The Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Hosted by Todd Rhoades

Careers Religion Spirituality Christianity

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Episodes

690

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

We're all about helping create a healthy, positive, and spiritually positive environment for church staff members and leadership teams.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 11, 2026Episode 7007 min

Half Your Staff Doesn't Remember That Tuesday

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, the focus is on the 25th anniversary of 9-11, highlighting the generational divide in memories of the event. The host discusses the challenge of leading a church staff and congregation where some remember the day vividly, while others know it only from history, emphasizing the importance of honoring the day with respect and truthfulness, rather than nostalgia. Leaders are encouraged to approach the anniversary with a shepherd's heart, acknowledging different perspectives and avoiding assumptions of shared experiences. • Marked the 25th anniversary of 9-11 and the varying generational memories. • Navigating mixed memories among staff and congregation during remembrance events. • Importance of honoring 9-11 respectfully without assuming shared experiences. • Suggestions for addressing different perspectives in a church setting. • Advice to lead with care, avoiding nostalgia and allowing genuine expressions. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 10, 2026Episode 69910 min

You Preached Family on Sunday. She Got Two Weeks Upaid Weeks on Monday.

This podcast episode discusses the lack of formal policies for parental leave in churches, contrasting it with the detailed policies often in place for other operations like van usage. Todd Rhoades, a co-founder of chemistrystaffing.com, emphasizes the importance of creating a clear and fair policy for parental leave that doesn't leave staff to negotiate their leave amid personal circumstances. The episode addresses the need for churches to establish these procedures before they are needed, ensuring fairness and support across the board. • Churches often have detailed policies for operational matters like van usage but lack policies for parental leave. • Lack of policy forces pregnant staff to negotiate leave, leading to inconsistent treatment. • A clear, written policy should be established for parental leave to provide fairness and clarity. • The need for policies extends beyond pregnancies to cases like illness, ensuring staff know their rights and support structure. • Creating these policies before they are needed helps avoid confusion and provides better support for staff families. • The episode encourages listeners to start conversations with their boards to establish these policies. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 9, 2026Episode 6988 min

The Termination File That Doesn't Exist

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses the importance of maintaining thorough and well-organized personnel files to prevent issues during staff terminations. Many churches fail to document employment terms and performance, which can lead to feelings of ambush when termination becomes necessary. He emphasizes that these files are not just a tool for firing but a record of employment that helps ensure fairness and clarity from the beginning of an employment relationship. • Many churches lack proper documentation for staff roles and performance. • Personnel files should contain a signed offer letter, job description, and documented conversations. • Proper documentation is essential for fairness and clarity in employment and termination processes. • Maintain files not only for termination but as an employment record. • Start organizing personnel files now to avoid issues later. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 8, 2026Episode 6976 min

The Political Elephant in Your Staff Room

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, host discusses the growing political diversity present within church staff teams and the challenges it poses. The episode explores the impact of ignoring such diversity and suggests constructive ways to address it, encouraging open conversation without making politics the focal point. Key recommendations include acknowledging political differences, anchoring to the mission of the church, and fostering a culture of curiosity and respect. • Church staff teams are more politically diverse than often recognized. • Ignoring political differences can lead to assumptions, eroded trust, and self-editing among staff. • Staff might feel pressured to perform a political identity for the congregation. • Important recommendations include naming the political diversity, focusing on the church's mission, and modeling curiosity over judgment. • Addressing political diversity is crucial for church unity and leadership training. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 7, 2026Episode 6967 min

When You Work So Hard You Stop Enjoying the Work

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses the 'performance trap,' where ministry turns into proving one's worth rather than serving out of love, causing burnout. He emphasizes separating one's identity from productivity and rediscovering joy in one's work by focusing on what initially brought joy in ministry. Todd advises listeners to stop justifying their efforts and to serve from a place of passion rather than seeking validation. • Rediscover joy in ministry by focusing on initial calling. • Avoid the performance trap by not equating worth with work output. • Separate identity from productivity to find fulfillment. • The importance of finding joy in work for its own sake, not for external validation. • Encouragement to perform tasks for love of work rather than for approval. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 4, 2026Episode 6956 min

The Hidden Budget Line You're Not Tracking

In this podcast episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, Todd Rhoades discusses the significant economic value of church volunteers and how this can be used to reshape conversations around church resources and budgeting. By assessing the volunteer contribution in monetary terms, church leaders can better communicate the impact and mobilization of their ministry efforts. • Volunteers are an undervalued asset in church resource conversations. • The economic value of volunteer work can be quantified, currently valued at $36.14 per hour. • Churches can calculate an annual volunteer economic contribution to make a strong case during budget meetings. • This provides a language to communicate both internally and externally about the church's impact and resource utilization. • Reframing volunteer contributions helps church staff see the value in their coordination efforts, avoiding burnout. • Encourages tracking volunteer hours to better estimate and communicate this economic impact. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 3, 2026Episode 6946 min

Why Your First Instinct Isn't to Ask for Help (And How to Change It)

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the common resistance to asking for help in leadership roles. He argues that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but rather an essential component of effective leadership. Rhoades emphasizes that proactive help-seeking fosters team success and prevents crises. By framing the act of asking for help as ownership rather than weakness, leaders can set a positive example for their teams and create a culture of vulnerability-based trust. • Leaders often resist asking for help due to cultural expectations of self-sufficiency. • Waiting until overwhelmed can lead to urgent, chaotic situations requiring rescue instead of help. • Asking for help shows good leadership and prioritizes organizational success over personal ego. • Leaders should model proactive help-seeking to foster a healthy team culture. • Ministry contexts may amplify the resistance to asking for help due to spiritualized self-sufficiency. • Proactive help-seeking is aligned with biblical principles of community and support. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 2, 2026Episode 6937 min

How Your Work Connects to the Big Picture (Even When You Can't See It)

The Healthy Church Staff podcast episode addresses the common issue of staff and volunteers feeling disconnected from their church's mission, despite working hard. Todd Rhoades discusses how this disconnect can lead to demotivation and provides practical steps for individuals to align their roles with the broader church mission. He encourages listeners to actively seek clarity and understanding of how their tasks contribute to the church's mission, rather than waiting for leadership to provide this connection. • Staff and volunteers often feel disconnected from the church's mission. • This disconnect can lead to decreased motivation and satisfaction. • Understanding the connection between daily tasks and the church mission is crucial. • Individuals should actively ask how their role supports the mission. • Leaders should consistently reinforce and clarify the mission's connection to each role. • Seeing the impact of one's work fosters engagement and reduces burnout. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

September 1, 2026Episode 6929 min

They Hired Outside

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, host Todd Rhoades discusses the emotional and professional challenges faced by church staff members who are finalists for internal job promotions but do not receive the position. The episode explores the options and feelings involved when a candidate is asked to support new hires in roles they themselves sought. It offers guidance on how churches can better handle such situations to ensure staff feel valued and respected. • Discusses the emotional impact of being a finalist for a church role but not getting the job. • Explores options for staff: to stay, sabotage, or slowly disappear. • Emphasizes the importance of churches having honest conversations with internal candidates before public announcements. • Highlights the significance of feeling valued and avoiding 'quiet quitting'. • Suggests providing a dignified transition for both the unsuccessful candidate and the new hire. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.

August 31, 2026Episode 6919 min

Yesterday You Were One of Us

This episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast hosted by Todd Rhoades discusses the challenges and dynamics of being internally promoted within a church staff. While an internal promotion can be seen as a continuation rather than a change of role, it involves significant shifts in relationships and power dynamics. Todd emphasizes the need to openly address and communicate these changes with staff to manage expectations and avoid misunderstandings. • Internal promotions involve changes in power and relationships. • Communication about the role change and its implications is crucial. • New internal dynamics can impact personal relationships and workplace atmosphere. • Addressing these changes upfront can help mitigate discomfort and confusion. • The promotion affects not just the individual but also their family and colleague relationships. Have questions or comments? Send to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com Be sure to subscribe to The Healthy Church Staff Podcast wherever you regularly listen to podcasts. - - - - - Is Your Church Hiring? If your church is searching for a new staff member, reach out to Todd for a conversation on how he might be able to help. Are You Looking for a New Ministry Role? If you are open to a new church role in the next few months, add your free resume and profile at ChemistryStaffing.com.