Titles - What's in a Name
What's in a name? Our identity, our self-esteem, the rate of pay we receive and how others relate to us--that's what's in a name. Let's take a look at the job descriptions behind the titles of executive secretary/administrative assistant, secretary and clerk typist/receptionist, as well as the differences among them.
Executive secretary/administrative assistant: This person works for the highest-level member of the church staff (for example, senior pastor, director of missions or one of the high-level members of the executive staff in a large church). The scope of responsibilities could include handling project-oriented duties and being accountable for completion of project-related tasks in a timely manner.
This person's tasks probably include the following:
- scheduling meetings/conferences and making independent decisions,
- participating in and preparing meeting materials,
- handling calendars,
- making travel arrangements,
- creating and searching databases (including working with spreadsheets and budgets),
- being assigned the task of making recommendations regarding equipment purchases and
- overseeing equipment maintenance.
This person exercises tact, courtesy and diplomacy in working with people and often supervises the work of one or two others. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of church/associational practice and structure is required.
Secretary: This person works for the pastor and/or a staff member (minister of education, minister of music or in a large church the minister of preschool, children, youth, etc.).
The scope of responsibilities include the following:
- composing and/or taking and transcribing from notes and/or dictation equipment,
- screening calls,
- making appointments,
- maintaining filing systems,
- designing office forms, fliers and newsletters,
- opening, reviewing and answering daily mail,
- attending meetings for the purpose of taking minutes and
- handling travel arrangements.
This person also must exercise tact, courtesy and diplomacy in working with people. This position requires a knowledge of church policy and procedures.
The major differences between the two job titles is that secretaries are not usually involved in supervising, participating in meetings, making oral and written presentations and making independent decisions.
Clerk typist/receptionist: This job classification is distinguished by the amount of assigned repetitive activities and responsibilities, such as:
- routine typing,
- photocopying tasks from a variety of originators,
- filing,
- data input of church records,
- maintaining the church calendar,
- answering telephones,
- greeting church visitors and
- receiving, sorting and delivering incoming mail.
This job is also is distinguished from the other two by the absence of responsibilities for initiating schedules, supervision and independent decision-making.
Your job title often relates to the person for whom you work and the type of work responsibilities you perform. The positions described are directly related to the job description.
Is your job description out of date? Have you taken on responsibilities not in the original job description? Perhaps you should talk to your supervisor and/or personnel committee about a job title change. Your job title and salary should reflect exactly what you do.
If the motivation for a title change comes from a desire to further a career, examine it closely. As Christian workers, we need to ask: What is the motivation behind our drive to work? Is it a calling from God? Or have we been overcome by worldly ambition?
Don't judge or value yourself by the title you carry, but by the meaning you bring to the job. Your work has more to do with the vision and faith you have for it than what your title is.
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