BIRMINGHAM THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

2200 Briarwood Way

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

205-776-5650

Spring 2015 Cell Phone: (205) 292-4620

PT5631 Theology and Practice of Administration Home Phone: (205) 758-1631

Professor: Rev. Charles H. Williams Email:

Class Hours: 2

Course Description

This course is designed to provide the student with theological principles and practical procedures for church administration. It will cover the administrative aspects of church operations, the functions of various church boards as well as the functions of the minister in those areas.

Course Objectives

  1. To present each student with some Biblical principles of church administration
  2. To give special attention to practical procedures and their application for CA
  3. To help each student understand organizational behavior and its role in CA
  4. To equip each student with information necessary for equipping others to help in meeting the needs of the ministry

Course Textbooks

Tidwell, Charles A. Church Administration: Effective Leadership for Ministry

(Broadman and Holdman Publishers 1985) ISBN: 0805431136

Gangel, Kenneth O. Feeding and Leading (Baker Books 1989) ISBN: 0801063310

Dudley, Carl S. Effective Small Churches in the Twenty-First Century* (Abingdon Press: Revised Edition 2003) ISBN: 0687090903

Massey, Floyd Jr. Church Administration in Black Perspective* (Judson Press 1976) ISBN 0817007105

Welch, Robert H. Church Administration (Broadman and Holman Publishers 2005) ISBN: 978-0-0854-3164-3

Course Requirements

  1. Reading Assignments-Each student is responsible for the assigned readings in the course texts.
  2. Participation-Students are expected to be prepared and participate actively in each class. Only two excused absences will be permitted. Students missing more than two classes will be required to do an additional book report.
  3. The student will write a four-page paper on each book designated as a book critique. The paper will present the thesis of the book and explain how the book affected you and any additional insights gained that will help you in ministry. All papers must be formatted in accordance with Turabian Chicago standards including the title page.

. Do not merely summarize the contents; rather evaluate the book’s strengths and weaknesses. As you read, ask yourself and answer these questions, read critically:

 Begin your critique with the bibliographic information (Title, author, publisher, place and date of publication) of the book you have chosen to critique.

 Write a briefsummary of the main theme and any major secondary themes of the author. I do not want a book review. I already know the content. Just give me enough to show you have read and digested the material.

 Include your analysis of the arguments the author sets forth. Your analysis should be focused primarily upon how faithfully you think the author has interpreted and applied the Scripture.

Evaluate how they have either succeeded or failed in taking into account all of Scripture (in other words, is it a systematic argument or simply a use of some isolated proof texts?) citing instances from the book to support your evaluation.

 Tell me why you agree or disagree with their conclusion(s), using the Scriptures to support any differing views you may hold.

 Conclude with a paragraph that states what you have gained personally AND professionally from reading this book.

  1. Two Exams- A Mid-Term and a Final

Papers Requirements

BTS has made the decision to adopt the Turabian style of writing format for all papers, clinicals, dissertations (DMin) and reports. Also, all papers are to be double spaced, 12-point font and Times New Roman script. This will bring consistency and less confusion for both students and professors. Any paper not conforming to these standards will automatically be dropped on letter grade. In this technological age, information is readily available; make sure that you understand about giving reference sources the proper recognition.

Grading Requirements

  1. Class Participation……………………………………………………20%
  2. Completion of Reading Assignments………………………………...20%
  3. Mid-Term……………………………………………………………..30%
  4. Final Exam………………………………………………………….....30%

TOTAL……………………………………………………………..100%

Grading Policy

All course materials must be submitted to the professor at the end of the semester (last day of class). Thereafter, course materials may be submitted for up to six weeks after the end of the semester directly to the office of the registrar with the permission of the professor. If a student submits course materials after the end of the semester but within the six weeks grace period, the student’s grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The course materials will not be accepted after the six weeks grace period and a failing grade will be posted to the student’s transcript.

Course Assignments

Date Topic Readings

1/20/15 Course Introduction Course Syllabus

Introduction-Tidwell

1/26/15 Course Administration Chapters 1-2 Tidwell

Chapter 1 Gangel

2/2/15 Church Organization Chapters 3-5 Tidwell

Chapters 5-6 Gangel

2/9/15 Church Organization

Book Critique Due--Effective Small Churches…*)

2/16/15 Administrative Controls Chapter 9 Tidwell

Chapter 8 Welch

2/23/15 MID-TERM

3/2/15 Guest Lecturers

3/9/15 Documents for Administration Chapter 3 Welch

3/16/15 Admin. Human Resources Chapter 6 Tidwell

Chapters 7-11, 19 Gangel

Chapter 5 Welch

3/23/15 Admin. Physical Resources Chapter 7 Tidwell

Book Critique Due Chapter 7 Welch

(Church Admin. in the Black Church*)

3/30/15 Admin. Financial Resources Chapter 8 Tidwell

Chapter 6 Welch

4/6/15 Admin. Program Ministries Chapter 11 Welch

4/13/15 CA Leader Skills Chapter 10 Tidwell

Chapters 2-4, 12-18, 20 Gangel

4/20/15 Final Exam

*Books designated for book critiques.

Bibliography

Anderson, James D. To Come Alive: A New Proposal for Revitalizing the Local Church.

Harper & Row, 1972.

Bacher, Robert. Church Administration: Programs, Process, Purpose. Augsburg Fortress

Publishing, 2007.

Berkley, James D. Leadership Handbook of Management and Administration: Practical

Insight from a Cross Section of Ministry Leaders. Baker Book House, 1994.

Chaffee, Paul. Accountable Leadership. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1997.

Dudley, Carl S. Effective Small Churches in the Twenty-First Century. Abingdon Press: Revised

Edition, 2003.

Gangel, Kenneth O. Feeding and Leading. Baker Books, 1989.

Getz, Gene A. Sharpening the Focus of the Church. Victor, 1984.

Lindgren, Alvin J. Foundations for Purposeful Christian Administration. Abingdon, 1965.

Massey, Floyd Jr. Church Administration in the Black Perspective. Judson Press, 1976.

Mitchell, Kenneth R. The Multiple Staff Ministries. Westminster, 1988.

Powers, Bruce P. Church Administration Handbook: Resources for Church Leaders.

Broadman Press, 1985.

Tidwell, Charles A. Church Administration Effective Leadership for Ministry. Broadman, 1985.

Walz, Edgar. How to Manage Your Church: A Manual for Pastors and Lay Leaders.

Concordia Publishing House, 1987.

Welch, Robert H. Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry.

B & H Publishing Group, 2011