ISSUE ARCHIVE

Recent Research Quantifies the Nature and
Scope of Lay Staff Ministry

The growth of lay staff in congregations across denominations is a significant trend shaping the way churches engage in ministry and the way people experience church on the front lines of local ministry. In order to understand this development more fully, Dr. Ann A. Michel, associate director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, set out to answer two questions within her denominational context: "How many lay staff work in United Methodist congregations?" and "What do they do?" Although more research is needed to understand this trend fully, this research revealed important aspects of the changing profile of church staffing.

• Many lay staff serve the church. It is likely that there are at least 40,000 part-time and full-time lay personnel in United Methodist churches.

• The numbers are growing. Denomination-wide, the percentage of total church expenditures spent on non-clergy compensation has grown consistently over the past two decades. In 2009, the denominational average was 19.6 percent. In every size category studied, and in the denomination as a whole, that percentage had grown consistently since 1989 when records were first kept and the percentage was 14.6 percent.

• They serve in churches across a wide size range. While it is true that very large churches tend to have very large staffs, the lay employees of churches with attendance over 1,000 account for only about 12 percent of lay employees denomination-wide. These very large churches actually have fewer lay staff (and fewer clergy) per worshiper than in other size categories studied. About half of lay staff work in churches with attendance of 350 or more and half in smaller churches.

• Most lay staff work in program areas. While church administrative and support services account for 35 to 39 percent of lay staff in the churches studied, a larger group of lay staff serve in program ministries. Five specific categories of ministry generally account for the highest percentage of lay workers – children's ministry, office administration, music, facilities, and youth. In churches with more than 500 attendance, children's ministry and office administration top the list, each accounting for just under 20 percent of total staff. In smaller churches, music personnel are usually the largest category.

• Lay staff are predominantly part-time except in very large churches. One notable difference in churches with attendance over 1,000 is the percentage of staff working full-time. Based on survey responses, 74 percent of staff are full-time in the largest churches compared to around 45 to 50 percent in other churches with attendance above 350 but less than 1,000. Women are much more likely than men to work part-time, particularly in larger churches.

• Lay staff are predominantly female. Women make up about 70 percent of lay staff.

• Lay staff tend to come from the congregation they serve. About 60 percent of lay staff were members of the congregation they served before being hired.

• Most lay staff do not have formal theological education.

• Salaries for lay staff are notably higher in larger churches. The salaries of most full-time lay staff surveyed in 2010 fell in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 a year. The pay scale is notably higher in churches with average attendance above 1,000 where 31 percent made more than $50,000.

To view or download the full report, go to Lay Staff Ministry in the United Methodist Church (2011).

Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

Free Stewardship Resource from the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America provides stewardship resources to help congregations. A free resource useful across denominations is their "10 Stewardship Principles" flyer, available in English and Spanish at http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Discipleship/Stewardship/Year-Round-Stewardship-Communication.aspx.

Apply for Wesley Seminary's Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership

Wesley Theological Seminary is accepting applications from those seeking doctoral study in church leadership. The next cohort begins in May 2012. Students receive enhanced knowledge, skills, and motivation to lead the church toward service, vitality, and growth. Theological disciplines and contemporary leadership studies are engaged to enhance the fruitful practice of leadership. The combined resources of the Wesley faculty, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, and guest faculty bring depth and energy to this track. The application deadline is December 1, 2011. Click here for more information.

Survey: Does your church receive rental income from your facilities?

If your church regularly receives rental income (from building uses other than weddings), please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey to help us prepare resources that you and other churches might use to address questions or dilemmas related to facility rentals.

CGP: A New Tool to Monitor Your Congregation's Giving More

If income is down in the summer, how do you know whether it is just the "summer slump" or if it is a more serious downturn in giving? To answer this question, you need to use an income-tracking system that takes account of the normal ups and downs of your church's giving personality. Dividing the budget goal by 52 weeks or 12 months — as nine in 10 churches do — will not give you a clear picture of your financial situation. Because each congregation has its own unique pattern of giving, the Lewis Center developed the Congregational Giving Profile (CGP) to monitor your finances based on the way people in your church actually give. Learn more about CGP.