The Church Office

A Day in the Life of an Operations Director

What does an Operations Director in a church actually do all day?

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the real, behind-the-scenes work that keeps a church moving forward. From managing teams and troubleshooting unexpected problems to balancing budgets, safeguarding compliance, and supporting the vision of senior leadership, no two days are ever the same.

Whether you’re an Operations Director, Church Manager, Administrator, or exploring this kind of role, this episode gives an honest look at the challenges, pressures, and rewards of operational leadership in the local church.

If you’ve ever wondered who keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, this episode is for you.

Stewardship: Strengthening Churches and Charities

If you are part of a church team, whether you are the leader, the treasurer or
the one holding everything together in the office, you will know how much time and energy the practical side of ministry can take.

Gavin talks to Daniel Jones from Stewardship who offer real, hands on support with the financial responsibilities that keep a church running. They can help you grow and manage your giving, they can also take care of the more complicated pieces like payroll, accounts, charity registration, governance and they also offer loans for building projects.

Everything they do is designed to free you up to focus on your people and ministry. If that sounds like something your church could use, take a look at Stewardship at stewardship.org.uk.

Retreat to Refocus: Vision, Planning and Prayer.

In this episode, Gavin explores with Pete Greasley the value of a team retreat — not as a “nice extra,” but as a practical and spiritual opportunity to slow down, seek God together, and realign. When the pace is relentless, it’s easy for teams to drift and simply go through the motions. A well-shaped retreat creates space to reconnect as leaders, clarify vision, and shape a plan that’s grounded in prayer.

Reviewing our Systems, Policy and Procedures

In this episode, we take a practical look at reviewing our Systems, Policies, and Procedures. Whether your church office feels overcomplicated, under-documented, or overly dependent on a few key people, this conversation will help you step back and assess what’s really working. We unpack why regular reviews matter, how to spot gaps and risks, and simple ways to ensure your systems support your mission rather than slow it down. 

Surviving the Christmas Programme

Gavin talks Christmas with his friend Mark Parsons, Operations Director at Christchurch Clifton. Together, they reflect on why the Christmas programme is often one of the most meaningful and exhausting moments in the church calendar. Expectations are high, diaries are full, and fatigue is real for leaders, volunteers, and congregations alike. They explore how surviving Christmas well isn’t about chasing perfection, but about preparation, clarity, and grace: setting realistic expectations, caring for teams, and remembering what truly matters when the pressure is on.

Sustainable Ministry: Cash Flow Planning for Churches

Welcome back Tim Wyatt!

It was an absolute delight for us to have Tim back on The Church Office podcast to discuss cash flows and reserves. So if you're wondering how much a church should in reserves, or if they should even have them, this is an episode for you!

The Trellis and the Vine with Graham Daniels

At The Church Office we love catching up with old friends and that's exactly what Gavin did when he spoke to Graham Daniels from Christian in Sport!

How many sports clubs are within a 5 mile radius of your church? Praying for people, playing with people and telling them about Jesus is how Christians in Sport roll. Listen in as Gavin and Graham talk about working as a team, the importance of administration but most of all the importance of keeping the gospel central.

The Good Church Management Course

Did someone say a church management course??

Join Gavin and Anna Wood, one of our Trustees, as they talk about a project that has been months in the making....our brand new Good Church Management Course!

We're so excited to announce that The Church Office's Good Church Management Course will be available from 10th November covering topics such as:

 

- legal and practical responsibilities of managing staff, volunteers, finances and buildings

- practical support for ministry, including developing a team culture, strategy and operational plan

- helps leaders identify and address gaps in their church's administration and operations