A Call To Spiritual Leadership

Part 3

As a lay superintendent you are both a spiritual leader and an administrator. In your role as an administrator it is essential that you address the following items regularly and effectively: advance planning, organization, staff appointments, curriculum, goal setting, follow-up and outreach, and advertisement.

Advance Planning

Within any organization an important element of administration is advance planning. Leaders must determine the needs of a church/Sunday School from both a present and a future perspective. Within this context they must then formulate relevant objectives and goals and integrate them into both a short-term (tactical) plan and a long-term (strategic) plan. It is then necessary to review and update these goals and objectives regularly.

Using every available resource, contemporary themes, organizational helps, and realistic approaches, address your Sunday School's present needs as well as the future ones. You will, of course, want to coordinate closely with the pastor to be sure your plans for the Sunday School tie into the church's overall goals.

Organization

Organization is another important aspect of administration. In the Bible, organizational structures are always presented as a means to an end. A distinctive mark of the New Testament church was that they organized to meet needs. Therefore, an important biblical principle of organization is to develop those structures for the Sunday School that will enable you to reach your objectives.

If organization is to be functional, it must be simple. Complicated organizational patterns have a tendency to become ends in themselves. A good test for simplicity, even in a complex pattern, is whether or not the structure serves biblical objectives. If not, the structure should be carefully evaluated in light of spiritual criteria.

Flexibility is another important aspect of organization. Organizational patterns that develop rigidity are in danger of being treated as authoritative and absolute. To make nonabsolutes absolute will guarantee both isolation and death of an organized Sunday School.

Staff Appointments

More than mere desire to serve is required of staff members. They must be spiritual, capable, and dependable. Using proper methodology and criteria for Sunday School staff selection cannot be overemphasized. It is essential that you select staff members who qualify as competent leaders and teachers.

Discuss the needs and the direction of the Sunday School and staff appointments with the pastor. You will receive meaningful guidance, direction, and information concerning potential staff appointments. Many problems can be avoided by calling upon the pastor's knowledge, expertise, and leadership experience.

The old-fashioned interview works well in selecting new staff members for the Sunday School. You may conduct these one-on-one with the prospect. At others times, the pastor may join you in meeting with the prospect The interview is a time when expectations may be discussed in detail, along with any questions, concerns, or issues. Both the superintendent and the potential teacher can then make a more accurate decision as to whether teaching or department superintending is in their respective best interest.

One other tool for appointing the staff at the start of each Sunday School year is the covenant letter. The letter encourages prospective staff to review their past attendance and faithfulness to Sunday School and related staff meetings, and to make a renewed commitment for the new Sunday School year.

The letter also emphasizes that teaching is not a baby-sitting service, but a ministry. The teacher is to nurture those placed under his or her care in Christian growth. It also obligates the teacher to a commitment to Jesus Christ, to share the doctrinal positions of the Assemblies of God, worship regularly within the fellowship of the church, to tithe faithfully, and take opportunities for additional training.

The letter helps promote unity and cooperation, and it spells out the importance of team play. It also specifies that each appointment is for 1 year only, providing both the superintendent and teacher an opportunity to review and reconsider the assignment.

For the appointment to become effective, the prospective staff member must agree to the critera set in the letter by signing and dating a response letter. This acknowledges that he or she accepts or declines the indicated appointment.

Curriculum

An effective, Bible-centered curriculum is one of the most important ingredients of a successful Sunday School. Curriculum is defined as a course of study that is organized to guide the student to specific objectives by the proper use of content, teaching aids, teacher influence, and experience, as well as application and motivation.

The administrator must select curriculum that meets the needs of each age and special interest group and is comprehensive enough to provide a balanced study of the entire Bible. Curriculum is the means by which the Sunday School accomplishes its purpose of leading people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and building them up in the faith.

Criteria by which to select the curriculum and topics for your Sunday School are: (a) theological content, (b) lesson content, (c) appearance of material, (d) availability of teacher and student helps, and (e) subjects that are interesting and helpful.

Goal Setting

Goals can be best reached by embracing a God-given vision, then communicating that vision to your staff in an inspiring manner. To measure progress within the framework of your vision, it is necessary to set realistic short- and long-term goals.

For instance, statistics indicate that for every two people you enroll in Sunday School, there will be an increase in average attendance of one. So a realistic annual goal of 20 percent increase in enrollment will result in an average attendance increase of about 10 percent.

Review the growth progress regularly with the staff. Remember, one of the most important functions of a leader is to communicate the vision to others who will help reach the goals.

Follow-Up and Outreach

Follow-up and outreach are also important aspects of administration. On any given Sunday only 50 percent or less of those enrolled in Sunday School are present. An even more alarming observation is that 7 out of 10 adults who do not attend Sunday School now were at one time regular attendees. At all ages, absenteeism is a problem. Frequently students are permitted to drift away, with little or no effort to bring them back.

When a student is absent, immediate action is necessary. To facilitate this process, a class secretary must record and report the attendance of each student. As quickly as possible all reported absentees should be contacted�either by card or telephone. A second absence should be followed up with a personal call to learn the reason for the absence and to urge the student's return. A third consecutive absence may require a visit by the teacher, superintendent, or pastor.

In every case the student must see that he or she is missed, that return to Sunday School is important to his or her personal spiritual welfare, and that the next Sunday is the best time to return.

It is also important to express appreciation to your regular attendees and remind them their faithfulness is a positive force in the Sunday School's ministry.

Outreach also plays a significant role in the overall health and growth of the local Sunday School. First-time visitors should immediately receive a letter, telephone call, and/or personal visit. They need to feel warmth and acceptance. Meeting visitors and memorizing their names nakes a positive impact when they return and are greeted by name.

It takes effort and commitment to close the back door with respect to members and visitors.

Advertisement

Another important facet of Sunday School administration is advertisement or publicity. A vigorous visitation program requires training, time, and effort, but it brings great dividents in making the community aware of your Sunday School. Effective ways to highlight the Sunday School within the church are bulletins, newsletters, fliers, and posters. Develop and implement a theme, such as Learning To Live the L.I.F.E.

Special emphases, such as Cradle Roll Day, Mother's Day, Bring-a-Friend Day, and Back-to-School Day are helpful in introducing your Sunday School to persons who do not regularly attend.

Communicate your enthusiasm, goals, and objectives, The more visibility you give to your Sunday School the greater will be the community and congregation's interest.