Institute of Church Office Management
A Professional and Examination body recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice of the Federation, registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission and approved by the Chartered Act.
The Act empowers the institute to regulate the training and practice of church Office Management within a professional framework throughout Nigeria. Also the institute, is empowered to Champion, Promote and advance the art and science of Church Office Management and its practice in all its aspects and ramification as well as establish Professional standards for the membership training and certification of Chartered Church Officer Manager.
To be able to practice Professionally, candidate has to complete the three levels of professional examination set-up by the institute. Candidate who successfully completed the final level examination has the right/privilege to describe self as a "CCOM" (Chartered Church Office Manager). Chartered Church Office Manager is qualified for fellowship award after ten years post qualification experience, the designatory acronym of "FCCOM" (Fellow Chartered Church Office Manager) is mandatory after his/her Name.
About the Profession
This profession was established to strengthen the office management best practice within the church environs; providing business – oriented platform. Church Office Management continues to gain support and recognition at all levels of the church structure as a unified body of professional church office managers.
It should be noted that, regardless of the size of the church and its budget, the church needs an office that is attractive, easy to work in safety, comfortable and conducive for its routine purposes.
The church as an organization is exposed to insufficient education in this area of church office management principles and skills through formal education. The lack of basic church office principle and skills negatively affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the office in pursuit of its goal. There are standards and qualifications that need to be met when someone wants to become a church office manager.
Office is described as the nerve centre of the entire church. The present day church office activities have expanded to a wider extent to keep pace with rapid globalization. Office itself has become an indispensable part of church life; activities include: Pastoral Correspondence, consolidating information, Communicating Information and Supporting Ministries by Keeping records, preserving documents, ordering supplies and linking the staff and church organization.
A great responsibility is evidently put on being a professional church office manager. This responsibility holds for the character as well as the experience and reputation of a good manager. The congregation and the community depend on accurate information through the church office. This includes administration, reception, providing an atmosphere of caring and trust, effective communication within the church family and the community. Also confidentiality and pastoral support should be a major task.
It is important to note that this ever challenging profession needs people with great knowledge in the areas of pastoral office ethics, Office Management and Documentation of church properties.
Our Vision
Equipping the Pastoral Staff with adequate church managerial knowledge of International Best Practices towards achieving professional statues of this organization.
Our Mission
To elevate the church office professional to a status of recognition within the church environs.
What We Stand For
Integrity
Quality
Responsibility
Confidentiality
Team Work
Accountability
Professionalism
Our Goals and Objectives
- To produce professional church office manager of world – class standard
- To alleviate or possibly eradicate quackery in church office management profession
- To encourage and sponsor office management principle towards the advancement of church office management profession
- To serve as a Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) for church office management profession
- To stem the dearth of church office management professionals through research, training, re-training, seminar, symposia, conference, and workshop
- To strive to become the world's 'first' in the production of professional church office manager through rigorous External Examination of the institute
- To facilitate respectability for practitioners on the field; and accord recognition for professional church office managers
- To relate and cooperate fully with the church authority and the pastor for effective smooth running of the church activities
- To liberalize church office management, that is, to delimit indigent persons with flair and aptitude from entering into the profession by allowing such person to go through the External Examination of the institute
- To plan the policies of the church and ensure their implementation. And also to propagate specialism amongst other management professions
Standard of Professional Conduct
Every profession has its code of conduct to guide the behaviours of its members. ICOM is not an exception. Knowing the nobility and esteemed nature of the profession, we have established Ethics which stipulates acceptable standards for our members.
Integrity
Being straightforward, honest and trustful in all professional and business relationships. You should not be associated with information that you believe contain materially false or misleading statement, or which is misleading by omission.
Objectivity
Not allowing bias, conflict of interest or the influence of other people to override your professional judgement.
Professional Competence
The capability to perform the duties of one's profession generally, or to perform a particular professional task with skill of an acceptable quality. Professional competence is seen as the generic, integrated and internalize capability to deliver sustainable effective (worthy) performance (include problem solving, realizing innovation and creating transformation) in a certain professional domain.
Confidentiality
You should not disclose professional information unless you have specific permission or a legal or professional duty to do so.
Professional Behaviour
To comply with relevant laws and regulations. You must also avoid any action that could negatively affect the reputation of the profession.
Membership Rights & Privileges
- Access to the institute's continuous Professional Development Programmes (CPD)
- Sharing of knowledge and experiences through networking
- ICOM Official membership certificate given under the approval of the institute, post nominal letters after name use designatory (CCOM, FCCOM) in all correspondence to demonstrated membership to others
- Meeting the professionals toward efficient and effective exchange of ideas and technical supports
- Right / Privilege to vote and be voted for into the Board of membership of the Governing council of the Institute
- Right/Privilege to receive the Bimonthly Journal and News Letters of the Institute
- Right/Privilege to conduct lectures at all levels for candidates of the Institute
- Right/Privilege to attend the International Conference of the Institute