Church officers are the non-clergy group members who assist the priests and managers of the church. According to the church’s hierarchical setup, church officers bear different titles like clerk, secretary, elder, deacon, or president.
Church officers and their duties: The common duties of church officers include financial management, event organization, and church representation. Depending upon their actual designation and qualifications, they may also act as legal agents, handle communication matters, and supervise meetings of the church.
Given below is the detailed description of duties carried out by church officers:
Budget Planning
Budgeting is the primary duty of church officers. They work on and monitor the balance sheets of the church along with the clerics. Besides, these officials also aid in the planning of the church’s future finances.
Fundraising
Apart from the customs of passing collection plates and tithing, the church organizations frequently conduct fundraising events. So, the church officers spend a lot of their time in the organization and supervision of these events. This task is one important extension of their financial management duties.
Documental Records Maintenance
The majority of the churches adhere to maintaining records of the activities held and the related documentation. These records contain information linked to congregations and relevant religious concerns. The church officers are required to sort, arrange, and store these records properly.
Historical Records Maintenance
Some of the church officers are allocated the task of maintaining records of the church’s history. 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 an unofficial job, church officers are expected to serve as an ideal example to the congregation and the public at large. This especially holds for the officials holding the post of deacons. They need to stay away from harmful habits like smoking, drinking, etc.
Managing Meetings
The church officers need to supervise and attend meetings that revolve around the administrative tasks of the church. Generally, one of the officers notes the minutes while other officers are overseeing the meetings.
Legal Work
A few church officers, especially those with requisite qualifications, tackle the legal issues, taxes, property rentals, lawsuits, and similar matters. They need to take care of all the legal documents of the church.
Communication
The officials sometimes serve as a medium of communication between the cleric/priest and his congregation. They often send emails and make important phone calls as a part of their duties. This marks 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 for making arrangements for the Sunday school programs. This officer is assigned with the task of recruiting teachers, formulating curriculum, and supervising the lessons.
Outreach Activities
To boost the church’s role in society, the officers engage in congregation-building, outreach programs, and similar tasks. These form the part of programming done on the church-based activities.