One of the most important roles in a Sunday School class is the role of Class Director (aka Class Coordinator). In many classes the teacher also fulfills the role of Class Director, but, ideally, these roles should be fulfilled by different people.
Do I really need a Class Director?
I taught for three years without a Class Director. It came as quite a shock to me that there was a lot more to running a class than preparing a lesson! Besides the hours of lesson preparation, I also needed to build relationships with class members, keep track of things like attendance and headcount, plan socials, find and train people for certain roles, attend meetings, and then do whatever else the church was asking all teachers to do.
All this while working full-time at a demanding job and trying to maintaining relationships with friends and family.
I was under a lot of pressure.
I loved teaching, but the added pressure of managing the class, and not doing it as well as I wanted due to time constraints, resulted in some negative feelings and experiences, as well as some depression. As a matter of fact, I determined that I would not teach a class again without a good Class Director already in place.
What are the responsibilities of a Class Director?
The Class Director is responsible for the "business" side of running a class. Some responsibilities include:
- Finding people to fill service positions within the class
- Keeping up with paperwork required by the church
- Managing literature and correspondence
Basically, responsibilities include everything other than lesson preparation.
Who is qualified to fulfill the role of Class Director?
When considering someone for the role of Class Director, ask yourself these questions:
- Is he/she a member of the church? (This may be a requirement of your church.)
- Is he/she a believer? (Being a member of a church does not necessary equate to being a follower of Christ.)
- Does he/she attend church and class regularly?
- Does he/she get along with others?
- Does he/she have a gift for management or organization?
- Can I work with him/her? (If you often find yourself at odds with the Class Director, the entire class will suffer.)
- Has he/she proved faithful in ministry roles with less responsibility? (The Class Director should have a heart for service and be willing to do the "grunt" work, as well.)
How do I find a Class Director?
There may be an obvious choice, someone that pops to mind right away. If not, here are some things that you can try:
- Consider those in your class that regularly offer to help with the little things. Those that are willing to do the "grunt" work - without complaining - show a heart for service and may be ready for greater responsibility.
- Consider those in your class that manage or organize others in their careers. These people have probably had some professional training in management of others or project management. Managing and organizing in a volunteer organization such as a church is different than doing it professionally since people aren't paid to do what they say, so just because someone does it professionally doesn't mean they'll be successful as a Class Coordinator. But they are certainly worth consideration.
- Ask other teachers and/or the leaders in your church if they know of anyone that would be a good Class Director. A good candidate may be in another class that doesn't need their services at the time, and would welcome the opportunity to serve elsewhere. Be warned - some teachers can get territorial about their class members. Phrase your request in such a way that they understand that you need their help and appreciate all that they've done to grow their class members.
What NOT to do - it's not a good idea to make a general appeal to the class, either verbally or by email. Take it from someone who knows! A general request such as this is impersonal and doesn't communicate the important of the role. It may also result in someone stepping forward that is not qualified - AWKWARD! It's best to approach an individual privately and personally.
Above all else, pray that God will provide and send the perfect person for the job!
Now it's your turn - what do you look for in a Class Director?
Comments