In many classes, there is a poor span of care. In my experience, one person can only care well for about five people. That means any class with more than five members and prospects, is beyond the care capacity of the teacher alone.
In addition, during a busy week the teacher naturally needs to focus on lesson preparation. That means that member care and outreach are often neglected in busy weeks. In order to rectify a poor span of care and to ensure that member care and outreach are not neglected, enlisting a complete set of class leaders is needed.
What leaders would be included in a complete set of class leaders? Consider the following basic class organization:
- TEACHER. This is the leader for all other class leaders. This individual also enlists and apprentices the class team. The teacher naturally also prepares and facilitates class encounters in God’s Word. See Job Description: Sunday School Teacher for more information.
- APPRENTICE TEACHER. This is more than a substitute teacher. This individual is acknowledgement of the need for more teachers and classes in order to teach and care for more people. The teacher invests in the apprentice, helping him/her prepare to be a fully functioning, effective teacher. See Coaching a Successful Sunday School Teacher Apprentice for more information.
- SECRETARY. This individual keeps good member contact records and attendance records. See Five Critical Types of Sunday School Records for more information. The secretary notices patterns and informs the teacher and member care leader of attendance changes and ministry needs related to absence of members. See Job Description: Sunday School Class Secretary for more information.
- GREETER. This person greets members and guests ensuring a warm welcome and a great first impression. See How Class Greeters Can Help Your Sunday School Grow for more information.
- MEMBER CARE LEADER. This leader mobilizes the class to deepen relationships with, pray for, and minister to class members. When members are absent or in need, contact/ministry assignments are made to class members. He/she prepares the class to respond in care in times of need and/or crisis. Fellowship times are planned. Some ideas can be found here: Care Groups: Prayer, Ministry, Assimilation, and Invitation.
- PROSPECT CARE LEADER. This leader helps the class identify prospects and then to pray for, care for, and invite prospects who are in the people group for the class. Assignments are made to class members to ensure this ministry of outreach and care for prospects is carried out. Prospects are invited to class fellowships and projects as well. For some ideas, check out this blog post: Steps Toward a Sunday School Outreach Lifestyle.
SMALL CLASSES. All of the work identified above is needed for a growing class. That means in a class with fewer than six individuals, some jobs will naturally be combined. Some natural combinations seem to include member care and secretary, prospect care and greeter, and apprentice and teacher.
LARGE CLASSES. As a class grows beyond a dozen individuals, the class will benefit from additional leaders. Why not add a prayer leader, a fellowship leader, a project leader, an apprentice member care leader, and apprentice prospect care leader, and more. The more who are involved in class leadership, the more ministry which will be done and the more who will be satisfied and regular in their attendance and discipleship growth.
What responsibilities would you add to these leaders which was not listed? Press Comments below and share your ideas. Make disciples. Let’s make Sunday School revolutionary!
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