Each ministry description includes the same basic kinds of information about each role or task, with some variations and additional information appropriate to the particular topic.
Relationship to the Church Manual
The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual is the “constitution and by-laws” for the local church in the Adventist denomination. It speaks largely to issues of policy, standards and church discipline and order, although it does include formal lists of duties for some church offices.
Ministry Description Reference
Nothing in these Ministry Descriptions contradicts The Church Manual, although much practical material is included that goes beyond what is mentioned in The Church Manual. It is not the purpose of these documents to replace the function of The Church Manual, but to provide a supplement with detailed information which cannot be included in The Church Manual since it must serve the world field and cannot be amended or revised, except by the General Conference in session.
Ordained Leaders
The significant leadership role of those who hold these offices is recognized in the New Testament ceremony of “laying on of hands.”
1- Elders
A ministry of visitation, worship leadership, spiritual mentoring and church administration.
2- Deacons and Deaconesses
A ministry of helping with the physical needs of the congregation, the church equipment and building.
3- Junior Deacon and Junior Deaconesses (non-ordained)
A ministry to train young people in the office of a Deacon and Deaconess.
Administration Officers
1- Church Clerk
The keeper of the official records of the congregation, including membership list, minutes of business meetings and the church board, and the statistical reports for the denomination. If your church employs a secretary, he or she will often hold this elected office.
2- Treasurer
The official finance officer for the congregation and all its projects and auxiliary organizations. It is essential that there be at least one assistant, even in the smallest congregation, to insure continuity in an emergency.
3- Church Board Member
This board has been charged by the members of the local church. With such an important responsibility, persons selected must individually portray in their personal and corporate life qualities of spirituality, fairness and good judgment.
General Church Officers
1- Adventurer Club Director
A ministry to children in grades one through four, involving them in club meetings, special activities, family nights, and lots more.
2- Bible Studies
Lay Bible ministers are credentialed by the local conference with the approval of the church board or church ministries council and not selected by your committee, but it is good to keep this position in mind since it is a major one.
3- Children's Ministry
- Children’s Church Leader
A ministry to help children worship God in an age-appropriate way; to prepare children to understand what is happening in the “Big Church” during the worship hour.
- Children’s Ministries Coordinator
This ministry oversees all activities and programs for children in the congregation.
4- Communication Representative
A ministry of public relations, advertising representing the church to the news media. May also include the church newsletter.
5- Community Services Director
A ministry of meeting the physical, economic, social, relational and spiritual needs of the poor and troubled in the community. (This is not necessarily the same person as the Dorcas leader, but coordinates the Dorcas Society and any other community service projects in the church.) One or more assistants may be needed, depending on the size of the program. Every center also relies on volunteers to operate.
6- Education Secretary
A ministry of promoting Christian education and recruiting students for Adventist schools.
7- Family Ministries Coordinator
It is a ministry of needs assessment, program development and education.
8- Greeters
A ministry in the foyer on Sabbaths, making contact with newcomers and taking an interest in individuals. A coordinator supervises two or more teams, depending on the size of the congregation.
9- Health Ministries Leader
A ministry of planning and developing programs to educate members and the community about chemical dependency, diet, physical fit- ness and disease prevention. Depending on the size of the program, a committee may be needed.
10- Home and School Association
A ministry of communication between parents and church school. Sometimes this may be done by the school board rather than your committee.
11- Hospitality Team and Visitation Team
A ministry to visitors and new members, as well as others who may be lonely. A coordinator and several teams or couples are needed.
12- Inner City Coordinator
A ministry of social action and evangelism in the urban areas.
13- Interest/Prospect Care Coordinator
A ministry of building a list of prospects for church membership by contacting each name from all the many different programs and discovering their needs and level of interest, then developing an individual follow-up plan for each person. In larger churches one to three assistants may be needed.
14- Investment Leader
A ministry of teaching church members to become partners with God.
15- Lay Pastor
A ministry of assisting the pastor in shepherding the congregation through visitation, Bible study, planning, committee work, and assisting in mid- week and worship services. Most conferences provide special training for this position.
16- Men’s Ministries Director
A ministry of planning and developing programs to meet the needs of men in local congregations.
17- Music Ministry
Organist, pianists, choir directors and song leader.
18- Outreach Coordinator (or Personal Ministries Leader)
This ministry is also called lay activities leader and evangelism committee chairperson in some local churches. It is a ministry of program development, recruiting and training volunteers to work for soul-winning and service in the community. Because so much must be learned in this role, it is important that at least one assistant be selected to “learn the ropes”.
19- Pathfinder Club Director
A ministry to children grades five through ten and older, involving them in camping, nature study, physical fitness, community service, Christian witness and character development. Selects his or her own staff with the approval of the church board or Church Ministries Council.
20- Religious Liberty Leader
A ministry of educating the congregation and the community about public issues.
21- SABBATH SCHOOL MINISTRY
- Adult Sabbath School Coordinator (or General Superintendent)
A ministry of developing leaders, planning programs and recruiting volunteers for the Sabbath School. Usually one to four assistants is needed, depending on the size of the church.
- Adult Sabbath School Secretary
A ministry of ordering and distributing materials for church programs, and providing clerical help for program leaders
- Children’s Sabbath School Leaders
They are needed for beginner, kindergarten, primary, junior and earliteen Sabbath Schools. In small churches there may be only two combined Sabbath Schools—beginner, kindergarten and primary combined for younger children and junior and earliteen combined for older children.
- Children’s Sabbath School Teachers and Assistants
They are needed in each division; one or more pianists and one or more assistant leaders. Sabbath School teachers are also needed for small group Bible lesson study.
- Youth Sabbath School Leader
A ministry of planning, spiritual leadership, teaching, building community and program development.
- Youth Sabbath School Assistants
They are needed; one or more to provide music, two or more to be part of the leadership team.
- Young Adult Sabbath School Leader
A ministry of planning, spiritual lead- ership, teaching, building community and program development. In small churches this may only be a class.
- Young Adult Sabbath School Assistants
They are needed; one or more to provide music, two or more to be on the leadership team.
- Adult Sabbath School Teachers
They are appointed by the Sabbath School committee or church ministries council, not the nominating committee. Although individuals are not selected by your committee, it is good to keep these positions in mind.
22- School Board
A Minsitry of sponsoring a church school. Includes the School Board Chairperson and several School Board Members. If your church is the sole sposnsor of the school, the nominating committee will nominate the entire board. If you co-sponsor the school, you will nominate only the representatives from your church.
23- Seminar Coordinator
It is a ministry of planning and presenting a series of seminars for the community.
24- Small Group Leaders
It may be appointed by the pastor with the approval of the church board or church ministries council and not selected by your committee, but it is good to keep this responsibility in mind since it is a major one.
25- Social Committee
It is a ministry of providing opportunities for fellowship and fun.
26- Stewardship
It is a ministry of education, helping to prepare the church budget each year, and communicating the financial needs of both the local and world church.
27- Ushers
A ministry of helping with the Sabbath services. A head usher supervises and a number of ushers are needed according to the size of the congregation.
28- Vacation Bible School Director
A ministry to help children develop a friend- ship with Jesus, with the Bible, with the church and with each other.
29- Women’s Ministries Leader
A ministry of planning and developing programs to meet the needs of women in local congregations. This may take place through a planning committee, assessments, program development, and advocating women’s needs, concerns and contributions.
30- Youth Ministries Coordinator
A ministry that oversees all activities and programs for teenagers sponsored by the congregation.
31- Young Adult Ministries Coordinator
A ministry that oversees all activities and pro- grams for young adults in the congregation.