We often do Spring cleaning and reorganization in our homes throughout the year, let’s not forget about taking time to organize your church. Churches get cluttered with stuff too and there just comes a point when things need to be thrown away!

Every item as you decide to organize your church does not really need to be put into the dumpster, some items may need to be donated and given a new home. You decide, but as you decide remember that as you are organizing and cleaning that you are helping God’s house be its best. Your goal is to make space for the most important items that are used regularly.

Who Can Help with Church Organization?

Clean-up the church as a group. Instead of tackling a huge task alone, have a church work day and let others help you! Church work days can be a bonding and fellowship time while making the house of God look its best all as a church family.

Utilize talents and skills others have. Many people, especially ladies and teenage girls, in the church have a gift for cleaning and organizing. Encourage them to get on board with the job and let them have the freedom to clean to their heart’s content. One memorable Saturday afternoon a Sunday School teacher invited me to help her clean up a very cluttered classroom for the toddler class and we went through all the toy bins, cabinets, and craft supplies and ended up ridding the classroom from several bags of trash and donation items. The result of our efforts made for a bright and ready classroom for Sunday morning.

If the organization has been delegated to you or you see the need and want to do it yourself then the key word is ask! I imagine a gung-ho church or staff member taking on organizing and throwing things away right and left without first asking permission and causing a heap of trouble. Communicate before you get to work because there may be a reason why they’re keeping some of those things you might view as “junk”. Use your discernment, if you have any doubt about an item(s) then just ask if it is something you should keep or get rid of. Pastors, church secretaries, and Sunday School teachers do not like their stuff disappearing on them.

What Do We Do with All This Stuff?

Throw Away Throw away the trash! Do not give away unwanted items that will only consume someone else’s time of sorting through things and make them throw it away for you. That is how donated items arrived at your church! Pay the cash if you must to take a trip to the dump or have the garbage company come for an extra pick-up from your dumpster. Think of it as an investment in godliness because we know that cleanliness is next to godliness, right? Oh wait, that’s not in the Bible but it is worth doing for the sake of having a clean church.

Give Away If an item is reusable then give it away! Church planters are usually in need of good quality items that could be used for their church work so if you have useful items not being used that could help someone, think of giving as an option. They usually need items like keyboards, Sunday School material, chairs, the extra communion set  you may have, clean toys for their nursery or toddler classes. Missionaries might also be another group of people who would benefit from church goodies that need a new home.

Non-profit organizations who would benefit from good quality items like canned goods, clothes, appliances, electronics, etc. Many companies now will even come pick them up for you if you schedule a pick-up.

Repurpose Being a good steward means not wasting God’s resources. If there are craft supplies in a shed or storage closet that can be used for a specific class or even a specific event in your church then get them ready to use without spending more money. Even the old decorations that you may have from a special occasion at the church might be able to be used by another church, other ministry wives may really enjoy switching decor for events so they can save money too. Be realistic about your repurposing items, if they are not something that will be used within the next six months to a year then it might be better to go ahead and pass them on.

Whatever you do, get rid of all the stuff you bagged up – FAST! You do not want all the junk to go back into the church or even your storage. Be diligent to conquer your church organization by following through and removing the items promptly. Make your calls to get items picked up and/or used as soon as possible.

If you have more questions about organization and cleaning you can find many resources across the web that will be applicable to similar areas and situations.

The next Church Organization post will contain a list of 101 Things to Throw Away at Church with a free printable so it can be printed out and used while you’re cleaning.