Church Operations Administrator in Farnham

We are a growing all-age community church of around 80 members and 150 attendees in the residential area of Upper Hale in north Farnham, Surrey. Bethel’s informal culture is one of warmth, grace, care, and commitment to the Word and to one another. Our vision as a church family is to Believe, Belong and Grow in Jesus, in line with the Bible and the Reformed Baptist tradition we stand within. We belong to the FIEC network. We meet fortnightly on a local housing development as well.

We are looking to develop the depth of our fellowship and our outreach, including the possibility of a church plant in the medium term. While there are detailed criteria below against which we look to recruit, we want to emphasize that character and manner are more important than skills or experience, and that we believe the role can be grown into.

Until recently we were very well served and ministered to by a part-time administrator who worked 0.6 or 21 hours per week. However, we recognise that both the role and the administrative requirements of running a church have grown significantly in the last few years, along with our size. We are now looking to employ a Church Operations Administrator from September 2026 (an earlier start is preferred, later may be possible). This role would be 0.8 or 28 hours per week (with some flexibility) and would report to the Pastor as line manager. The role could be divided into a job share and could be spread over 5 days.

The role carries responsibility and authority to make routine and regular operational and administrative decisions. The role holder will work closely with our team of deacons. The initial salary will be up to £22,960 p.a. gross, dependent on the successful applicant’s qualifications, skills and experience (£28,700 p.a. FTE) and Bethel will also pay all statutory disbursements (Employer NI & auto‑enrolment pension). The role holder will be entitled to 19 days annual leave, plus all statutory Bank Holidays on a pro rata basis. Further details are subject to our standard employment contract.

We are incorporated as a CIO and currently use ChurchSuite to support operations and administration. We are blessed to have our own buildings (2 across one site). Payroll is currently supported by a church member with relevant experience, but this may change.

Purpose of the Role:

• To bring excellent operational leadership, governance coordination, communications and administrative support, relating to both the internal functioning of the church and its external responsibilities;
• To thereby enable ministry staff to concentrate on preaching, praying and pastoral ministry, and enable the church family to focus more on ministry and mission;
• Above all, to prayerfully and caringly exercise the grace‑gift of administration (1 Cor 12:28, ESV) through the power of the Spirit for the sake of Jesus in service of the church, as part of a staff team committed to Bethel’s vision to Believe, Belong and Grow.

Our outgoing Administrator says: “I’ve found Bethel to be a warm community where people really care about each other and want to follow Jesus. The role is varied and the staff team are supportive. It’s been a great privilege to serve such a loving church family, and to contribute towards the smooth running of so many areas of church life.”

Person Profile:

The appointed individual will be required to work in accordance with the ethos, vision and beliefs of Bethel Baptist Church. They will play a full part in the life of the worshipping church family and further the church's mission. There is an occupational requirement that the role be held by a Christian, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, and be willing to join the church as a member.