Staffing the Church in 2020

Sam Rainer

The latest issue of Church Executive recently hit the stands.  It has some great articles in it—you can subscribe here. Below is an excerpt from my article in the issue.

If your church remains healthy, then the staff structure will probably look much different in 2020 than it does right now. Church leaders will work for long periods of time to implement new visions for their congregations. They will labor for years to simplify the structures of their churches. They will lead their churches to adopt new discipleship processes and streamline programs. Yet one of the most needed changes that is often left untouched is the staff.

As churches move forward, existing staff structures are often left in place. Healthy churches that progress, however, will inevitably create positions for people who will champion the new vision. Over the next ten years, we are likely to see several different staff roles emerge in the church. What might these positions look like? While a small number of churches have created some of these roles, allow me to share with you some positions that may grow in popularity by 2020.

The Network Administrator. Multi-site churches are here to stay. In the next ten years they will become more numerous. They will not be limited to megachurches in densely populated areas. More multi-site churches will spring up in rural areas. Smaller churches will start new sites. As a result, there will be a need for someone to handle the administration between campuses. The network administrator will coordinate clarity of communication, movement of people, alignment of programs, and focus of vision across multiple campuses.

The Multicultural Children’s Director. The United States will become minority white by 2042, but preschools will become minority white by 2021. This diversity will not be limited to large, urban areas. Diversity is spreading out and getting younger. The children’s director is not a new position, but almost every church will need a children’s director who knows how to minister in the new heterogeneous society.

The Chief of Staff. It has been the key position for top political leaders for some time. Now many CEOs are seeking a confidant, gatekeeper, and strategic consultant in a person who is chief of staff. While the title will probably not carry over to the church, many larger churches will hire an experienced pastor to help the senior pastor deal with staff, sticky situations, and logistics. From answering emails to fielding questions from the media, the chief of staff must think like and understand the personality of the senior pastor.

The Creative Arts Director. Big screens are the new stained glass windows. Stained glass was used in the Middle Ages to communicate the gospel to a mainly illiterate society. Big screens help communicate the gospel to a highly visual culture. Both are technological innovations. The difference is the flexibility and changeability of today’s technology. Stained glass required skilled craftsmen. New technology also requires expertise. Stained glass windows are created once and are a permanent fixture in the church. Technology requires ongoing creativity. The creative arts director will manage all media and technology and also act as a liaison to the worship pastor and operations pastor.

The Boomer Director. The first wave of Boomers hitting retirement age is less than two years away. The senior population is expected to grow over 35% between 2010 and 2020. The problem is that there is a large generational divide between the Builders and the Boomers—as big a divide as the one between Generation X and the Boomers. The ministry that reached the Builders will not reach the Boomers. And it all starts with the name. Boomers do not like to be called “seniors,” so if you think that your existing seniors ministry will attract Boomers, you’re probably not going to reach many Boomers.

There’s a few more I mention in the article. Click here to read it, and then stop back by here to let me know your comments.