Category Archives: Church Life

What Church Records to Keep

Record Keeping in the church might include:

• attendance records
• financial records
• historical records
• legal records
• personnel records

What records you keep and how extensively you compile them depends on what you plan to do with them.

So far in the Train Church Leaders Practicum we’ve considered that whatever record keeping you do should be to:

Measure Your Objectives
Keep a Pulse on the Body
Facilitate Ministry
Assess Growth

What Records Not to Keep

While there isn’t one definitive answer for what records each and every church should keep, I can say with certainty what kind of records you shouldn’t keep.

Love … keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Cor. 13:5)

We have all sorts of people in the church, including those we might call “sandpaper people” whose personality rubs us the wrong way. Some well-intentioned people make mistakes. And, then there are those who do us harm.

Some physical records we must keep for a certain number of years in the event of an audit. Other physical records we will keep indefinitely to preserve our church’s history. Too often we keep record of people’s idiosyncrasies, mistakes, and wrong-doing similarly … perhaps not on paper or in a database, but in our hearts and minds. Those, however, are the kinds of records we must deal with and then discard.

Just like hanging on to paper records we no longer need produces nothing but clutter, so it is when we keep record of wrongs. It isn’t only unbecoming for us as Christians, but it can adversely affect future decisions, attitudes, and treatment of others … sometimes even leading to divisions in the church.

Imagine if God would keep a record of all our sin and hold it against us! Instead, we read verses like the following:

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:12)

Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isa. 1:18)

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. (Isa. 43:25)

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. (Mic. 7:18)

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:19)

Fellow believers, let’s make sure we are keeping the right kinds of records!

If you struggle with the idea of having safety policies and perhaps even a security team in the church, think about this:

“love protects” (1 Cor. 13:7)

Safety measures let people know you love them enough to protect them.

An Acrostic Describing What Happens When We Intentionally Put Church Safety Measures in Place

When we intentionally plan for church security we do the following to protect the Body:

P – Prevent problems

The policies themselves can deter some people. Knowing, however, that people stand alert to the risks and keep their eyes open to potential harmful situations, provides an extra layer for people who would do harm.

R – Risk assessment & management

We prevent problems when we take a proactive approach. We see potential problem areas and work to minimize danger or hazards.

O – Open dialogue

When people know we’re there for them, they’re more likely to bring concerns to us if something doesn’t seem right. Having policies says it’s okay to talk about it.

T – Trained observers

Proper training helps people stay more alert to potential danger. When greeters, ushers, teachers, and those specifically assigned to a security team recognize potential danger, much can be prevented, or the consequences lessened, as they move into action.

E – Emergency readiness

The unthinkable can happen in a church. Perhaps a member has a heart attack or other medical issue in the middle of the service. Churches have faced someone opening gun fire, child abduction, a fire, or natural disaster of some sort. When ready to respond, we can avert some of the collateral damage.

C – Cut costs

Taking care of issues after the damage is done can be very costly financially, but also for people’s well-being, healthy relationships, and the reputation of church. We could be looking at people seeking compensation, liability suits, increased insurance premiums, and more. Some will complain that we can’t afford a safety program. The real question might be if we can afford not to take these measures.

T – Trust Builds

The Bible warns about wolves in sheep’s clothing. We can’t always prevent problems. But, when people know we’re doing what we can, they tend to feel more secure and put the focus where it should be while attending church. For example, screening workers lets parents know we take the welfare of their children seriously. That along with other measures we take, can lessen their worry about leaving their children and going to their own classes or service.

Don’t take safety measures merely to follow the ways of the world or do what other churches do. Loving people means that we do what we can to keep them safe — because LOVE PROTECTS.

Policy Making in the church is often perceived as . . .

stifling and controlling.

We have probably all experienced “red tape” due to established policies wherein you felt “boxed in” or like you couldn’t advance without “jumping through hoops.” Perhaps it felt rather legalistic.

Policy Making in the Church, however, should be . . .

enhancing and freeing.

Policies should be our servant, not our master — to help us better serve the One who is our Lord. They should help us function the way God intended which is always best.

Scripture clearly states that though we are indeed free, we’re to use that freedom to humbly and lovingly serve others.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Gal. 5:13)

Tips to Develop Enhancing, Freeing Church Policies Minus the Red Tape

1) Have the right objectives in developing the policies.

2) Let God and His design for the Church be the parameters for policy making.

3) Keep an eye on the big picture.

 More to Read: Policy Making & Freedom in Christ