6 Qualities to look for in a Staff Member
When I was hired at Southside Baptist Church, now Brand New Church these were the mandatory requirements…
1) Five years of pastoral experience
2) Must be married
3) Seminary degree
After reading those I realized Jesus could not get a job at this church. He was single, only had three and half years of ministry experience and never attended seminary.
So now we have restructured our staff requirements:
1) A Red Hot marriage
Your marriage is the report card of your walk with God. Also, an Ephesians 5 marriage order. I have seen so many great men of God lose passion and ministry faith because their wives were leading the home.
If single…how do they manage their personal self-disciplines (money, mouth, meals, motivation).
Are they “majorly in debt, do they talk too much, majorly overweight (everyone who is big is not overweight), self-starter.
2) Orderly Home…
Titus 1:5 “a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”
This may be the most unspoken passage of scripture in the Bible from the “pulpit”. God calls you to shepherd your home first, then His Church.
3) Relationship Builder…
If you don’t love people you are not called.
4) Passion for our God…
This is found out from the people closest to them.
(#3 and #4 are the staples of the Great Commission…Love God and Love People.)
5) Loyalty…
Listen how they talk about their previous employment and employer. Loyalty to authority is the most difficult quality to find in ministry staff thus far in my short 6 years of pastoring. BNC is too large for a church split, but I am learning that staff can do extensive damage when they are not loyal to God’s leadership paradigm in the local church.
6) Understand God’s Vision for Brand New Church.
The word under-stand means submitting to what was stated. The potential staff must get “under” the pastors vision and mission with no “agenda” of his own. They need ministry ideology and creation of new ministry, strategy, development of volunteers and leaders, events, spiritual connection and community, but ‘under” the direction of the senior pastor.
Zach says,
I especially like #5 – “how they talk about their previous employer”…you hit the nail on the head – a great indication of whether someone understands how to be under authority!!
on 18 June 2009 / 8:46 AM
Jaci says,
This may go without saying, but I would add “humility.” Putting the church’s needs above your own. Does the church need a new water heater? Are you willing to sacrifice your family vacation to pay for it (as is sometimes necessary, especially in smaller churches)?
on 18 June 2009 / 10:53 AM
Shannon O'Dell says,
Great Word Jaci…you must have had a great student pastor in your formative years!
on 18 June 2009 / 11:52 AM
Jaci says,
I certainly did!
on 18 June 2009 / 3:44 PM
David Jackson says,
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
on 18 June 2009 / 11:48 AM
Alan Shepard says,
I’m going to open a can of worms here, Pastor. But I’m curious about your take on “the husband of one wife” issue. So many conservative Baptist churches have beaten that issue to death. What are you thoughts???
on 18 June 2009 / 3:46 PM
Sherie Hammonds says,
Having staff members and volunteers for that matter with qualities like these will enable the church to reach out to more of the lost and hurting because they dont have to deal with needless drama!
on 18 June 2009 / 4:18 PM
Scott says,
What about sober? Since this would most likely knock Jesus out of the picture too. He partied, made wine, etc. Just before the great storm the Bible says they put Jesus in the boat as he was,…He had been on the beach all day. Was he asleep or what?
on 18 June 2009 / 6:51 PM
Shannon O'Dell says,
Jesus was without sin!!! Drunkenness is a sin.
on 18 June 2009 / 11:06 PM
Brand New C______ says,
Jesus was the WORD in the flesh, the statement that Jesus could no get a job at the church is saying Jesus has to learn about himself. No church would be able to handle Jesus working there. What if Jesus came to BNC and ask for a job, what would you do?
on 18 June 2009 / 8:42 PM
Shannon O'Dell says,
He is here and working, changing lives, and set the captives free.
on 18 June 2009 / 11:05 PM
Penny Ezell says,
I totally agree with Sherie!! Much less drama if staff and volunteers can have these qualities! We can spend much more time on helping others!! I pray that our family as volunteers can strive for these qualities!!
Shannon, I must say that #5 is so true!!! I am so amazed how we as adults are not loyal to our authority! I see it often at work and it always amazes me!! Why is this so hard for people? I don’t get it!! This is the one thing my mom taught me well! You never question authority!
Thanks for this list! I know it is for staff but I think it is good for all of us!!
on 18 June 2009 / 9:21 PM
Dwayne says,
Other quualities to look for in a staff member is compassionate, loving, caring, and submissive to his Pastor. So many people think that the Pastor is above them or sits on a high level. Just as Christ lowered Himself to be a servant (example: washing the feet of His disciples), the Pastor is also a servant to his local church. A Pastor should never think of himself as higher than the rest. Once a Pastor thinks of himself in that way, he is no longer a leader and longer a shepherd. Even a shepherd takes time to feed his sheep and even goes out of his way to bring back the lost sheep that strayed away. That is what Christ did for us, that is how a pastor is also to be. Those same qualities should also be seen in anybody who considers a staff position.
on 05 July 2009 / 12:52 AM