Church officers are non-clergy members who assist the priests and managers of the church. According to the church’s hchurch’scal setup, church officers have different titles, such as clerk, secretary, elder, deacon, or president.
Church officers and their duties: Church officers’ common duties include financial management, event organization, and church representation. Depending on their designation and qualifications, they may also act as legal agents, handle communication matters, and supervise church meetings.
Given below is a detailed description of duties carried out by church officers:
Budget Planning
Budgeting is the primary duty of church officers. Along with the clerics, they work on and monitor the church’s balance sheets. These officials also aid in the planning of the church’s finances.
Fundraising
Apart from the customs of passing collection plates and tithing, church organizations frequently conduct fundraising events. So, church officers spend a lot of their time organizing and supervising these events. This task is a critical extension of their financial management duties.
Documental Records Maintenance
Most churches maintain records of their activities and related documentation. These records contain information linked to congregations and relevant religious concerns. Church officers are required to sort, arrange, and store these records properly.
Historical Records Maintenance
Some of the church officers are assigned the task of maintaining the church’s records. This involves keeping track of the past as well as the current events of the church. Churches often have an archive of related documents that reflect their history.
Role Modelling
Even though their job is unofficial, church officers are expected to serve as ideal examples to the congregation and the public at large. This especially holds for the officials holding the post of deacons. They need to avoid harmful habits like smoking, drinking, etc.
Managing Meetings
The church officers need to supervise and attend meetings that revolve around the church’s administrative tasks. Generally, one of the officers notes the minutes while other officers oversee the meetings.
Legal Work
A few church officers, especially those with requisite qualifications, tackle legal issues, taxes, property rentals, lawsuits, and similar matters. They also need to manage all the church’s legal documents.
Communication
The officials sometimes serve as a communication medium between the cleric/priest and his congregation. As part of their duties, they often send emails and make important phone calls. This is an essential role of the church officers in the day-to-day proceedings of the church.
Sunday School Programs
The church organizations appoint an officer to make arrangements for the Sunday school programs. This officer is responsible for recruiting teachers, formulating the curriculum, and supervising the lessons.
Outreach Activities
To boost the church’s social impact, the officers engage in congregation-building, outreach programs, and similar tasks. These form part of the programming for church-based activities.