Church Administrator Resume Guide
Church administrators manage the daily operations of churches and religious organizations. They ensure that financial records are kept accurately, handle communications with church members and other stakeholders, coordinate events and activities, maintain facilities, provide administrative support to clergy staff and volunteers, develop budgets for programs or projects within the organization, and act as a liaison between the congregation leadership team.
You have the administrative and organizational skills to run a church office like clockwork. But hiring managers don’t know who you are, so creating an eye-catching resume is key to getting them interested in your credentials.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Church Administrator Resume Sample
Barbara Legros
Church Administrator
[email protected]
559-941-7415
linkedin.com/in/barbara-legros
Summary
Driven church administrator with 8+ years of experience managing the day-to-day operations and long-term planning for a diverse congregation. Proven track record of increasing member engagement by 25%, while also reducing operational costs by 20%. Seeking to join ABC Church as its next Administrator and use my expertise in budgeting, staff management, event coordination, communications strategy, and more to ensure smooth functioning.
Experience
Church Administrator, Employer A
Cape Coral, Jan 2018 – Present
- Reorganized and streamlined church administration procedures, reducing paperwork by 45% and saving 4 hours of administrative time every week.
- Organized logistics for church events such as weekly services, weddings, funerals and other special occasions; liaised with vendors to ensure all requirements were met on budget.
- Actively monitored office supplies stock & inventories; placed orders in a timely manner to prevent any disruptions or shortages in the supply chain process.
- Reduced operational costs by 20%; negotiated favorable terms with suppliers for equipment/supplies purchased regularly for the Church’s operations needs.
- Represented the Church at various local forums related to religious matters, successfully advocating its mission statement & values among key stakeholders.
Church Administrator, Employer B
Boise, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Reliably maintained financial records, ensuring that all expenses and donations were accurately tracked; successfully balanced the church’s books to the penny each month.
- Assisted with registrations for special events such as Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Summer Camps, registering over 250 children in 3 months while achieving a 97% satisfaction rating from parents.
- Resolved administrative issues quickly by efficiently handling inquiries pertaining to scheduling, outreach programs & staff-related matters; decreased response time by 50%.
- Facilitated effective communication between parishioners and clergy through weekly newsletters, increased readership of said publications by 25%.
- Demonstrated exceptional organizational skills when managing multiple projects simultaneously including Sunday services preparations & volunteer recruitment campaigns which resulted in 15 new volunteers joining over 6 months’ time period.
Skills
- Nonprofits
- Volunteer Management
- Fundraising
- Teaching
- Leadership Development
- Church Events
- Discipleship
- Event Management
- Pastoral Care
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Church Administrator
Church Management Institute
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
Your resume summary or objective should be a brief, yet powerful statement that captures the essence of who you are as a church administrator. Include your experience in managing budgets and staff, developing outreach programs for members of the community, and how you have successfully implemented new initiatives to improve overall operations. You can also mention any certifications or awards you’ve received related to church administration.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Committed church administrator with 8+ years of experience in managing church operations and community outreach. At XYZ Church, increased new membership by 20% while reducing overhead costs by 10%. Skilled at leveraging technology to streamline administrative tasks and coordinate volunteers for various projects. Passionate about strengthening the spiritual life of members through seminars, classes, worship services, and small groups.
Proficient church administrator with 5+ years of experience in providing administrative support to church leadership and staff. Experienced in developing and implementing efficient office procedures, managing budgets, handling inquiries from members and visitors, as well as planning events for the congregation. Proven track record of facilitating a welcoming environment for all people who come through the doors of XYZ Church.
Accomplished church administrator with 5+ years of experience in church management, administration and operations. Experienced in developing operational plans to improve efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness for the organization. Seeking to bring my expertise to ABC Church as their next Administrator where I can help grow its capacity through effective budgeting, personnel management and community outreach.
Passionate and experienced church administrator with 8+ years of experience managing day-to-day operations and developing strategic plans for Christian organizations. Seeking to bring my expertise in budgeting, event coordination, membership growth, fundraising initiatives, and volunteer management to ABC Church. My previous roles included an 18% increase in donor contributions over two consecutive fiscal quarters.
Diligent church administrator with 8+ years of experience leading major projects and daily operations for a faith-based organization. Skilled in developing effective programs, managing budgets, and maintaining records to ensure compliance with legal regulations. Looking to join ABC Church as the next Administrator where I can apply my strong leadership skills towards optimizing organizational processes.
Energetic and organized church administrator with 8+ years of experience in managing office operations, HR functions, and event planning. At XYZ Church, managed a budget of $1 million to successfully organize 10 large events per year. Led the implementation of an online donation system that increased donations by 30%. Proven ability to handle multiple tasks while providing excellent customer service.
Hard-working church administrator with 5+ years of experience managing church operations, developing and executing effective strategies, and providing support to staff members. Skilled in budgeting, financial management, event planning/coordination and volunteer recruitment. Seeking a position at ABC Church that will utilize my organizational skills while furthering the mission of the organization.
Amicable and organized Church Administrator seeking to join XYZ Church. Over 8 years of experience in church administration, with a track record of successful projects such as increasing attendance by 20%, fundraising campaigns resulting in $50K+ donations, and launching new programs that boosted volunteer engagement. Awarded “Outstanding Administrator” three times for excellence on the job.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you should provide details on your employment history. This section should be written in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent job is listed first.
When writing about what you did for each role, stick to bullet points and use concise language. You want to make sure that the reader can quickly digest what you have said while also providing enough detail so they understand exactly what it was that you did and any results achieved.
For example, instead of saying “Organized church events,” say something like “Planned and organized 50+ annual church events including Easter services with up to 500 attendees.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Managed
- Coordinated
- Scheduled
- Organized
- Supervised
- Monitored
- Developed
- Administered
- Prepared
- Implemented
- Assisted
- Resolved
- Communicated
- Analyzed
- Facilitated
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Demonstrated
- Expedited
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Participated in weekly meetings with church staff to discuss and resolve administrative issues; coordinated the setup of over 30 events for the congregation that increased overall attendance by 10%.
- Expedited clerical duties such as creating/revising official documents, managing incoming/outgoing mail and filing records in a timely manner; improved data entry accuracy rate from 85% to 98% within six months.
- Structured sound financial management plans that enabled the church budget to remain balanced throughout each fiscal year while still allowing for more outreach initiatives and charitable donations totaling $3500+ annually.
- Consistently monitored inventory levels of supplies used by volunteers on mission trips abroad, ensuring adequate resources were always available when needed; reduced supply wastage costs by 23%.
- Revised existing policies & procedures related to pastoral care services, volunteer recruitment methods as well as fundraising strategies based on current industry trends and best practices; streamlined operations resulting in an 8% increase in productivity across all departments within one month’s time frame.
- Introduced and implemented multiple administrative processes and procedures to efficiently manage the daily operations of a church with 1,000+ members, resulting in an 8% increase in attendance.
- Coordinated events such as weddings and baptisms; scheduled over 20 religious ceremonies per month while consistently adhering to budget constraints.
- Mentored 10 volunteers on proper office administration duties including filing paperwork, answering phones, scheduling appointments etc., increasing their confidence by 80%.
- Advised pastors on various issues related to church policies & regulations; collaborated closely with other staff members for smooth execution of weekly services and special activities throughout the year.
- Accurately recorded donations received from congregants every week using QuickBooks software; managed financial records which enabled churches’ assets grow by $50k annually since 2017.
- Presented financial reports, budget proposals and other documentation to the Church leadership team; successfully obtained $40K in additional funding for ministry activities.
- Competently managed day-to-day operations of church, including scheduling staff and volunteers, allocating resources and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Developed a new system for tracking donations that increased transparency by 35% while reducing manual data entry workload by 10 hours per week on average.
- Prepared monthly statements summarizing membership contributions; identified discrepancies leading to recovery of overpaid funds totaling $12K within 6 months of implementation.
- Communicated regularly with congregation members via email & phone regarding upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and special announcements; boosted attendance at weekly services by 25%.
- Compiled monthly financial reports and tracked expenses for hundreds of church members, resulting in an 8% reduction in overall spending.
- Meticulously organized administrative tasks such as worship team scheduling, facilities management, event planning and volunteer recruitment; streamlined operations to achieve a 6-hour efficiency gain each week.
- Spearheaded the launch of several outreach programs in local communities that positively impacted over 500 people with educational resources and job opportunities within one year.
- Utilized effective communication strategies to foster positive relationships among different departments within the church organization; successfully maintained harmonious collaboration between staff members at all times.
- Assessed current Sunday school curriculum regularly and implemented creative activities to keep students engaged while expanding their knowledge base by 25%.
- Optimized and automated church operations, resulting in a 20% reduction in administrative time and an 8% increase in efficiency.
- Improved overall financial performance of the Church by substantially increasing donations from members; total annual giving grew by $20,000 within 6 months of implementation.
- Substantially reduced paper waste through the introduction of digital filing systems, leading to savings of over 2,500 sheets/month on average.
- Implemented new scheduling procedures which resulted in improved customer service and satisfaction ratings; feedback surveys showed 50+ responses with an average score above 4 out 5 stars rating each month for 3 consecutive years now.
- Streamlined procurement processes and negotiated better contracts with suppliers that saved up to 25 hours per week across all departments while keeping quality standards high at all times.
- Monitored and managed the church’s finances, budget and accounts; increased annual donations by 10% through more effective fundraising strategies.
- Analyzed financial data to develop long-term goals for the church and prepare budgets accordingly while ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
- Proficiently administered day-to-day operations including scheduling meetings, managing office supplies inventory and resolving issues related to staff & volunteers efficiently.
- Developed outreach plans that enabled collaboration between local community organizations, churches and businesses in order to promote services offered by the Church organization; attracted over 500 new members within 6 months of launching plans.
- Managed a team of 12 administrative personnel responsible for carrying out various daily tasks, providing guidance as needed while also troubleshooting any technical or operational challenges promptly when they arose.
- Resourcefully scheduled and coordinated over 100 church events each year, including weekly services, special programs & outreach activities; managed content calendar for website updates.
- Supervised staff of 15 volunteers to ensure that all tasks were completed in a timely manner, reducing administrative duties by 30% while achieving organizational goals.
- Achieved 25% growth in outreach program attendance through the implementation of innovative marketing techniques and promotional campaigns on social media platforms.
- Formulated detailed budgets for various church ministries with an accuracy rate of 95%, resulting in cost savings of $5,000 annually compared to previous years’ records.
- Successfully administered general office operations such as filing documents, handling incoming calls/emails and maintaining accurate record keeping systems with minimum supervision.
3. Skills
Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may require the candidate to have experience with budgeting and finance, whereas Organization XYZ might prioritize someone who has a background in human resources.
It is essential to tailor your resume skills section for each job you are applying for because of the applicant tracking systems utilized by many companies. Their role is to analyze resumes for certain characteristics (such as specific keywords), filtering out those they deem not to be a good match.
Once listed here, it’s important that you further elaborate on your skillset in other areas – such as the summary or work history sections – so employers can get an understanding of how well-suited you are for their position.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Administration
- Administrative Assistants
- Biblical Studies
- Church Events
- Coaching
- Data Entry
- Discipleship
- Editing
- Event Management
- Fundraising
- Human Resources
- Leadership Development
- Missions
- Nonprofits
- Office Administration
- Office Management
- Pastoral Care
- Pastoral Counseling
- Preaching
- Process Improvement
- Program Development
- Program Management
- Religion
- Teaching
- Team Leadership
- Theology
- Time Management
- Volunteer Management
- Youth Ministry
4. Education
Mentioning your education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no experience, include a brief mention of it below your objective statement. However, if you have significant work experience to showcase that is related to the church administrator role, omitting an education section altogether might be best.
If including an education section, try to highlight courses or subjects relevant to the job description for the church administrator position.
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your expertise in a particular field. They show potential employers that you have taken the time and effort to gain knowledge of an industry or skill set, which can be invaluable when it comes to getting hired.
If you have any certifications related to the job for which you are applying, make sure they are included on your resume as this will give hiring managers more confidence in your abilities and qualifications.
Certified Church Administrator
Church Management Institute
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Barbara Legros, this would be Barbara-Legros-resume.pdf or Barbara-Legros-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Submitting a cover letter is an important part of the job application process. This document, usually made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs, allows you to highlight your skills and experience in a more personal way than what is included on your resume.
Cover letters are not always required for every role but writing one gives you the opportunity to showcase how suitable you are for that particular position. It also offers recruiters insight into who you are as a professional and can help them make their decision about whether or not they should hire you.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Carmella,
I am writing to apply for the Church Administrator position at First Baptist Church. As an experienced administrator with a passion for religious organizations, I am confident I would be a valuable asset to your team.
In my current role as Office Manager at Second Presbyterian Church, I oversee all office operations and manage a staff of four administrative assistants. My responsibilities include budgeting, scheduling, event planning, and maintaining church records. I have also been instrumental in developing and implementing new office procedures that have increased efficiency and productivity.
Through my work in the church administration field, I have developed strong relationships with vendors and other churches in the area. These relationships have proven beneficial in negotiating contracts and securing discounts on supplies and services. My experience has also given me a keen understanding of the unique challenges faced by churches and religious organizations.
I am passionate about my work in the church administration field and committed to helping churches run smoothly and efficiently. I believe my skills and experience would be an asset to your team at First Baptist Church, and I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you soon.
Sincerely,
Barbara