Spiritual Gift of Administration - The Spiritual Gifts Project

The spiritual gift of Administration is the Spirit-empowered ability to steer, organize, and coordinate the work of the body of Christ so that God-given goals and directives are carried out effectively. Administrators see how the pieces fit together. They understand what makes an organization function, and they have a God-given capacity to plan, structure, and execute tasks in a way that accomplishes ministry goals.

It is a gift that takes vision and turns it into action.

As Acts 6 demonstrates, this gift is essential to a healthy church:

The Apostles recognized they could not handle both the preaching of the Word and the daily distribution of food. So they appointed Spirit-filled administrators who would ensure the proper care of the widows while freeing others for prayer and teaching.

This is the essence of the gift of administration:
Freeing the body to function as God intends by ensuring its ministries are ordered, supported, and sustained.

Getting Things Done: Why the Gift Matters

Administration and leadership often overlap, but they are distinct.

Leadership casts the vision and sets the direction.
Administration turns vision into reality.

Those with this gift:

Break large goals into manageable steps
Coordinate the people, resources, and timing needed
Preserve order in the middle of complexity
Establish systems that allow other ministries to flourish
Anticipate obstacles and plan around them
See what needs to be done and chart the path forward

The administrator’s focus is the present task, the next step, the next detail that must be resolved to ensure progress. They find joy not in being the public face of ministry but in making sure the work actually happens.

Without administrators, the church may dream big but struggle to accomplish anything substantial. With them, momentum builds, ministries grow, and the body operates in harmony.

Spiritual Fulfillment Through Structure

Administrators are motivated by:

Seeing a plan come together
Helping others succeed
Establishing order and efficiency
Supporting the work of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care
Managing resources wisely and ethically
Matching people to roles that suit their spiritual gifts

Like the seven chosen in Acts 6, they serve behind the scenes yet play a foundational role in ensuring the church’s mission does not stall.

Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Administration

While Martin Luther did not name “administration” as a distinct spiritual gift, his theology strongly affirms the need for structured, orderly management in the life of the Church.

Luther emphasized:

That order is necessary for the gospel to flourish
That every believer has a God-given vocation and responsibility
That practical governance is essential for the Church’s mission
That organization and structure are themselves ministries unto God
That good stewardship—including logistical stewardship—is an act of worship

During the Reformation, Luther oversaw profound changes in church governance, liturgy, education, and community care. This required—and reflected—deep respect for administrative gifts in the body.

Luther would have recognized administrators as vital to sustaining ministry, preserving order, managing resources, and freeing teachers and pastors to focus on preaching and shepherding.

John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Administration

John Wesley’s ministry thrived because of unparalleled administrative brilliance—class meetings, bands, societies, circuits, itinerancy, quarterly conferences, and rigorous record keeping.

Though Wesley did not formally categorize “administration” as a spiritual gift, his entire movement affirms it.

Wesley valued:

Clear organizational structures
Strong oversight
Detailed record keeping
Strategic use of resources
Accountability systems
Coordinated ministry efforts
Delegation and empowering lay leaders

He believed the Church must be organized for mission, and that administration was inseparable from evangelism, discipleship, and holiness.

Wesley’s own life is a testimony that God gives administrative capacity as a charism to build up the Church.

The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Administration

The Catholic Church recognizes administration—often called the charism of governance or service of leadership—as a vital contribution to the life and mission of the Church.

This gift is seen in:

Bishops, priests, and deacons
Religious orders and their internal governance
Lay ecclesial ministers
Parish councils, committees, and apostolic movements

The charism of administration is understood as:

A spiritual ability given for the common good
A means of stewarding people, property, and resources
A gift that ensures ministries run effectively
An expression of service and humility
A support to the proclamation of the Gospel

The Church teaches that this gift must be exercised with:

Prudence
Justice
Humility
Integrity
A heart centered on Christ’s mission

Administration is not merely logistical—it is pastoral, helping guide the Church toward unity, mission, and faithful stewardship.

Common Pitfalls of the Gift

Like all gifts, administration has vulnerabilities:

1. Over-Focus on Systems

Administrators may prioritize structure over relationship.

2. Controlling Tendencies

They may forget the ministry goal and focus too intensely on process.

3. Burnout

Because they handle details others overlook, they are often overworked.

4. Misalignment With Leadership

If administrators move ahead without vision alignment, conflict arises.

5. Becoming Task-Oriented Instead of Spirit-Led

The desire for efficiency can overshadow the need for prayerful discernment.

When exercised with humility and dependence on the Spirit, administration becomes one of the most unifying and empowering gifts in the church.

People With This Gift Often…

Develop strategies and detailed plans to accomplish goals
Improve processes, systems, and organizational flow
Bring structure where there is chaos
Manage multiple responsibilities with clarity
Coordinate people, events, tasks, and logistics
Understand how resources should be allocated
Assign roles and responsibilities according to spiritual gifts
Keep teams focused on their objectives
Provide frameworks that allow ministries to function smoothly
Support leaders by turning vision into action
See to it that “things don’t fall through the cracks”

Administrators help the body of Christ function as a cohesive, purposeful, and effective community.

Bible References

Acts 6:1-7	Disciples chosen to administer to the needs of the widows
1 Corinthians 12:28	Paul mentions the gift of administration
Hebrews 13:7, 17	Exhortations for your leaders
James 2:15-17	Faith without works is “dead”
1 Timothy 3:1-5	The qualities required in church leaders who are responsible for managing and overseeing the church,
Titus 1:5-9	Putting in order and managing the church