A guest post by Amie Sharp Bement
You know the type; late every week, reads their lesson in the car, spends the entire time texting instead of interacting with the kids, or just doesn’t show up. You’ve sent them nice emails sandwiched with praise and affirmation, reminding them the importance of being on time, of preparing ahead of time or of sending you some type of smoke signal if they aren’t going to show up….and nothing has changed….that could mean it’s time to fire a volunteer!
FIRE A VOLUNTEER? But that’s so ungodly, unchristian and scary! They aren’t paid, how can I fire them? It’s difficult and we’d all just rather ignore the problem. But as a leader, one of our jobs is to provide safe, healthy, creative environments for our kids/ students, and an unhealthy volunteer doesn’t support that mission.
Tricks of the Trade:
Self-check : before you start this process check yourself before you wreck yourself. Make sure that you aren’t coming into this conversation with a lot of bitterness, anger and resentment, which will seep through when you talk to this volunteer. Maybe even do a run through with your supervisor or trusted mentor.
Trick #1: Sabbatical
Often times, when I invite a volunteer into my office for a “check-in” they will give me many reasons why its been difficult to be on time, be prepared, etc…that’s when I usually throw out the S word…sabbatical. I release them to have the freedom to “take a break” from volunteering right now, and when they are ready to come back and volunteer, come talk to me.
Trick #2: What’s going on in their life?
Many times when you have a volunteer who is having a difficult time committing fully, something else is usually going on in their life. Invite them out to coffee and talk to them about what’s going on in their life. As their leader, let them know that you do care and allow them to have freedom to quit. Sometimes people are volunteering because they feel they have too, or because they would feel guilty if they quit and sometimes they just need an “out” to take a break and allow them to focus on all they have going on in their life right now.
Trick #3: Tell them the TRUTH, in love.
It might be time to be honest…Using statements like: “it seems you are having a difficult time making it to your volunteer commitment” or “I’ve been noticing that you are always coming late” and letting them know that its difficult on the team and the ministry when we aren’t running on all cylinders. Let them know about other volunteer areas like greeting or tear down that may not be as commitment heavy.
A Final Word: There are HUGE needs in ministry. We never seem to have enough volunteers, and “firing” one when we are already so strapped for help seems crazy, but you and your ministry will thrive and succeed to even greater heights if you take a leap of faith and LEAD your team by taking this scary step.
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Amie Sharp Bement worked as a full time Children’s and Family Pastor for 13 years. She currently is a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern at The Soul Care House in San Diego. She specializes in child and family therapy and recovery and prevention from ministry burnout.
Find out more about Soul Care House on their website and fanpage.
