Samples and Suggestions for

Job Descriptions

for Volunteer Committees/Teams 

and Individual Positions  serving local Baptist Churches

West Central Baptist Association    compiled by D. L. Snyder 

this resource available on the web at

www.WCBAohio.net                email: wcba@bright.net              937-596-6755

The following detailed job descriptions are offered as a resource to churches toward cultivating better communication and more specific understanding about ministry responsibilities typical among small to medium sized churches in Southern Baptist life.  Every church will want to review and adjust them for their setting and for alignment with specifics often spelled out in their own Constitution and Bylaws.  The following is not an exhaustive list, nor should a church expect to have every committee or position referred to.  This resource is available in digital format upon request from the WCBA office and on the WCBA website.  The material has been compiled from a variety of Baptist sources including Lifeway and various churches.

Sunday School Director

The Sunday School director serves as the general administrative leader of a church’s Sunday School ministry. This person is responsible for coordinating the work of all Sunday School classes, departments, and other Bible study groups.  The SS Director leads in promoting and encouraging the success and attendance of Sunday School classes and activities.  Leads in teacher training, curriculum ordering and evaluation, and helping teachers fulfill their mission week by week. 

He leads the Sunday School Planning Team in planning, organizing, enlisting and equipping leaders and in mobilizing members to achieve goals toward the stated objectives of Sunday School.

Some Major Responsibilities

Meet regularly with the pastor and staff to evaluate the work of the Sunday School and set agenda for Sunday School Planning Team Meetings.

Lead the Sunday School Planning Team Meetings.

Communicate goals and actions to leaders and participants and evaluate progress.

Lead in developing an effective organization that facilitates spiritual transformation.

Lead in efforts to call participants into service and in enlisting and developing new leaders.

Lead in evaluating needs related to space, budget, Bible study curriculum, supplies, and other resources; recommend needed actions.

Set a positive example for others by living as an authentic witness of Christ and through full involvement in the life and ministry of the church.

The Sunday School Secretary    The Sunday School Secretary assists the Sunday School Director and Planning Team by providing vital support related to record keeping, reports, and other communications; and distribution of resources. The Sunday School director assumes this role in churches without a Sunday School secretary.

Sunday School Teacher in General

Sunday School teachers are  responsible for teaching and encouraging application of biblical truth for the spiritual transformation of their students.  Teachers should  lead in making the classroom experience enriching  and inviting. Adult Teachers should cultivate small group fellowship, care ministry and outreach through enlisting other class members to lead these and other class level ministries as needed or desired. 

Teachers are expected to have a rich personal devotional life, be evangelistic, attend services of the church faithfully, and lead their class in seeing the importance of contacting and cultivating class members and prospects and being actively involved.  Teachers should secure a substitute teacher when absent well prior to the planned absence.  The SS Director or Department Leader should be advised well ahead of time of such changes or needs.

Preschool Sunday School Leaders

Depending on the needs and size of your church, the Preschool Leadership Team may be small or large. This team will have an impact on the lives of preschoolers and their families.

Common Tasks for All Preschool Leaders

• Participates in prospect discovery, outreach activities, witnessing, and ministry.
• Prepares in advance, arrives on time, and evaluates and participates in age-appropriate Bible teaching.
• Serves in extended session/ETC.
• Ministers to preschoolers and their families.
• Participates in leader training events.

Preschool Teachers     should always minister to the child, through instruction, friendship, fun, life example and experiences.  There should be virtually no babysitting except for the youngest babies.   Every pre-school should have  age appropriate curriculum for the youngest of children, low student teacher ratio, the best room and facilities in the church, and clearly written and maintained policies regarding the arrival, care, and departure of the child for safety,security and liability reasons.  The preschool leaders should maintain a high level of cleanliness of room and materials and a record of the changing of diapers, handling of medicines etc.  Policies and procedures should be in place for how to handle young children that have a fever or other unhealthy conditions.

Nursery / Bed Babies Coordinator

The Nursery Coordinator shall be responsible for enlisting and scheduling teacher coverage in the Nursery for children from birth to two years of age during  the appointed Worship services each week.  A  schedule should be made and posted several weeks in advance.  Training should be planned and provided to the volunteers by the Coordinator periodically throughout the year.

Sunday School Teacher -- Children

Children’s department teachers are expected to have a rich personal devotional life, be evangelistic, attend services of the church faithfully, and lead their students toward personal transformation through knowing and following Christ.  The children's leader will desire the best classroom appearance possible, and seek to disciple students one on one, and cultivate a positive relationship with the students family.  Contacts absentees weekly and all children in assigned groups regularly.   Cares for and ministers to assigned children and their families.

Witnesses to children and their families.   Fellowships with children and their families.

Participates in regular planning.

Sunday School Teacher -- Youth

Youth  teachers are expected to have a rich personal devotional life, be evangelistic, attend services of the church faithfully, and lead their students toward personal transformation through knowing and following Christ.  Presenting biblical truth and its personal application for all areas of life is the aim of the Youth teacher.  Plans should be made and people should be enlisted for intentional outreach, and discipleship beyond the appointed SS class time.

Sunday School Teacher --Adult

Adult Teachers in consultation with the SS Director and Pastor should consider and decide on the format of classroom setting and lesson style most appropriate for their group.  For some it will be large group lecture. For others it will be more of a facilitated / discussion format.  Typical SS classes each week should be “open” and not a closed “topical–workbook” study– unless specially arranged.  The aim of the Adult SS Teacher is not to “cover” material, but to teach and apply biblical truth for personal transformation through Bible study.  The teacher will strongly encourage intentional and frequent class fellowship opportunities, worship and ministry during the class and beyond it.  The lead Adult teacher ideally should cultivate and mentor new teachers for future service.

The adult teacher is responsible for leading people toward faith in Christ and guiding them to serve Him through evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship. In pursuing this mission, a teacher must understand that teaching moves beyond the Bible study session into the daily living of participants. A teacher should look for opportunities to mentor participants before and after Bible study sessions; ensure that a positive ministry environment is provided during the session that facilitates the work of the Holy Spirit; invest him or herself in building positive relationships with participants; and involve learners in meaningful Bible study.

The major responsibilities are to:

• Lead a small group of adults in meaningful Bible study.
• Build positive relationships with participants and prospects and ensure that they are contacted regularly in order to minister to their needs.
• Maintain attendance records and other participant information that strengthens the group’s pursuit of the overall purpose and mission of Sunday School.
• Enlist an apprentice from the group for the purpose of teaching a new adult class or working in another age group as a teacher within two years.
• Set a positive example for others by living as an authentic witness of Christ and being fully involved in the life and ministry of the church.

Children’s Church Coordinator

Typically, the Childrens Church leaders will be responsible for developing and implementing a structure and strategy to lead the children in a worshipful experience.  Children’s Church is usually for children ages 3 years old through 3rd or 4th grade – at the hightest.

Kitchen /  Hospitality   Coordinator

The Kitchen Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the church kitchen’s cleanliness, upkeep of supplies, and organize and oversee fellowships and functions involving the use of the kitchen and hospitality ministry. 

Church Librarian- Media Resource Leader / Historian 

The Church Librarian/ Media Leader  shall be responsible for organizing and maintaining media resources, and keeping accurate records of materials on hand, and records of borrowing and lending.    The Historian is responsible for the preservation and storage of church archives, records and documents not of current concern for the church clerk.

Web Site Administration

The Church Web Administrator is responsible for maintaining the accounts and services necessary for maintaining a church web site in a secure timely, and informative manner that is excellent, and a credit to the church’s reputation and mission.  The Web Administrator should work with all leaders in the church to facilitate and update the flow of information, oversee the equipment needs, and upgrading and understanding of technical issues.

The Ushers and Greeters Ministry

The role of Greeter is that of a personal representative of the church of Jesus Christ who meets people on a one to one basis when they first arrive at church.  The greeter will be friendly, welcoming, and personable to all who arrive.  Greeters are often husband and wife teams.  It is good to have more than two greeters active each morning.  Greeters should have umbrellas ready on inclement days and assist and escort elderly and mothers with more than two children from their vehicles as needed.  Greeters are not limited to the front door entrance.  They can be effective in greeting  and assisting in the parking area.

The greeter should be able to direct people to the appropriate classes or rooms and help in any way to make guest feel welcome.  Greeters place a bulletin with all those coming to worship. 

A visitor’s card should be given to all first time guests as they arrive.  Ask them to fill it out and drop in the offering plate later on in service, or hand back to the greeter. 

Ushers serve a vital role in the worship service, more than just passing the plate.  Ushers should know in advance who will be ushering on a given Sunday.  The Chairman of the Ushers should have a schedule posted.  Ushers should have training prior to ushering and should have a refresher each year.

Ushering does not cease when everyone is seated and the offering is received.  Ushers should be alert and the first to respond during a time of emergency or special need. The usher should escort a guest who may not be familiar with the auditorium in an emergency, or with a child in a difficulty.  Although extremely rare, ushers may be called upon to physically remove an unruly person from the services.  Ushers should have a ready cell phone that can quickly dial 911 or other emergency numbers if needed.  Ushers should be trained in Red Cross CPR. 

Ushers should monitor heating and cooling / comfort conditions in the worship center and make adjustments accordingly.

Moderator and Associate Moderator

The purpose of the Church Moderator is to preside at all church business meetings and lead the congregation in an orderly, efficient and courteous manner toward understanding all issues and arriving at unity under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  The moderator will be familiar with Roberts Rules or whatever the parliamentary procedure adopted by the church, with the Church Constitution and Bylaws, and with local church history.  At all times the moderator is to encourage full and free discussion while avoiding trivialities and silencing inappropriate or out of order remarks as needed.  In a spirit of patience and love the moderator is to assist the members with proper parliamentary procedure without embarrassment to them.   In the absence of the moderator, the associate moderator will preside.   In many churches the moderator is the Pastor, but sometimes  a moderator is selected from the body.

Church Treasurer

As outlined in the church constitution --- which may include ….

• Nominated by the church nominating committee and elected annually by the church
• Shall keep a full and faithful account of all monies received and paid out by the church specifying for what purposes, and shall submit an accurate report in writing at church business meetings.
• It is not the duty of the church treasurer to decide what to spend and what and when not to spend. The treasurer is to make disbursements according to the direction and authorization of congregation and the leadership or committees the church may appoint, and according to procedures in place in each individual church.  The treasurer does not control the money flow of the church at his or her discretion. 

Church Clerk

The clerk should be the secretary of all meetings of the congregation in conference and should keep a legible, intelligible, and accurate record of all meetings and duly inscribe them in a permanent record book.  The clerk should keep an accurate church enrollment, record of baptisms and transfers, and write for church letters for new members as needed and record changes in the roles of church membership.  The clerk shouldl be the holder and preserver of  all important documents of the church as deemed necessary.

The Flower / Decoration Committee

This committee is responsible for flower arrangements and theme and seasonal decorations in the church, especially as they relate to the sanctuary and services. 

Sound System Ministry

The sound people are responsible for the sound system during the appointed services, times of practice,  and special events.  Shall be in charge of taping the services and maintaining all sound related equipment such as microphones and platform instruments.

Choir Director

Fostering the congregation's spiritual enrichment through the ministry of music. Works with the pastor to lead the congregation's song in the praise of God. The Choir Director encourages and leads the congregation's musical expressions through planning and rehearsing; planning the music program with the pastor; seeking the help and counsel of the Worship and Music Committee; and supporting, encouraging, and coordinating with the other music ministries of the congregation.  Is directly responsible to the pastor. Participates in weekly conversations with the pastor to review the previous services and plan for the ones to come.

Worship Leader / Song Leader

Administers and develops the worship music ministry for the church, including training, and leading a varied ministry of music consistent with the church's mission statement.

Responsible for discerning the musically gifted and interested and be able to recruit and equip those persons for the ministry of music, enabling a broader participation from the church body.

Establish standards for worship activities and oversee evaluation according to those standards to identify progress in achieving the vision.   May also include….

• Develop a long-range worship plan in collaboration with the pastor.
• Schedule and lead rehearsals. 
• Schedule and lead additional practices and events as needed.
• Selects music to accommodate talents and abilities of group and to suit the worship style.
• Participation in workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.
• Order music and maintain music library.
• Lead and/or assist with planning for special events.
• Keeps inventory of all musical and technical equipment.
• Assists in annual budget preparation concerning worship ministry.

Typical Church Committees  and  TEAMS

Overview of  characteristics and responsibilities of Committees and  Members

• Active church membership, faithful to commitments, cooperative in spirit, able to keep a confidence
• Serves faithfully the best interests of the church by discerning the Lord’s direction and faithfully carrying out the assignment given by the church.  The committees serve as advisory to the congregation who makes the ultimate decisions, unless otherwise directed by the congregation.  The church should take very seriously the recommendations of the committee, realizing they are working with more information and seek the best for the fellowship.  However the congregation at large may choose to reject or over-ride the recommendation of the committee.
• The committee should prepare a written report of its activity, conclusions and recommendations for filing with the clerk.  Standing committees should strive to meet regularly.
• The committee should notify in advance the pastor, moderator, and chairman of the deacons when it will bring a recommendation to the church, and exactly what those recommendations might be. 
• Committees should elect chairpersons and secretary their first meeting each year.
• The Pastor is typically ex-officio member of all committees or teams.
• The chairperson of a committee guides the committee to faithfully fulfill its mission assignment.  He should lead the committee in prayer, make assignments, and call for assignment reports from the committee.
• The secretary should keep accurate records of minutes and information gathered by the committee.

Selection process:  Nominated by nominating committee and approved by church as provided for in the constitution

TEAMS   Many churches have replaced much of their committee structure with TEAMS.  The difference is that teams have a built in pre-authorized authority to take action on behalf of the church to accomplish their assigned mission.  They do not make recommendations to the congregation and wait for approval, as with the committee process.  Rather they simply make decisions and carry out their assignment.  Teams are often made up of people who have a deep passion for their team mission rather than just holding a position. Teams must meet regularly and work closely together to fulfill their assignments.  They must work within pre-authorized financial limits and must report regularly to the congregation of their actions.  Teams usually have a much quicker and simpler turnaround time for accomplishing their assignments.   

Trustees

Trustees are elected by the congregation and usually serve for an indefinite period.  They are the legal representatives of the church.  They hold in trust the property of the church but have no power to buy, sell mortgage, lease, or transfer any property without a specific vote of the church authorizing such action.

They are responsible for making recommendations pertaining to the upkeep, repair, and maintenance of all church property and buildings.

They are to see that all property is adequately insured.

They shall provide for an annual audit of the books and accounts as needed.

Church Council

The church council typically serves as advisory to the pastoral leadership, and as a forum for expression of needs, planning future events and ministry, review and evaluation of ministries, and as a network for communication among the key leadership of the church.  Council members often include:  Pastor, SS Director, Chairman of Deacons, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairman, Youth Leader, Children’s Leader, Worship leadership, Women’s Ministry leader, and a Trustee.  Other key leaders may be added as needed and appropriate.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is typically composed of the church treasurer, chairman of trustees, chairman of the deacons, and others as nominated by the congregation.  This committee shall prepare the church budget and recommend it to the church at the annual business meeting.

Day to day expenditures should be made by the treasurer according to authorization of this committee, which is responsible to report to the church for a full accounting for all financials.

Nominating Committee

Often appointed by the moderator or church council or as provided for in the church constitution, this committee shall submit to the church, nominations of officers, leaders and committees as provided for by the constitution.  The nominating committee shall canvass the church membership roles and prayerfully seek the Lord in seeking to discover those persons suitable for holding positions in the church.   The committee should be tactful, patient, and careful in working with past and current office holders and discerning who should be recommended for future service.  This committee will serve throughout the year making recommendations to fill vacancies as needed.

Other committees may include:

Benevolence Committee --  Responsible for handling financial assistance toward members and non-members – operates according to benevolence policies guidelines adopted by the church

Missions Committee --   Several members elected by the congregation who cooperate with the pastoral leadership in planning and promoting and carrying out special event ministries, new work church planting efforts, and all details connected with the church missionary efforts.

Outreach/Evangelism Committee  -- members elected by the congregation who help foster, coordinate and train membership for local evangelistic outreach

Condolence Committee -- members elected by the congregation who coordinate bereavement ministries of flowers, meals, and other assistance related to the decease of members and friends.

Baptism Committee -- members elected by the congregation who assist the pastor in preparation of candidates for baptism

Building and Grounds Committee -- members elected by the congregation who in partnership with the trustees carryout the maintenance of the church

Others might be considered as defined by the church for meeting specific needs---

Men’s Ministry

Youth Ministry

Women’s Ministry   

Children’s Ministry

Seniors Ministry

Singles Ministry

Divorce Recovery Ministry

Disaster Relief Coordinator

      and many others………….

In fact any need that requires some specialized and focused ministry beyond the ministry of the offices of Deacons and Pastor, might benefit from a Committee or Team that carries that responsibility / ministry assignment and reports to the church. 

Committee descriptions of the above will be determined by the specific church and specific ministry needs and organizational structure of each church.