Laura Mitchell - MDiv

Leveraging ministerial experience for effective program management and community engagement.

Why You Should Hire a Former Pastor as Your Next Program Manager

You might not immediately think that a former pastor with 18 years of ministry experience is a great fit for your Program Management position. Here's why you should consider it:

Oversight and Coordination

You need: Someone who can oversee multiple projects or initiatives within an organization, ensuring different teams are working toward strategic objectives.
My experience: I worked with and resourced multiple church committees (e.g., worship, outreach, finance, missions, discipleship) to ensure all teams were working in concert with one another.
Real World Impact: I successfully led and resourced a multi-campus church, expanding our reach and deepening our community impact. Navigating the complexities of multiple campuses—competing priorities, resource allocation, and vision alignment—I fostered collaboration and strategic growth, resulting in sustained, year-over-year expansion.

Vision and Strategy

You need: Someone who can define program goals, ensuring that individual projects align with the company’s strategic vision.
My experience: My role was to cast the vision for the church, shaping the direction and long-term goals to align with both the congregation's needs and denominational expectations.
Real World Impact: At Wrightsville, I revitalized the Confirmation program, transforming it from a low-impact initiative with minimal congregation support into a lasting, meaningful experience for both participants and the church as a whole. This required gaining clarity on the program’s purpose from multiple stakeholders, challenging existing assumptions, and designing a more effective approach. The foundation I established remains in place over 20 years later.

Stakeholder Management

You need: Someone who can manage relationships with executives, project teams, customers, and external partners.
My experience: I regularly engaged with church staff, volunteers, congregation members, and community partners.
Real World Impact: I served two terms as Vice Chair of the North Carolina Conference Board of Trustees for the United Methodist Church. This role required balancing the needs of individual congregations and their campuses with the financial and legal responsibilities of the Annual Conference. While Vice Chair, I helped navigate multiple church closures, ensuring that congregations and their leaders were treated with respect and compassion while also securing responsible stewardship of Conference-held properties.

Resource Allocation and Budgeting

You need: Someone who knows how to oversee budgets for programs, ensuring resources are used efficiently to meet business goals.
My experience: I worked with the finance committee to steward the church’s budget, allocating resources effectively across ministries. With a budget that was dependent on giving and was always in flux, being clear about the highest priority needs was essential.
Real World Impact: I led annual stewardship campaigns that went beyond budget creation—I developed and executed strategic communication plans to engage the broader congregation, articulate financial needs, and inspire giving. Under my leadership, the churches I served consistently maintained a balanced budget, often ending the year with a surplus, which was then reinvested into the community.

Measuring Impact and Continuous Improvement

You need : Someone who will evaluate program success using KPIs, feedback, and performance data to make improvements.
My experience: I assessed church growth, ministry effectiveness, and community engagement, adjusting programs as needed.
Real World Impact: As Chair of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry, I oversaw the evaluation and development of candidates pursuing a career in ministry. This required setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and assessing growth in key competencies. As Chair, I communicated committee decisions—both affirmations and difficult feedback—in ways that were clear, constructive, and supportive, ensuring candidates understood next steps and opportunities for growth.

Communication and Change Management

You need: Someone who can ensure clear communication across teams and lead change management efforts when new processes or strategies are introduced.
My experience: I regularly communicated vision through sermons, meetings, and written materials, helping the congregation adapt to new initiatives.
Real World Impact: When I arrived in Burgaw, the church was experiencing decline and lacked motivation. By engaging with both congregation members and the broader community, I identified their core strengths and potential. I then cast a compelling vision for renewal, fostering buy-in and momentum. As a result, membership, worship attendance, and giving all increased before my departure.

Conflict Resolution and Team Leadership

You need: Someone to manage cross-functional teams with competing priorities, facilitating collaboration and resolving conflicts.
My experience: I routinely navigated differing opinions within church leadership, committees, and the congregation while fostering unity.
Real World Impact: Opening our historic downtown building to serve those experiencing hunger and homelessness was met with initial resistance. By actively listening to congregation members, addressing their concerns, and clearly articulating the vision and benefits of the initiative, I built consensus and led a successful program that positively impacted both the congregation and the larger community.