Seven Occasions When You Should Not Hire More Church Staff

Jul 7, 2025

Adding church staff isn't always beneficial. Learn when it can take ministry away from the laity or when a hire is driven by outdated practices. Financial considerations and personal connections can complicate decision-making. Beware of hiring due to personal friendships or copying other churches. Evaluating current staff effectiveness is crucial, especially in large congregations where complexity can lead to inefficiency. This insightful discussion offers guidance on mission-focused staffing decisions.

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ADVICE

Protect Lay Ministry Roles

Avoid hiring staff that remove ministry opportunities from lay volunteers.
New staff can discourage volunteers, causing ministry to lose momentum.

ADVICE

Avoid Traditional Hiring Patterns

Do not hire just because you've always had a certain staff position.
Staff roles often evolve and should be adapted to current church needs.

ADVICE

Hire Within Financial Capacity

Assess your church's financial ability before hiring new staff.
Avoid hiring in hopes of growth if the budget cannot sustain it.

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Hiring staff can strengthen a church—but not always. In this episode, Thom and Sam discuss seven times when adding staff is a mistake, from removing ministry opportunities from the laity to financial missteps and agenda-driven hires. Learn how to make wise, mission-focused staffing decisions for your church’s health.

1. When it takes ministry away from the laity.
2. When you add staff according to the way you’ve always done it.
3. When it’s not a smart financial decision.
4. When a particular group in the church pushes its own agenda.
5. When a friend needs a job.
6. When it’s just a copy of another church.
7. When you are unwilling to deal with a current ineffective staff member.

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