10-Minute Treasurer

Need Church Committee Training?

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“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

Peter Drucker

The above quote from Peter Drucker used to always make me think that leadership is superior to management. In a way, I would idolize leadership. If we could only replace managers with leaders, our churches would do better. In recent months I have rediscovered the value of great management.

From 2003 to 2008, I served as church treasurer for Bismarck Legacy UMC. Kermit Culver served as the pastor at the time and is a phenomenal leader and a competent manager. One of the problems is that it is next to impossible to wear both those hats at the same time. Leaders bring uncertainty while managers bring clarity. Leaders focus on the destination while managers focus on the next steps. Leaders shake things up while managers put things into order. I worked only 2 to 3 hours per week so I wasn’t able to bring much order. Fortunately for Legacy UMC, Al Roll replaced me in 2008 as treasurer. Al’s role grew from a part-time volunteer position to a full-time management position and allowed Kermit to wear the leadership hat while Al wore the management. With this change, Legacy UMC experienced great growth and vitality.

Few churches are in the position to hire a manager as well as afford their manager. The great thing is that church committees can fill that management roll and free the pastor to lead as well as have more time for sermon prep and pastoral care. Here’s some resources that may help committees better understand their roll and duties:

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