Five Questions to Ask Before Hiring for Your Church Staff

A common assumption is that more staff leads to better outcomes for your church. However, adding new hires to your team prematurely might lead to a less healthy church structure, resulting in poor morale or increased staff turnover. Before you hire for your church staff, consider these five essential questions:

1. Is the Role Clearly Defined?

Don't add another team member without a clearly defined role description. Avoid hiring someone to figure it out as they go - this approach typically leads to chaos, not leadership.

2. Are You Avoiding a Hard Conversation?

Consider why you're hiring. Are you trying to hire around someone who isn't working out or replace a still-existing team member? If so, this could be a red flag that you're not ready to bring someone new onboard.

3. Is It Just About Busyness?

Overwork is real, but not every solution is a new hire. Avoid structuring your church's organizational chart around short-term urgency. Consider evaluating responsibilities, restructuring teams, or pausing non-essential projects before turning to hiring as a solution.

4. Can the Culture Support It?

If your current staff culture is unhealthy, adding more people won't improve it. A new hire will likely adopt the surrounding dysfunction or leave, which won't help to build a healthy church team.

5. Have You Prayed About It?

Last but not least, ensure your decision for hiring is rooted in prayer, not panic, pressure, or pride. The clarity that comes from prayer often brings peace.

Building a Healthy Church Staff

Remember, there's a time to hire, and a time not to hire. Adding more staff isn't always the right step for your church. Wait, pray, and get your job description and existing staff issues in order first. Pause and consider these points before bringing new people into the team.

Interested in learning more about when your church should hold off hiring? Find more insights by tuning in to today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode. Our mission as a church, bearer of God's work, doesn't lie necessarily in the size of the team but rather in the strength of its structure and culture.