Job Descriptions

A key component in helping individuals understand their responsibilities and be effective in ministry is to have a well-written job description. Job descriptions clarify expectations and give a guideline for providing effective accountability and job satisfaction. It might appear more black and white in a business environment or even an office environment; the organization has a need and writes a job description detailing what is required to fill that need. A ministry job description is a little different. A ministry job description looks at, “what will this person be paid to do as a vocation.” Donors are giving to enable this individual to be employed in vocational ministry. As such, a well-written job description also demonstrates integrity to Reliant donors.

A job description also provides the “objectives” for the Annual Review. As you meet with each staff member periodically to discuss how they are doing in their role, it is your opportunity to speak into each area in which they have responsibilities. These discussions are then summarized at the end of the performance cycle within the Annual Review.

Tips for writing a job description:

Job Role/Title:  A job title should be a mini job description and give a general idea of what the majority of the job entails. Examples include Home Group Coach, Worship Leader, Church Administrator. Often a staff member will have multiple roles, so a more general job description may be more appropriate such as Campus Director or something more inclusive of their various roles.

Ministry Duties:  This section should contain five to seven key statements (for full-time roles) that itemize the job’s primary duties or essential functions. Duties should be presented in a logical order and include information regarding the frequency or percentage of time spent on each task.

Tasks that do not account for at least five percent of the work are generally not included. However, if there is some aspect of a job’s requirements, usually that occurs periodically, or as little as once a year, but whose impact is church or ministry-wide, the task should be mentioned.

Additional Role Requirements:  If the position has any specific requirements such as education or ability, they should be listed here; for example, ability to play guitar (for church guitarist) or ability to use Quicken (for church finance position).

Sample Ministry Duties:

1. Facilitate (home, life, cell)group (frequency – monthly, weekly)
   1. Prepare for meeting time (teaching, worship, prayer)
   2. Coach group apprentice (frequency)
   3. Connect with 2 or 3 individuals from the group each week to pray and study scripture together
2. Counsel or shepherd church members
   1. Provide Biblical perspective
   2. Evaluate progress of member 
3. Actively participate in evangelism/outreach
   1. Walk through our church’s evangelism program with one individual per program
   2. Share on campus # hours/week/month etc.
   3. Be involved in consistent relationships with 1-2 unbelievers a semester (for example)
4. Lead worship for the main service
   1. Set worship program for large group worship
   2. Lead worship team practices
   3. Disciple members of worship team through one-on-one times
   4. Work with (pastor or Sunday Coordinator) to schedule flow of service
5. Handle/Track/Manage church finances
   1. Collect tithes (frequency)
   2. Handle accounts payable for the church each month on time
   3. Send giving reports to members each (frequency)
6. Organize special events
   1. Locates and secures location for the event
   2. Coordinates food and or materials as required
   3. Facilitates communication for those involved in the event and those invited to the event

Job Description Template