The only people that have keys for our church are the pastor, secretaries, treasurer, organists and janitor. I have a full set of keys for every door in church, but leave those in my desk. I think the fewer number of people that have keys the better.
I also work where I worship. When I first started in this position, I had a friend who was a church secretary and worshiped in a different church. I thought that was so strange, but the longer I'm a secretary, it makes sense to me.
The advantages of being a secretary where you worship...you know the members well; you may have some input in procedures, programs or committees that affect your job; you are the only constant in the church. Preachers, Elders, Deacons come and go, but the secretary is usually there throughout all the officebearer changes that happen yearly in a church.
The disadvantages of being a secretary where you worship...sometimes, there are Sundays that I get more "church work" done than actually worshipping. I don't think people do it on purpose, but they see you and know that they need to talk to you about church and do it on Sunday so they don't forget. I don't take my office keys to church anymore and don't take pen and paper either. I just tell people, if they need to tell me something about church, write it down and slide it under my office door, call and leave a message on the church answering machine, send me an email or put in the secretary's mailbox (not my personal church mailbox). Most people are pretty good about that, and they have to learn to respect your Sunday worship as well. I used to always take my office key and paper and pen, but you allow people to take advantage of you too. I just politely remind them about all their options of leaving me a message and most people will respect that.
Posted in: What forms or policies are available to provide guidelines for issuing church keys?
The only people that have keys for our church are the pastor, secretaries, treasurer, organists and janitor. I have a full set of keys for every door in church, but leave those in my desk. I think the fewer number of people that have keys the better.
Posted in: Do You Worship and Work at the Same Place?
I also work where I worship. When I first started in this position, I had a friend who was a church secretary and worshiped in a different church. I thought that was so strange, but the longer I'm a secretary, it makes sense to me.
The advantages of being a secretary where you worship...you know the members well; you may have some input in procedures, programs or committees that affect your job; you are the only constant in the church. Preachers, Elders, Deacons come and go, but the secretary is usually there throughout all the officebearer changes that happen yearly in a church.
The disadvantages of being a secretary where you worship...sometimes, there are Sundays that I get more "church work" done than actually worshipping. I don't think people do it on purpose, but they see you and know that they need to talk to you about church and do it on Sunday so they don't forget. I don't take my office keys to church anymore and don't take pen and paper either. I just tell people, if they need to tell me something about church, write it down and slide it under my office door, call and leave a message on the church answering machine, send me an email or put in the secretary's mailbox (not my personal church mailbox). Most people are pretty good about that, and they have to learn to respect your Sunday worship as well. I used to always take my office key and paper and pen, but you allow people to take advantage of you too. I just politely remind them about all their options of leaving me a message and most people will respect that.