Sample church procedure manual

For many, churches and other places of worship are a refuge. They offer a sense of family and community and often provide valuable services and assistance to those in need. To provide stability, safety and consistency to their staff, volunteers and members, churches need clear policies and procedures in place that address issues relevant to their congregations.

Each church has different needs, so the exact policies and procedures will vary by congregation. In general, though, a church policies and procedures manual will include sections to address how the church is governed, how finances are handled and policies to prevent harassment and abuse.

A church policies and procedures manual is an extension of the bylaws of the church. Unlike bylaws, which tend to include formal or legal language, policies and procedures should be written in plain, understandable language.

A church policy manual should be approved by a committee that includes staff and volunteers of the church. Church staff and volunteers should be given a copy, and some congregations post their policies and procedures on their website for easy access by all congregation members.

Many have one or more ministers who lead the congregation spiritually and one or more governing bodies that lead the congregation regarding practical matters such as facility use, program management and financial matters. Regardless of the structure, there should be clear policies and procedures in place for how the church decides on its leadership. Areas to address may include:. There should also be a clear path for congregation members to report any issues they have with a staff member or volunteer, such as sexual harassment.

Any allegations should be taken seriously and reported to the appropriate authorities, and your policies should reflect that process. Staff members or volunteers who are interacting with children or youth should be carefully screened and trained in child abuse prevention. Finances can be a contentious point for any congregation, so there should be clear procedures in place for how funds can be spent , when funds can be spent and who can authorize spending. Decisions are based on the church policy not on the individual, and each situation is treated the same.

Procedures tell "how" a task is done. A detailed listing is made of each step taken to complete the process.

A step by step description of the process is used to complete the job. This manual below is a sample which can be used as a guide when developing your own church policy and procedures. Policies cover leadership, management, financial, personnel, general administration and ministry. Policy and procedures, if properly applied, become very invaluable for identifying and assigning responsibilities, keeping a quality level of performance throughout church ministries, and protecting the congregation and church leaders as a whole.

The church policy and procedures should be kept in a manual available for the church administration to access at any time. If a question arises, the manual should have policies to lead and guide anyone through any crisis. There is a one page "Quick Start the Policy Manual" below that will help you know what to do to get started. Note: You will need Adobe Reader the latest version is recommended installed on your computer in order to save or open these forms.

You can get Adobe Reader free here a new window will open so you can download it without leaving this page. If you want to open the file in your browser window, just click on one of the links above. However, if you want to download the file to view later, then right-click on the link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As". Then select where you want to save the file on your hard drive.

Note: These sample forms are meant to serve as example forms and should not be construed as legal documents. Please contact a legal professional for legal language for your specific organization. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Church Forms Collection of all the Church Forms , Flyers, Certificates Plus 5 Free Bonuses! Learn More. Available on CD or Instant Download. Pastoral Recordbase. Special Offer! Church Office Package 1.

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