Childrens Sunday School

Organization Guide
Finding your
place of service

A Class or Department?
A group of one to six children can be called a class or department. When a class
grows to two groups of one to six children in the same room, it is usually referred to
as a childrens department.

A Division?
When a church grows to have one or more childrens departments, the group of
childrens departments is referred to as the childrens division.
The organizational structure can be any one of the following:
One room/one class/one department
Two departments

Grades 1-6

Younger Children Grades 1-3

Older Children Grades 4-6

Three departments Younger Children Grades 1-2

Middle Children Grades 3-4
Older Children Grades 5-6
Six departments

Younger Children
Younger Children
Middle Children
Middle Children
Preteen
Preteen

Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6

There should always be a minimum of two adults in each class or department of children.
Two adults over eighteen years of age (not related to each other). In situations where two
family members serve together, a third teacher/volunteer is recommended.

The Division Director

A Childrens Division Director is needed when there are six or more childrens
departments, each with several workers.
The Childrens Division Director
designs and is responsible for the budget in the childrens division.
enlists all Department Directors.
provides training experiences for all workers.
participates in regular planning meetings.
plans to meet regularly with all childrens Sunday School workers.
organizes and maintains a resource system.
attends Sunday School Council meetings.
encourages all workers.

The Department Director/Lead Teacher

A Department Director is added when two or more teachers meet in one room with
a group of children. The Department Director is also called the Lead Teacher.
The Department Director/Lead Teacher
leads Teachers in all work of the department, including planning and evaluating.
greets children as they enter the room.
guides large-group activities.
secures literature and resources.
maintains department records.
determines training needs and provides appropriate activities.
enlists all department workers.
represents the department on the Sunday School Council, when necessary.

The Teacher
The Childrens Teacher is the key to learning for the child.
The Teacher
teaches a small group of children during Bible Study time.
reaches out to find and enroll children who need to be in Sunday School.
contacts absentees weekly and all children in assigned group regularly.
cares for and ministers to assigned children and their families.
fellowships with children and their families.
participates in regular planning.

The Secretary/OutreachEvangelism Leader

In a childrens department the Secretary and OutreachEvangelism Leader can be
the same person.
The Secretary/OutreachEvangelism Leader
maintains department attendance records.
maintains department outreach and contact records.
orders literature and other supplies and resources.
leads department workers in evangelistic visitation and prospect discovery.
serves as a substitute Teacher when needed in the department

Children Protection and Positive Risk Management

It is recommended that each church vote on the concept that it will investigate,
develop, and implement a Child Protection and Report Policy. After completion, the
church should vote on the Child Protection Policy. The church will have responsibility
of the implementation and of maintaining such a policy.
In support of and as part of such a policy, the church should do the following:
Criminal background checks on all volunteers in each ministry for preschool,
children, and youth.
National Criminal or
State Criminal or
Local Criminal
Observe the Rule of Two
Two adults over eighteen years of age (not related to each other)
In situations where two family members serve together, a third teacher/volunteer is recommended.
Why?
Each church is autonomous.
Each church has responsibility to provide a safe place for students.
Each church has responsibility to protect the leadership/volunteers.
Each church has responsibility to protect the reputation and witness it has
with the community.
Insurance Companies who provide liability protection for the church, its congregation, and its guests are endeavoring to protect the church and keep it out of
court.

Notes

Find your place of service!

6

of Sunday School/Open Group Ministries of the Georgia Baptist

Convention is to work in partnership with regions, associations, and
churches to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment by
equipping leaders to develop Bible study groups and ministries devoted to:
Foundational Evangelism Foundational Discipleship
Family Responsibility Spiritual Transformation Biblical Leadership

HE PURPOSE

Text taken and adapted from:

LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN
Used with permission
Sunday School/Open Group Ministries
Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Road South
Atlanta, GA 30341
1-800-RING-GBC or 770-936-5285
Fax: 770-452-6580
Website: ssog.gabaptist.org