Why have so many people given up on volunteering in the Church? It's so hard to find anyone to do anything......we all volunteer for the clubs our kids belong to....but not the Church.
in my experience people will volunteer for something that they feel is worthwhile - also lately we have noticed in the church that folks will volunteer more readily for a short term project (one with a definite beginning and end time and with a specific purpose) than for a committee whose work is less easily defined and with an indefinite time line.
sighsnootles
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:05
indeed.
not to mention that now many agencies count on volunteers just to run their day to day stuff... the childrens aid society, for example, relies heavily on volunteers to drive the children to and from their access visits with their biological families. so, someone may look at that, and when weighed against being on some committee at the church which oversees the alarm system, well, the kids win....
ministerschild
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:21
I think that a lot of people my age just don't have time to volunteer in general. I sit on two arts boards and we have a really hard time recruiting volunteers under the age of 65. I guess it isn't hard to understand, with high stress jobs and kids that need to be ferried around to activities it is hard to committ. I don't have kids, but I do have a job that keeps me busy- so I am somewhat limited. I was an elder in my last church- which my husband found hilarious. Since we have moved I have limited my activity at the church to choir and individual events. I know I should volunteer there more but I feel like my life is completely out of control most of the time. As a minister kid I spent the early years of my life involved in everything- so I do enjoy getting to choose what I want to do. Our church has started a 6 week stewardship campaign to deal with this very issue.
sile
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:41
Yah, life sure is busy. I just wish folks had more passion for things that happen at the Church.....like they do for the swimming club and the hockey team......but listen, I sure understand the whole meeting thing.....that's a sure way to turn people off! Short term projects are, for sure, more manageable but sometimes it's still hard to find people.....makes you wonder if we're not offering the kinds of things people need or want in their lives.
beancounter
Posted on: 11/17/2006 08:03
When our children were young we volunteered a lot at our church, Sunday school teacher and coordinator, on the board as chairperson, serving lunch, taking part in the services - the list was endless. I think in the end we suffered from extreme burnout. At a point when I got sick and couldn't do anything it was a bit of a relief to not have to volunteer. Now we volunteer to work with youth in the sport of our childrens choice. We both know that at some point we will return to our church as volunteers, but this time we will limit our committements and choose what is of most importance to us.
Just a note: even back 13 years ago the majority of the volunteers were retirees who had the time to do the volunteer work during the day. As busy parents we often found that the church work limited our hours at home or doing something with our children.
churchlady
Posted on: 11/17/2006 13:48
I think you have hit the nail on the head SILE when you say "makes you wonder if we're not offering the kinds of things people need or want in their lives." i couldn't agree more and that for me is the biggest challenge facing our church today, how to bring the good news to life so that folks will want to be part of something worthwhile, exciting and fulfilling!
RichardBott
Posted on: 11/17/2006 19:06
My experience is that people are willing to volunteer for projects - especially when they are approached one on one - but not for committees.
As someone who is 'meeting-ed out' at the moment, I can empathize.
jw
Posted on: 11/20/2006 11:54
Back when I was younger and very busy I served on many charitable boards, church groups and ran day camps for kids.
Now? I'm older, disabled and just plain do not trust. Oh there's several churches within easy walking distance of me, including a UCC, that would be happy to have me. Same with several charities. But, all they see is jw, who is really good at running BOD's.... Me? Me they're blind to.
The last BOD I served on the women sat there, with me in the room, trashing every male in the country. Frankly? I don't need the contempt that goes with a BOD these days. I no longer am willing to be seen as a piece of machinery.
Lorelei
Posted on: 11/23/2006 12:32
I do a lot of volunteer work but as a newcomer in my community (I've only been here 12 years) I find that the 'generals' are all in place and what they look for are 'foot soldiers'. What I mean is, too often the idea or plan is is place and they are just looking for someone to do the heavy lifting. I think new volunteers may be easier to find if we started looking for them when we are saying, "There is a problem, can you help us figure out how to address it." When we own the solution we work to make it happen.
And a piece of thought for those who have worked on a committee for a long time and are feeling burned out (has happened to me). In a release from covenanting service the minister delivering the message said, "Sometimes we need to get out of the way in order to give the spirit room to work". That is an idea that you can spend a lot of time pondering! Sometimes we need to ask ourselves, "Am I doing the Spirit's work or am I in the way?"
Comments
churchlady
Posted on: 11/17/2006 06:52
in my experience people will volunteer for something that they feel is worthwhile - also lately we have noticed in the church that folks will volunteer more readily for a short term project (one with a definite beginning and end time and with a specific purpose) than for a committee whose work is less easily defined and with an indefinite time line.
sighsnootles
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:05
indeed.
not to mention that now many agencies count on volunteers just to run their day to day stuff... the childrens aid society, for example, relies heavily on volunteers to drive the children to and from their access visits with their biological families. so, someone may look at that, and when weighed against being on some committee at the church which oversees the alarm system, well, the kids win....
ministerschild
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:21
I think that a lot of people my age just don't have time to volunteer in general. I sit on two arts boards and we have a really hard time recruiting volunteers under the age of 65. I guess it isn't hard to understand, with high stress jobs and kids that need to be ferried around to activities it is hard to committ. I don't have kids, but I do have a job that keeps me busy- so I am somewhat limited. I was an elder in my last church- which my husband found hilarious. Since we have moved I have limited my activity at the church to choir and individual events. I know I should volunteer there more but I feel like my life is completely out of control most of the time. As a minister kid I spent the early years of my life involved in everything- so I do enjoy getting to choose what I want to do. Our church has started a 6 week stewardship campaign to deal with this very issue.
sile
Posted on: 11/17/2006 07:41
Yah, life sure is busy. I just wish folks had more passion for things that happen at the Church.....like they do for the swimming club and the hockey team......but listen, I sure understand the whole meeting thing.....that's a sure way to turn people off! Short term projects are, for sure, more manageable but sometimes it's still hard to find people.....makes you wonder if we're not offering the kinds of things people need or want in their lives.
beancounter
Posted on: 11/17/2006 08:03
When our children were young we volunteered a lot at our church, Sunday school teacher and coordinator, on the board as chairperson, serving lunch, taking part in the services - the list was endless. I think in the end we suffered from extreme burnout. At a point when I got sick and couldn't do anything it was a bit of a relief to not have to volunteer. Now we volunteer to work with youth in the sport of our childrens choice. We both know that at some point we will return to our church as volunteers, but this time we will limit our committements and choose what is of most importance to us.
Just a note: even back 13 years ago the majority of the volunteers were retirees who had the time to do the volunteer work during the day. As busy parents we often found that the church work limited our hours at home or doing something with our children.
churchlady
Posted on: 11/17/2006 13:48
I think you have hit the nail on the head SILE when you say "makes you wonder if we're not offering the kinds of things people need or want in their lives." i couldn't agree more and that for me is the biggest challenge facing our church today, how to bring the good news to life so that folks will want to be part of something worthwhile, exciting and fulfilling!
RichardBott
Posted on: 11/17/2006 19:06
My experience is that people are willing to volunteer for projects - especially when they are approached one on one - but not for committees.
As someone who is 'meeting-ed out' at the moment, I can empathize.
jw
Posted on: 11/20/2006 11:54
Back when I was younger and very busy I served on many charitable boards, church groups and ran day camps for kids.
Now? I'm older, disabled and just plain do not trust. Oh there's several churches within easy walking distance of me, including a UCC, that would be happy to have me. Same with several charities. But, all they see is jw, who is really good at running BOD's.... Me? Me they're blind to.
The last BOD I served on the women sat there, with me in the room, trashing every male in the country. Frankly? I don't need the contempt that goes with a BOD these days. I no longer am willing to be seen as a piece of machinery.
Lorelei
Posted on: 11/23/2006 12:32
I do a lot of volunteer work but as a newcomer in my community (I've only been here 12 years) I find that the 'generals' are all in place and what they look for are 'foot soldiers'. What I mean is, too often the idea or plan is is place and they are just looking for someone to do the heavy lifting. I think new volunteers may be easier to find if we started looking for them when we are saying, "There is a problem, can you help us figure out how to address it." When we own the solution we work to make it happen.
And a piece of thought for those who have worked on a committee for a long time and are feeling burned out (has happened to me). In a release from covenanting service the minister delivering the message said, "Sometimes we need to get out of the way in order to give the spirit room to work". That is an idea that you can spend a lot of time pondering! Sometimes we need to ask ourselves, "Am I doing the Spirit's work or am I in the way?"