Key Considerations When Hiring for Your Church Staff

Planning for a new church staff hire can be a pivotal moment for your church's growth strategy. But how do you determine the next right position to add to your team? While there's no magic formula, here are five key factors to consider.

Vision and Mission Alignment

Your next hire should align and support your overall vision and mission. If there's an area in your mission and vision that needs bolstering, that could be the place where you need to direct your next hire.

Current needs and pain points

Where is your ministry experiencing the most strain? Identifying where you feel areas are being neglected or understaffed can help you pinpoint the most pressing need for your new hire. Combine your current needs and pain points with your vision and mission alignment to guide your hiring strategy.

Growth potential

Is your church growing in certain areas? Do you need to expand your children's ministry, for example, or reach a particular demographic group? Hiring strategically can help you capitalize on opportunities your church might have.

Financial stability

Ensure that your budget can support a new hire. Consider salary, benefits, and other associated costs. Aim to have at least two to three years of financial stability when you hire, so that you can sustain the position long-term.

Talent pool

Look at the talent pool and consider if you have qualified candidates within your congregation that could fill the role. If not, be prepared to conduct an external search.

Specific Roles to Consider

As your church grows, specific roles often considered include:

• Worship Pastor: To enhance engagement during worship services.
• Children or Youth Ministry: A priority when attracting young families or having a growing younger demographics.
• Executive Pastor: To aid the senior pastor with administrative tasks.
• Communications and Marketing Director: To help communicate effectively to reach new people.
• Outreach or Missions Pastor: Ideal for churches passionate about community outreach or global missions.

Remember, what position to hire next in your church ministry is a unique decision based on your context, needs, and resources. Strategic staffing is about building a team that's aligned with your vision, equipped to meet your needs, and passionate about fulfilling your church's mission.

If you're wrestling with whom to hire next and how to develop a staffing strategy, remember we're here to help at Chemistry Staffing. Listen to more advice on the topic in our Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode.