A field-tested guide to the management and finance of church congregations, revised for a new generation.
Clergy are generally equipped to preach and provide spiritual care. But when it comes to budgets, insurance, fire safety, and church management many find themselves at a loss. The Church Administration and Finance Manual is the classic guide to running a church, written to answer key questions for clergy and lay leaders.
Not simply a theoretical resource, the Manual provides suggestions for almost every aspect of parish administration: position descriptions, financial forms, materials for stewardship and Christian education, building use and safety issues, employee record keeping, and much more. This revised edition offers guidance on many new topics that are of vital importance to churches, including protecting children, information security, approaches to preventing and responding to violence, planned giving, social media, and hybrid work and worship.
Whether clergy are just out of seminary or well-seasoned in parish life, the Manual is full of excellent guidelines, tools, and forms for improving the management of the parish.
“This is long overdue! This updated Church Administration and Finance Manual is a welcome and invaluable resource for pastors and lay leaders—especially at a time when congregations are facing great challenges and change. It addresses current trends in financial management, governance, and effective church structure. I am pleased to recommend this to every parish pastor and congregation.”
—Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse, author of The World is About to Turn: Mending a Nation’s Broken Faith, teacher, and parish consultant
“I have kept this resource manual near me in my work as a parish pastor in a variety of church settings over the years. It has been a useful and valuable guide for clergy and laity alike, and I have often needed to retrieve my copy to share it with others. I have yet to find such a comprehensive and helpful guide to church administration.”
—Pastor Arne Bergland, ELCA intentional interim pastor
“This latest revision of the Church Administration and Finance Manual has incorporated the dramatic changes in church administration over the last decade—including the post-pandemic era. It is invaluable in understanding the current reality of areas including child safety, information technology, online giving, and much, much more.”
—Rev. Dr. Richard Jones, church consultant and trainer on simple church administration
“I often referred to the 1998 edition of the Church Administration and Finance Manual for guidance in my role as a pastor, and I heartily welcome this revised edition as an authoritative manual for the twenty-first century. Whether you are a solo pastor of a small parish or a pastor of a multi-staffed church, this manual is indispensable when it comes to offering insights needed to be an effective pastoral leader.
—Rev. Kapp L. Johnson, J.D., pastor, attorney, and professor at California Lutheran University
“As I have journeyed through four decades of church leadership, I have learned that Jesus’ words regarding building a home on a solid foundation are more important than ever. This updated Church Administration and Finance Manual provides helpful strategies to pastors who are preparing to lead local churches. Beginning with a discussion on our call to serve the Kingdom of God and building on our understanding of the leadership of the pastor and the lay leader’s faithful service, this manual emphasizes our responsibility to protect and support our most important resources: our people. As a local church pastor and as the North District Superintendent, I highly recommend this church resource.”
—Rev. James R. Powell, Lead Pastor at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church
“This is a must-have resource for every pastoral and lay leader. The first edition of this book saved me countless hours of research and was an easily accessible resource that helped me when I was not sure where to begin. Although this updated Church Administration and Finance Manual is not a substitute for legal or financial advice, it does answer and inform many questions pastors must consider.”
—Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, EdD, Resident Bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area
“Consulted by topic or read cover to cover, this updated version of the Church Administration and Finance Manual offers expert advice and trusted companionship for a multitude of issues facing ministries today. Focused on love of God and care for people, and written in a direct, personable tone, this is an indispensable resource with practical exercises for planning, organizing and staffing, leadership, and assessing and reporting.
—Colleen Windham-Hughes, Professor of Religion at California Lutheran University
“The capabilities, opportunities, and challenges of technology have increased exponentially since the 1998 version of the Church Administration and Finance Manual. The revised version greatly expands this discussion. It does an excellent job of addressing a variety of technology topics—even including a discussion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), while prioritizing mission fit in considering the use of technology in today's church.”
—Rev. Dr. Danny Spears
