The Administration Service Team was created in late 2016 with the approval of the ICOC Delegates at the July 2016 REACH Summit. The team was commissioned to focus on identifying guidelines and methods for the effective administration of churches in multiple areas, with committees set up for future focus. Recognizing that legal and other issues faced by churches in the United States are not the same outside the US, the team is determined to clarify the spiritual and conceptual issues underlying policies and procedures so that appropriate versions can be adapted in other countries, cultures, and regulatory/legal environments. At the same time, some products can be adapted fairly directly.

At the team’s meeting in Chicago in October 2017, we were delighted and honored to have all four (4) lead administrators from the African regional church families in attendance.

Carol Abuor Ochieng – Nairobi, Kenya

Erick Li Sik – Johannesburg, South Africa

Michael Koutouan – Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Sam Onuoha – Lagos, Nigeria

The African Missions Society made this possible, and God blessed all four with visas to attend. Although our only current team member from outside the United States is Paul Rowden from London, Paul Ramsey has invested many years of direct service training to churches in Africa, and Christen McDuffee has been directly involved in administration and service with the European churches. We are hoping to have additional participation from experienced church administrators outside the United States. Ray Schalk, administrator for the San Diego church, also attended the October meeting.

Team structure and organization

Vision – to provide support to ICOC ministries to maximize the sustained growth and strength of the work of the Lord. “Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” –1 Samuel 14:7

Mission

Church administration will serve the ministry, not as boundary keepers and naysayers, but by facilitating the preparation and execution of the superlative track – smoothing the rough edges that might otherwise tamper, distract, or perhaps even derail, the work.

Team membership and committees

Human Resources Committee (including Compensation, Benefits, Employment Practices)

Compensation Subcommittee

Governance (including Board, Legal, Policies/Procedures)

General Administration (including Accounting, Taxation)

International Administration

Risk Management (including Liability Insurance)