This manual/document has been prepared as a guide to all who serve in a leadership at First Baptist Church of Honolulu.  Its purpose is to aid in the effective and efficient functioning of staff, committees, ministry teams and church members; to assist church leadership in sound decision making; to optimize the fulfillment of FBCH’s ministry purpose and goals; and to have in written form necessary ministry guidelines located in one place for easy and quick reference. Furthermore, the guidelines found in this manual/document are to protect the congregation and its leaders — not to restrict ministry or impede the working of the Holy Spirit. They are to be used as a management tool and not a wall of rigidity that could limit our mission.

Rationale for Having Policies and Procedures

  • They are useful in translating the church’s general statement of purpose into terms that can guide the decision-making process.
  • They are useful in testing past and present practices and decisions against the church’s official statement of purpose.
  • They serve as an important organizational aid and management tool when they are in written form, current in content, broad but flexible, simple and easy to understand, and positive in nature.
  • They are needed to prevent having an attitude of being too legalistic or having a mindset that “anything goes”.
  • They will help to produce consistent, coherent, and compatible decisions.
  • When properly implemented, they become an invaluable resource for identifying and delegating responsibilities, preserving a consistent level of quality performance throughout church ministries and protecting church leaders and the congregation as a whole.
  • They help avoid needless discussions about how tasks should be accomplished and who is responsible for completing the tasks.
  • They permit the responsibility for many minor decisions to be delegated.
  • They assist in the timely training of new personnel and eliminate time consuming meetings by staff or ministry leaders on routine matters. It is a proven fact that when individuals or groups know their job, what is expected of them and the limits of their responsibilities and authority, they will accomplish results and find rewards in the use of their spiritual gifts.
  • They tend to improve the quality of the planning and budgeting process.
  • They conserve valuable time for more important tasks and allow church leaders the flexibility needed to make routine decisions without constantly seeking opinions or direction from other persons or organizations within the church.
  • They improve efficiency and alleviate conflicts and misunderstandings in the decision-making process.
  • They offer a rationale for explaining decisions.
  • They tend to help keep the debate focused on the basic principle or policy behind a specific decision rather than on the details of a particular decision. This reduces the possibility of divisive controversy during a church business meeting.
  • They encourage long-range thinking and planning.
  • They provide an excellent basis for broadening the degree of participation in the decision-making process, or encouraging lay involvement for improving the quality of communication in “why” the church is involved in certain activities.
  • They reduce areas of possible risks to the staff, volunteers and the church body as a whole.
  • They assist the church in being a better steward of the Lord’s resources.

The Executive Board desires to provide regular updates to this manual. Furtherfore the Board also desires that such policies and procedures not be more burdensome than is necessary to accomplish the ministry objectives/goals/values. Therefore, benefit analysis shall be ongoing to ensure that each policy and procedure generates ministry protection and benefits, both in terms of dollars, staff morale and generates ministries which glorify God.

As per the Constitution, The Executive Board shall have general responsibility for the preparation, revision, and distribution of all policies and procedures and shall, in general, act as the clearinghouse for all matters pertaining to this manual/document. In order to keep the policies and procedures on a current basis, each ministry director shall be responsible for informing the Sr. Pastor of any changes needed.

If a conflict between church policies and procedures, or any other related operational matters of the church arise, the content in this manual shall address an appropriate methods for resolution. However, when in conflict the Constitution and Bylaws will always take precedent over this manual/document.