Staffing to fulfill the Great Commission : paraprofessionals in the church
Abstract
This manual is designed for both lay and professional church leaders to enable congregations to grow through creative staffing. This study presupposes a working knowledge of church growth principles. The manual has five chapters, an appendix and a bibliography.
Chapter One introduces the term paraprofessional and describes the climate in the church creating the need for this new type of church staffing.
Chapter Two further establishes the need for discipleship and growth today. The business model of staffing and management principles adds credibility to paraprofessionals. Growth is documented through this multi-level staffing model by a partial survey of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregations already using such staff.
Chapter Three builds a biblical and confessional base for the paraprofessional model by identifying the call of every Christian in baptism, the special call of the professional church worker, and the special call of the paraprofessional and volunteer staff.
Chapter Four outlines the way paraprofessionals have evolved at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Kentwood, Michigan. Basic guidelines are developed from this experience and the information gleaned from other churches using the paraprofessional model
Chapter Five concludes the manual with a look to the future about the use of paraprofessionals in the church.