“Even though we are a relatively small congregation with part-time staff, the Management Toolkit has saved us a lot of time with position descriptions, interviewing, and evaluation. It’s such a practical resource!”

– Pastor Linda Vogelgesang, St. John Lutheran Church, Antioch, CA

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Annotated Table of Contents

I. Interviewing and Selection

Employment Application
• An up-to-date application customizable for each organization

Authorization and Release
• Removes typical roadblocks to reference and background checking

Basic Hiring Guidelines
• A quick overview of what to do, and avoid, when you need to hire

Guide to Lawful Interview Questions
• How to ask what you need to know, and what cannot be asked

Interview Like an Expert: A Step-by-Step Handbook
Instant expert training on interviewing. Includes:
• What to say and do, and how to do it.
• Descriptions of commonly needed job skills
• Sample interview questions
• Interview evaluation form

Insider’s Guide to Reference Checking
• Expert tips to increase the likelihood of obtaining useful references

Reference Check Form
• Walks you through the reference-checking process

Offer Letter
• A customizable offer letter that covers key employment issues

II. Getting off to a good start

Orientation checklist
• What to cover in orientation, especially for churches. Includes “Agreement to
Return and Care For Church Equipment”

Personnel File Guidelines
• What should be in the files; what should be elsewhere; what should never be in
the files; and who can see the files

Follow-up interview
• How are things going for the new hire after a month? A quick and simple way
to head off problems and to see what is working well

III. Supervisory basics

Job Description Template and Tips
• A fill-in-the-blanks job description template, plus advice on how to do it and a
sample church-related job description

Performance Reviews
• Use this results-based review process to enhance performance and minimize
the discomfort of giving and receiving performance reviews
• Overview of Performance Review Process

Examples of performance standards:
• Minister of Music
• Church Secretary (with review of standards)
• Performance review form

Employee Performance Handbook
A quick reference for supervisors on all things related to employee performance:
• How to enhance employee job performance and prevent problems, including:
• How to give positive feedback, with example
• Identifying and resolving performance problems
• “Attitude problems” and other job problems
• Should you take action?
• How to discuss job performance problems without feeling miserable
• General guidelines for handling performance problems
• Checklist—performance improvement
• What to say and how to say it
• Coaching skills inventory
• Performance Improvement/Disciplinary process

Terminations
• Exit checklist
• For voluntary and involuntary terminations—what to remember
• Exit Interview
• Helps identify opportunities to improve your workplace
• Should you terminate?
• How to decide, and how to minimize risks
• When you have to terminate, here’s how to do it
• How to prepare for and conduct the termination meeting
• What to say and how to say it

IV. Staff topics

Staff Covenant Formation Process
• Create with your staff a covenant addressing how they will work with each other
and with the congregation and its lay leadership

Staff Covenant Monitoring
• Creating a staff covenant is not enough. How can you assure adherence to your
agreements? Includes a sample staff covenant

Sample Expectations and Conduct Guidelines
• Church employees are faced with some unique workplace challenges. These
sample guidelines (for including in the Employee Handbook) define expected
conduct in the church workplace

Self-Evaluation for Pastors and Church Staff
• A self-review of performance in the job, including job satisfaction
• Use to prepare for performance reviews
• Use to assess what is working or not working in the job and how priorities
may need to be adjusted

Free Download: "Legal Interview Questions" [PDF]

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