Perhaps your view of a church, fuelled by media caricatures, consists of a dotty Vicar, three old ladies and a dog.

I’ve just returned from a national conference for lay people employed as ‘senior-manager’ Church Administrators.  Their churches give a different picture.

Some of these churches are big: Sunday congregations of over 500, a few of over 1,000.  Some of these people work for more modest-sized congregations, but mostly over 250.

Some of these churches are in cities, many in towns, some in Hertfordshire.

Several are Church of England, some are Baptist plus quite a number from a range of other groupings, old and new. 

These people have job titles such as ‘Director of Operations’ or ‘Church Manager’.

Most line-manage other administrative staff.  They hold considerable responsibility in demanding jobs.

So is this all about Church Inc?

Not at all!  These churches are spiritual hubs where Jesus Christ is Lord, where the Bible is taught and where people find life in all its fullness.

The people I met are Christians who believe God has called them to use their business and other skills, often for a much reduced salary, in church communities where their abilities are needed.

Their work enables their Vicars and Pastors to be free to do the work these church leaders are supposed to do, instead of getting stuck behind an admin desk.

There are plenty of vibrant, growing churches throughout the country.

And that includes St Albans and Harpenden.

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