If a person is only serving because of financial remuneration then they are mere hirelings. We have half a dozen paid staffers and they work really hard. The demands of their positions would make it difficult for them to work another job. But I have no doubt they would still do their ministry jobs with excellence even if they were not paid by the church. This is the first church I have ever pastored that had a large pool of eager volunteers. I don’t take it for granted either !
A lot of pastors are nervouse about working under those conditions, not getting a salary, but this sort of model can open up a lot of options for planting new churches. It is also possible for those who are willing to minister without a salary to recieve donations. I suppose you could call that ‘volunteer’ if they’d minister without the donations________________
I live under a rock and in a time capsule methinks reading thoughts and trends. Growing up I remember wonderful pastors and dedicated men and women who managed a church of < 200 and some >200 with only a pastor being paid.I know I am old and old fashioned but yes to hear that staffers MUST be paid is disheartening. I was floored a few weeks ago when my grandson told me he was now singing in a large Methodist Choir 3 hours a week (or part of an hour three times a week for $50 an hour. The church pays 4 professionals in the choir, he is the tenor. Of course he can use the money and evidently the church can afford it.Anyway, my time has past. I am proud of what is done for the Lord and winning souls, I don’t fuss or gossip nor tear down something my pastor and his staff have decided. I support the church with finances regularly and attendance sometime. BUT my time has past. (However I have been invited to a large Baptist church to speak next week at no pay! LOL) This time they will probably get what they pay for. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
As always, DaSheik, speaks to the subject logically. His comments are as usual, Spot-on. This is also a good discussion topic. I am reading responses with interest. It is nice to learn, even when you are surprised. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
21st, they can be advised (I do not care for the combative term disciplined in volunteer church work) and counseled, just like a paid employee. There will always be differences, and a pastor should take the time to see if maybe he is leaning to the feelings, ‘my way or the highway’. My son was my employee for many years. I had a learning curve. I would tell hiim what needed to be done and he would get it done. At first I wanted him to ‘do it my way’, but after awhile I observed he always got the job done, and with the end results I had planned. My dad pastored large churches he never had a paid assistant, even the clerks were never paid. They (the volunteers) seemed to be very happy to be doing something for the kingdom. I have done the same in volunteering in youth and repair work around churches.I am from another world I know, but I am surprised at the changes I see and try to understand where others are coming from, as I had to with my son. I was just wondering, do BSA local leaders get paid? Little league coaches________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
Again, not a ton of money. In 10 years some of these folks have worked themselves ragged. They have poured their money and time into the church to a point of where they have hurt themselves. They do it because someone guilted them into not taking money from the church because it was a sin. Hogwash!!!1 Timothy 5:18For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”Besides, I have learned that I have more control when they are paid. If you are paid to be on a job at a certain time, you are more likely to show up when compensation is on the line. In my secular job, I am a manager. We compensate people to do a job, a certain way, at a certain time. I want consistency in our church so I choose to compensate folks. It also gives folks pride to know that the church wants them so much that we will pay for their time.
I have no problem with any church paying or using volunteers. I am concerned about our church, my home church.Unless used properly and appreciated, YES, volunteers do get burned out.But the OP asked what is wrong with volunteers?Your opinion is as good as mine (for you). I just feel volunteers mostly feel they are in ministry. Many pastors are in reality, ‘volunteers’ and some pay the church bills. Some get burned out and some do it their entire ministry.I am set in an old mold, it is hard for me to compare a secular job to a position in the work of the Lord. In my opinion that has hurt His cause when folk start comparing a Religious leader to a CEO, and saying Jim Bakker (at one time), Jim Swaggart, the little guy down in texas and the younger smiling guy deserve the salary comparative to the CEO of a Fortune 500 corp.Things get confused in that the Business CEO earning $$ with a product, the Religious leader is living off donations of the wealthy and the poor.When I volunteer at our church, it is a ministry and I do not expect anything in return. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
Re: my opinion
If a person is only serving because of financial remuneration then they are mere hirelings. We have half a dozen paid staffers and they work really hard. The demands of their positions would make it difficult for them to work another job. But I have no doubt they would still do their ministry jobs with excellence even if they were not paid by the church. This is the first church I have ever pastored that had a large pool of eager volunteers. I don’t take it for granted either !
A lot of pastors are nervouse about working under those conditions, not getting a salary, but this sort of model can open up a lot of options for planting new churches. It is also possible for those who are willing to minister without a salary to recieve donations. I suppose you could call that ‘volunteer’ if they’d minister without the donations________________
I live under a rock and in a time capsule methinks reading thoughts and trends. Growing up I remember wonderful pastors and dedicated men and women who managed a church of < 200 and some >200 with only a pastor being paid.I know I am old and old fashioned but yes to hear that staffers MUST be paid is disheartening. I was floored a few weeks ago when my grandson told me he was now singing in a large Methodist Choir 3 hours a week (or part of an hour three times a week for $50 an hour. The church pays 4 professionals in the choir, he is the tenor. Of course he can use the money and evidently the church can afford it.Anyway, my time has past. I am proud of what is done for the Lord and winning souls, I don’t fuss or gossip nor tear down something my pastor and his staff have decided. I support the church with finances regularly and attendance sometime. BUT my time has past. (However I have been invited to a large Baptist church to speak next week at no pay! LOL) This time they will probably get what they pay for. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
As always, DaSheik, speaks to the subject logically. His comments are as usual, Spot-on. This is also a good discussion topic. I am reading responses with interest. It is nice to learn, even when you are surprised. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
21st, they can be advised (I do not care for the combative term disciplined in volunteer church work) and counseled, just like a paid employee. There will always be differences, and a pastor should take the time to see if maybe he is leaning to the feelings, ‘my way or the highway’. My son was my employee for many years. I had a learning curve. I would tell hiim what needed to be done and he would get it done. At first I wanted him to ‘do it my way’, but after awhile I observed he always got the job done, and with the end results I had planned. My dad pastored large churches he never had a paid assistant, even the clerks were never paid. They (the volunteers) seemed to be very happy to be doing something for the kingdom. I have done the same in volunteering in youth and repair work around churches.I am from another world I know, but I am surprised at the changes I see and try to understand where others are coming from, as I had to with my son. I was just wondering, do BSA local leaders get paid? Little league coaches________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
And C6th is still doing it and will continue. Good to hear! ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
here is why I pay folks
Again, not a ton of money. In 10 years some of these folks have worked themselves ragged. They have poured their money and time into the church to a point of where they have hurt themselves. They do it because someone guilted them into not taking money from the church because it was a sin. Hogwash!!!1 Timothy 5:18For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”Besides, I have learned that I have more control when they are paid. If you are paid to be on a job at a certain time, you are more likely to show up when compensation is on the line. In my secular job, I am a manager. We compensate people to do a job, a certain way, at a certain time. I want consistency in our church so I choose to compensate folks. It also gives folks pride to know that the church wants them so much that we will pay for their time.
I have no problem with any church paying or using volunteers. I am concerned about our church, my home church.Unless used properly and appreciated, YES, volunteers do get burned out.But the OP asked what is wrong with volunteers?Your opinion is as good as mine (for you). I just feel volunteers mostly feel they are in ministry. Many pastors are in reality, ‘volunteers’ and some pay the church bills. Some get burned out and some do it their entire ministry.I am set in an old mold, it is hard for me to compare a secular job to a position in the work of the Lord. In my opinion that has hurt His cause when folk start comparing a Religious leader to a CEO, and saying Jim Bakker (at one time), Jim Swaggart, the little guy down in texas and the younger smiling guy deserve the salary comparative to the CEO of a Fortune 500 corp.Things get confused in that the Business CEO earning $$ with a product, the Religious leader is living off donations of the wealthy and the poor.When I volunteer at our church, it is a ministry and I do not expect anything in return. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/