles of good church administration. This article is written from the perspective of one who is “pro-computers” for pastoral ministry. The author proposes that, while pastors should possess basic computer knowledge and literacy skills, they should not be using computers on a regular day-to-day basis.

Importance of Good Church Administration

Successful pastors must exercise principles of good church administration. A pastor’s time is valuable, and the work to do in the average church is endless. Setting priorities for daily activities, scheduling efficiently, delegating responsibilities, and overseeing project implementations are but a few examples of regular administrative responsibilities exercised by successful pastors.

JMAT 1:1 (Spr 97) p. 38

Furthermore, pastors need to utilize their time so that they engage in daily activities which will result in the greatest quantity and quality of service in our Lord’s behalf. To accomplish this, pastors must spend their time engaging in activities which only they, as pastors, can do. Other activities should be delegated whenever possible. The enemy of a day’s best time expenditure is not bad things, but good things. That is, good activities completed in a day crowd out time for the best activities.

Letting Support Staff Do Support Work

Every church should have a secretary. In fact, after the hiring of a pastor, a church secretary ought to be the next highest priority in relation to church staff. If a church cannot afford to pay a secretary, then the congregation might seek a volunteer to fulfill clerical responsibilities until a person can be hired. Since people “volunteer” (even in small churches) for ministries such as Sunday school teachers, VBS workers, and nursery workers, it is probable that most churches can find secretarial assistance for their pastors (there will always be a few exceptions).

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