The Church Office

In this episode, we’re joined by James Brumwell, Executive Lead at Gas Street Church in Birmingham, as we explore the operational side of mission and ministry. Together, we dig into what it really takes behind the scenes to help bring light to a city. James shares practical insights on building systems, leading teams, and creating structures that support meaningful, lasting impact in the community. https://gasstreet.church/theengineroom

Finding funding for your church building or ministry can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew Clark from Church Grants, a platform dedicated to helping churches discover relevant funding opportunities. We explore how churches can access grants, where to start, and what funders are really looking for. If you’ve ever wondered how to fund a building project, expand your ministry, or simply navigate the world of church funding, this episode is packed with practical insight. 🔗 Learn more: www.churchgrants.co.uk

Building a team is one of the most rewarding parts of church leadership. In this episode with Ray Evans, we explore the joy of bringing people together around a shared vision. Discover how trust, encouragement, and clear purpose can help teams grow stronger, work better together, and make a lasting impact for the gospel in our churches and communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

Introducing.....James Lawrence! Gavin had the joy of sitting down with James to talk about the work of the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) and how we can support Church Leaders in their roles in our churches. To find out more about CPAS, head to: https://www.cpas.org.uk/

In this week's episode, Chris talks to Gavin Smith of the Church Office, where they discuss administration, church management, and how to set up your church to succeed. www.aoggb.com

Listen in as Gavin is joined by Scott Sanders from Reach Ministries Australia to talk through the leadership needed to navigate through the unique challenges of church growth. We had some great discussion around the leadership challenge, people and change challenge and getting the right systems and structures in place. If you’re a church leader seeking clarity and encouragement to lead well through the next stage of growth, this episode is for you.

In our latest episode Gavin sits down with a good friend of The Church Office, Dave Harvey, to discuss his new book 'The Clay Pot Conspiracy'. Listen in as Gavin and Dave talk through the clay pot conspiracy, the joys and struggles of working in ministry and how God uses us in our weakness. We thoroughly enjoyed the Clay Pot Conspiracy, you can grab your own copy now on Amazon, Eden and 10ofThose.

As churches should we collect data? What difference does it make? Listen in to our latest The Church Office podcast episode as John Truscott, a good friend of The Church Office, joins Gavin to discuss the strengths of data collection when making decisions about mission. From top tips to consider when collecting data to what we can learn from the recent Quiet Revival report, a far bit of ground has been covered! For more wisdom from John, check out his website:

Andy Geers is back! Gavin had the delight of chatting to Andy last year about PrayerMate and this time we invited him back to share about the exciting The Serpent & The Seed app that's just launched. With a real heart to reach people who don't know the Bible, here's how they would describe it: "Walk through the pages of scripture, take in the beautiful sights and sounds, and along the way you may just discover your own place in the universe and the only source of lasting hope." Listen in to find out more! You can find out more here:

Join Gavin and Jon Wright, Operations Manager at Frinton Free Church, as they reflect on their experience at the recent UCAN National Conference. In this episode, they share highlights from the main teaching sessions, personal takeaways, and the encouragement they found in gathering with fellow church administrators and managers from across the UK. It was a real joy to connect with others in similar roles, share stories, and be reminded of the value and impact of church administration. Whether you attended the conference or not, this conversation offers insight, inspiration, and a glimpse into the heart behind church administration.

Gavin was thrilled to recently speak with Pelé Ling, Communications and Creative Director at All Souls, Langham Place. Listen in as Pelé talks about relaunching free English classes at their church a few years ago and shares the success this rebranding has had in creating opportunities to tell people about Jesus. (He also talked about their Christmas plans which Gavin LOVED- only 23 weeks to go!!)

Christian Safeguarding Services' Paul Harrison joins Gavin to talk through 5 common challenges with safeguarding in churches: 1. Poor governance 2. Low standards 3. Conflicts of interest 4. Not raising low level concerns 5. Lack of professional curiosity We absolutely loved learning from Paul and are so grateful for his time and expertise. This is definitely an hour well spent! If you'd like to learn more about Christian Safeguarding Services, head to: https://thecss.co.uk/

Meet Emma! Emma is the Operations Manager at The Globe Church in London and she recently sat down with Gavin to talk about her role, how she creates sustainable rhythms of church life and the variety of tasks that come across her desk in any one week. Listen in for ideas and to see how the role of a Church Administrator fits into the life of a church!

Listen in to the latest episode of The Church Office podcast with special guest, Manny Kemp! Manny is part of the team at ACAT (the Association of Church Accountants And Treasurers), a charity that exists to support the work of those in church finance. He recently sat down with Gavin to discuss the challenges and joys of serving a church in an accountancy/treasury role and shares some insights from his own experiences. To find out more about the work of ACAT, head over to: https://www.acat.uk.com/

We were thrilled to have Mark Jones from Edward Connors join us on the latest episode of The Church Office podcast. Listen in as Mark and Gavin discuss key areas of employment that churches can struggle with. They recommend a number of resources that might serve you in this area of church life. To find out more about the work of Edward Connor or get further support, head to: https://www.edwardconnor.com/

Gavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Dan Peters and Andy Ferrett from Joyned. Joyned is a secure internal communication platform designed to grow and strengthen in-person communities. Joyned offers churches a great alternative to WhatsApp. Listen in as they discuss the benefits of partnering with them to better serve your church. To find out more information please check out their website. https://www.joynedapp.com

Welcome to The Church Office podcast, Richard Coekin! Richard Coekin has recently joined Reach Ministries UK as their Director. Listen in as he discusses Reach Ministries' heart to serve and support church leaders as they shepherd their churches in godly and effective gospel ministry. The team helps church leaders to reflect on their current situation, clarify their vision, and structure their teams effectively. They provide mentoring, diagnostic tools, and conversations to explore churches' needs. To find out more about their work, head to: https://reachministries.uk/

Gavin recently sat down with Evangelical Alliance's Director of Advocacy Danny Webster to talk about one thing- Martyn's Law. Listen in as Gavin and Danny discuss some of the changes this new law could bring for our churches. Thanks again to Danny for giving up his time. If you'd like to find out more, here's an article from the Evangelical Alliance on the topic: https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/martyns-law-where-does-this-leave-my-church-and-christian-events

Following on from his time with Joe and Hannah from Gourds and Pomegranates, Gavin returned the favour and visited their podcast! Catch up on this bonus episode now! https://gppodcast.uk/

Gavin teamed up with Joe and Hannah from the Gourds and Pomegranate Podcast. Joe and Hannah have a wonderful heart to serve churches by breaking down practical, no-nonsense strategies to help churches communicate with clarity. It was great to get to know them and find out a little bit more about their stories. To find out more about Joe and Hannah's podcast please check out the link below: https://gppodcast.uk

Do reviews have a place in church? Are they of benefit? Or are they too managerial for church life? We were thrilled to be able to open up this topic with John Truscott, a good friend of The Church Office. Listen in as John and Gavin discuss why we often don't like the topic of reviews and consider the benefits. To hear more from John, head over to his website: https://www.john-truscott.co.uk/

Dan Steel is a former market researcher who transitioned into pastoral ministry and has been involved in church planting for over twenty-five years. In this podcast Dan and Gavin talk about his new book "Wise Church Planting: Twelve Pitfalls to Avoid in Starting New Churches," In the book Dan examines the common challenges that cause nearly a third of new churches to falter within four years. Drawing from interviews with 80 church planters across 27 countries, he identifies internal issues such as character flaws, disunity, and misaligned priorities, as well as external obstacles like opposition and unmet needs. Hope you enjoy the podcast.

In this podcast Gavin interviews Pete Greasley one of the founding Elders at Christchurch in Newport. Pete has served in Pastoral Ministry for 40 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Gavin and Pete talk about enjoying the gospel, not taking your self too seriously and finish their discussion by talking about building teams and having a diversity of different gifting. We hope you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about Christchurch please check out their website: www.christchurchnewport.co.uk To find out more about the church office please check out www.thechurchoffice.co.uk

Working out the renumeration of your Pastor can be a challenging job for any Trustee or Church Officer. 'How much should we pay our Pastor or Church Leader?' is a very common question that we get asked at The Church Office. Gavin talks to Pete and draws on his 40 years of ministry experience to try and answer that question. If you would like more information or would benefit from a conversation with Pete, please feel free to get in touch at: [email protected]

"One of the things that struck me about Matt during our conversation was his wonderful heart to serve leaders in Christian Ministry." Gavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Matt Waldock, co-pastor of City Church Manchester and UK Gospel Coaching Director. If you have not heard of Gospel Coaching then this is a really good introduction into what it is and the benefits of having a gospel coach. https://www.cmmnet.org/pages/uk

Join Gavin and John wright, the Operations Manager at Frinton Free Church, as they talk through the first part of the 2024 Check-in survey. They enjoyed talking through the results that related to the pressure points that admin and Ops roles faced this year and where people had experience grace at work in their churches. During the podcast John also shares a little bit about his experience of partnering with UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network). We hope you enjoy the podcast.

In this Episode Gavin talks to Lourens Du Plessis from Stewardship who leads the team that guide and strengthen churches and Christian charities with their governance and finances. It was great to talk to Lourens about the challenges that churches are facing in the area of good governance. It was also a joy to talk about the gift of administration and how effective it can be in a local church. We hope you enjoy todays podcast. www.stewardship.org.uk

ExpensePlus are back! Listen in as Gavin is joined by Sam and Dan to talk through the most common pitfalls in church finance. From not having the right people in the room to spending too much on everyday costs, these are areas that we can all do with a hand figuring through.

In this podcast, Phil Swann, the Pastor at Llanelli Free Evangelical Church in West Wales, shares a little bit about his experience of buying a new church building in just three weeks! It's a wonderful story of adventurous faith and God's wonderful provision. We absolutely love having Phil on the podcast and enjoy his passion for the gospel and reaching the lost. To find out more about the church please check out their website: https://www.lfec.org/about/building-project

Introducing...Owen Gilham! After working in education (and a brief stint in theatre) Owen now works for Danbury Mission as the Operations Manager. Listen in as he and Gavin talk about the diverse work that Church Managers complete on a weekly basis. They cover the importance of getting appropriate policies and procedures for your church in place as well as the challenges around adding a new Sunday service and the co-ordination of all the service teams to make that happen. It's an interesting job, we hope you enjoy the episode. https://www.danburymission.org.uk/

How do we make best use of our buildings for the gospel? Rich Spens has spent many years working behind the scenes at Kings Cross Church in London trying to think this through and put it into action. Listen in as he chats with Gavin about how he's managing and developing his church, including an idea to take the church roof off!

Hot off the press- Churchsuite have very kindly agreed to sponsor The Church Office podcast! We're really grateful for all the support from Gavin and the team at ChurchSuite and can't wait to work alongside them. Listen into this special episode as Gavin Courtney joins us to talk about why the team wanted to sponsor the podcast and everything that's new at ChurchSuite.

Data protection can often feel like a minefield, especially in a church context where sensitive data is handled frequently. We recently asked our followers to submit any questions they had about data and privacy for us to pass on to the experts. Listen in to this Church Office special as Gavin brings your questions to Harry and Leanne from the ICO.

Gavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Ashley Ellis, CEO of ACAT, the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers. Listen in as they discuss what ACAT has to offer and why no church accountant or treasurer should feel alone. The ACAT Team have a wonderful heart to serve local churches and those serving in the area of church finances. For more information please visit https://www.acat.uk.com

Would you describe your church as being an awkward size? Listen in as Gavin and Ray talk about overcoming some of the barriers to gospel growth that are faced in our churches. Ray serves as the Leadership Consultant for the FIEC and is also the author of Ready, Steady, Grow.

In the video Gavin got the opportunity to chat to Steffan Job the General Secretary for the Evangelical Movement of Wales. It was great to find out more about all the different ways that the EMW are serving churches across Wales and beyond. You will pick up Steffan's heart straight away to serve churches with fewer members. The EMW have a rich and wonderful history of reaching out to young people with the gospel through their summer camps and they've very kindly provided us with some of their risk assessments as document templates. You will find these at www.thechurchoffice.co.uk

In this podcast, Gavin got the chance to sit down with David Anderson from Face2Face Scotland. David is an experienced Pastor who provides mentoring, coaching and discipleship to pastors in their early years of ministry. It doesn't take long to pick up David's lovely heart and desire to care for leaders. In the video David makes reference to a short survey he would love listeners to complete. Please follow this link to complete it: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CoMissionChurchesTrust/MentoringAndCoachingPresentAndFuture For more information please visit www.facetofacescotland.org

Gavin recently got to sit down with a good friend, Steve Robinson and talk to him about his new book 'Serve'. Serve is a really encouraging read about what it looks like to follow Jesus' example when serving the church and what it means to serve sacrificially. Listen in as Gavin and Steve talk through serving with purpose and joy.

Gavin recently caught up with Andy Weatherly from Grace Church, Stirchley about what prompted him to hire a Church Administrator and the difference having one has made. It was great to meet him and listen in to his thoughts on the gift of administration, church deacons and strengthening the local church.