Comments on: #546. The Church Secretary, the most powerful person in the church. http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/ Musings by Jon Acuff Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:12:49 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: girly http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-82908 girly Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:27:35 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-82908 I am sorry about the typos. I was so upset when I was typing this I was shaking. I am sorry about the typos. I was so upset when I was typing this I was shaking.

]]> By: Girlly http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-82907 Girlly Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:26:14 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-82907 I have been a church secretary for over 14 years and have been treated like a dog. No vacation time, no sick time, no personal time, no lunches or breaks and lord forbid I don't answer the phone or have to go to the powder room. I can't find another job. Please pray for me the only reason I stary is because I can't find another job. I singed up at all the agencies in town adn get great scores on my test and interview skills, but because I work in a chuch I have bben told that crporate bosses are afraid I will bring God to work with me. I even interviewed several times and other churches and was told I am over qualified for their positions. I want to start my own business, but I have no money, I have been a church secretary for over 14 years and have been treated like a dog. No vacation time, no sick time, no personal time, no lunches or breaks and lord forbid I don't answer the phone or have to go to the powder room. I can't find another job. Please pray for me the only reason I stary is because I can't find another job. I singed up at all the agencies in town adn get great scores on my test and interview skills, but because I work in a chuch I have bben told that crporate bosses are afraid I will bring God to work with me. I even interviewed several times and other churches and was told I am over qualified for their positions. I want to start my own business, but I have no money,

]]> By: Anonymous http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-49124 Anonymous Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:08:24 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-49124 They think they rule the roost, but gees how hard can it be to sit there and answer the phones and file? I applied for the position at my church and thought I had a pretty good shot compared to the old bags that are sitting in there now. I guess you have to be old and frumpy to occupy the chair! Plus the pay is pretty pathetic! They think they rule the roost, but gees how hard can it be to sit there and answer the phones and file? I applied for the position at my church and thought I had a pretty good shot compared to the old bags that are sitting in there now. I guess you have to be old and frumpy to occupy the chair! Plus the pay is pretty pathetic!

]]> By: meganlee http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-40887 meganlee Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:10:15 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-40887 my mother is the church secretary. <br /><br />and you nailed it like no ones ever nailed it before.that woman could teach seminars on the profession.<br /><br />oh and the janitor? his name is john. and he definitely could cut you. my mother is the church secretary.

and you nailed it like no ones ever nailed it before.that woman could teach seminars on the profession.

oh and the janitor? his name is john. and he definitely could cut you.

]]> By: Sarah http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-40299 Sarah Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:51:47 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-40299 I DO agree that church secretaries are very powerful. I am an office assistant (I help out the 2 secretaries and the office administrator) at my church, and have spent quite a bit of time filling in for the secretaries, and I gotta tell you, they work HARD. Everyone pretty much assumes that the secretary has all the time in the world on her hands, and that all she does is answer the phone and visit with people who come into the office. So they give her EVERY task that they decide they just don't have time for.<br /><br />There really needs to be a "cuckoo person in the lobby" emergency button. As the fill-in, I never knew what to do with those people. And we have a walkie-talkie that calls our janitor directly - if there's an issue, he gets paged. I DO agree that church secretaries are very powerful. I am an office assistant (I help out the 2 secretaries and the office administrator) at my church, and have spent quite a bit of time filling in for the secretaries, and I gotta tell you, they work HARD. Everyone pretty much assumes that the secretary has all the time in the world on her hands, and that all she does is answer the phone and visit with people who come into the office. So they give her EVERY task that they decide they just don't have time for.

There really needs to be a "cuckoo person in the lobby" emergency button. As the fill-in, I never knew what to do with those people. And we have a walkie-talkie that calls our janitor directly – if there's an issue, he gets paged.

]]> By: Bethany http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-40204 Bethany Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:04:13 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-40204 I view our current "office Assistant" as the bouncer to the rest of the staff. And we are all so greatful for her. She is also the pastors daughter so can get away with alot more than some others. Who are people going to complain about her to? the pastor? no way. I view our current "office Assistant" as the bouncer to the rest of the staff. And we are all so greatful for her. She is also the pastors daughter so can get away with alot more than some others. Who are people going to complain about her to? the pastor? no way.

]]> By: Lamont http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-39105 Lamont Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:36:55 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-39105 When you're mad at the pastor do you ever send him off to fake lunch appointments just so he’ll sit in some restaurant and stare at his watch for 30 minutes and be out of your hair? I probably would....<br /><br />How tempting this is. When you're mad at the pastor do you ever send him off to fake lunch appointments just so he’ll sit in some restaurant and stare at his watch for 30 minutes and be out of your hair? I probably would….

How tempting this is.

]]> By: Samantha http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-38972 Samantha Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:21:12 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-38972 Oh, this is too wonderful. <br />1. My title was switched to administrative assistant after too many members seemed to think that church secretary meant person available to be the personal secretary to everyone in the church. No I cannot help you file your taxes.<br /><br />2.I page the youth pastor over the phone, who is also my husband. We also have hand gestures when he comes to investigate the beep so as to let him know if I suspect cuckoo has a gun or if they are trying to tell me Jesus is coming soon.<br /><br />4. This is an idea that I will now be trying...<br /><br />5. My pastor is so busy running around during the week that I never get the chance. <br /><br />6. The youth pastor is my husband, so I am quite spoiled by him. It would have to be the members who corner me on Sunday morning to speak with me about things that should have been addressed during the work week or the following Monday. These people are why I hide on Sunday mornings. <br /><br />9.No, but there are 3 separate people in the community who refuse to come to our church but really feel the need for some of the Pastor's time to share with him what they feel God wants our church to be doing. I know who you are. You shall not pass.<br /><br />10. I like to think I am gently redirecting them to volunteer positions that would be more fulfilling in their personal walks than those they wish to pursue...<br /><br />11. No, but I have converted all post-its, highlighters, and legal pads to excellent shades of girly-ness. If I'm going to be the only female in staff meeting then they can sport pink and lavender. <br /><br />12. No, but the youth and children's directors did join forces and now for some reason the church owns a Wii...<br /><br />I'm sad that some people see the admin position as one of coldness. I really love my job and I feel it is an amazing opportunity for ministry using a specific skill set I have been given, whether it be babysitting/ puppysitting while someone is meeting with the pastor or training to retired senior citizens ministry leader how to maintain the web content on the seniors page. It's never a dull job. <br /><br />But yes, please leave your admin alone on Sunday mornings. If it's so important then you WILL remember to call it in on Monday or you should have thought about it last week. Let me be at worship. Oh, this is too wonderful.
1. My title was switched to administrative assistant after too many members seemed to think that church secretary meant person available to be the personal secretary to everyone in the church. No I cannot help you file your taxes.

2.I page the youth pastor over the phone, who is also my husband. We also have hand gestures when he comes to investigate the beep so as to let him know if I suspect cuckoo has a gun or if they are trying to tell me Jesus is coming soon.

4. This is an idea that I will now be trying…

5. My pastor is so busy running around during the week that I never get the chance.

6. The youth pastor is my husband, so I am quite spoiled by him. It would have to be the members who corner me on Sunday morning to speak with me about things that should have been addressed during the work week or the following Monday. These people are why I hide on Sunday mornings.

9.No, but there are 3 separate people in the community who refuse to come to our church but really feel the need for some of the Pastor's time to share with him what they feel God wants our church to be doing. I know who you are. You shall not pass.

10. I like to think I am gently redirecting them to volunteer positions that would be more fulfilling in their personal walks than those they wish to pursue…

11. No, but I have converted all post-its, highlighters, and legal pads to excellent shades of girly-ness. If I'm going to be the only female in staff meeting then they can sport pink and lavender.

12. No, but the youth and children's directors did join forces and now for some reason the church owns a Wii…

I'm sad that some people see the admin position as one of coldness. I really love my job and I feel it is an amazing opportunity for ministry using a specific skill set I have been given, whether it be babysitting/ puppysitting while someone is meeting with the pastor or training to retired senior citizens ministry leader how to maintain the web content on the seniors page. It's never a dull job.

But yes, please leave your admin alone on Sunday mornings. If it's so important then you WILL remember to call it in on Monday or you should have thought about it last week. Let me be at worship.

]]> By: Kathy http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-38120 Kathy Fri, 29 May 2009 19:32:31 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-38120 I was a Church Secretary for many years before I had to make the choice between quitting my job or taking up residence in the loony bin.<br /><br />1) I don't care, just bring me cookies.<br /><br />2) No but I had an air horn. That was great fun.<br /><br />3) Never had to summon anyone after a few good blasts.<br /><br />4) Yes. Oh, yes. Copying the same thing on both sides of the paper and watching everyone flip it back and forth the whole service is fun too.<br /><br />5) yes, and I send him the crazy people that I didn't get with the air horn.<br /><br />6)Yes. Head of the Vestry. Functionally illiterate but screamed bloody murder if you edited her announcements.<br /><br />7) the above mentioned, plus everyone who phones to tell you why they don't like the pastor, followed by the people who come into the office to tell you why they don't like the people who just phoned.<br /><br />8) We only had one bathroom. Woe.<br /><br />9) If that man learns to operate a computer before he retires, I will fall down from shock.<br /><br />10) No, but I have assigned them to the pastor when he was on my bad side.<br /><br />11) Of course. <br /><br />12)No, but beer and a dartboard made the list once. I was a Church Secretary for many years before I had to make the choice between quitting my job or taking up residence in the loony bin.

1) I don’t care, just bring me cookies.

2) No but I had an air horn. That was great fun.

3) Never had to summon anyone after a few good blasts.

4) Yes. Oh, yes. Copying the same thing on both sides of the paper and watching everyone flip it back and forth the whole service is fun too.

5) yes, and I send him the crazy people that I didn’t get with the air horn.

6)Yes. Head of the Vestry. Functionally illiterate but screamed bloody murder if you edited her announcements.

7) the above mentioned, plus everyone who phones to tell you why they don’t like the pastor, followed by the people who come into the office to tell you why they don’t like the people who just phoned.

8) We only had one bathroom. Woe.

9) If that man learns to operate a computer before he retires, I will fall down from shock.

10) No, but I have assigned them to the pastor when he was on my bad side.

11) Of course.

12)No, but beer and a dartboard made the list once.

]]> By: Amy http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/comment-page-2/#comment-38119 Amy Fri, 29 May 2009 18:44:40 +0000 http://70.32.99.203/2009/05/546-the-church-secretary-the-most-powerful-person-in-the-church/#comment-38119 You are right! I'm a church secretary and althought I don't have a crazy person button (that would be awesome) we do have code words used over instant messages :). Although every member in the entire church thinks you work for them directly it is still the best job in the world! You are right! I’m a church secretary and althought I don’t have a crazy person button (that would be awesome) we do have code words used over instant messages :) . Although every member in the entire church thinks you work for them directly it is still the best job in the world!

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