As a Certified Volunteer Administrator, I've seen congregations from many traditions deal with the same issues, challenges, and problems regarding lay mobilization. In response, I've developed a top-10 list of things churches can—and should—learn from secular programs about involving volunteers:

1. Position descriptions aren't straitjackets that remove people's freedom. Knowing the boundaries actually increases a volunteer's sense of freedom to serve.

2. Some church members may want to serve at a secular program rather than within the church. Send them forth with your blessing, for you don't own them and they're still doing Christ's work.

3. Guilt isn't an effective motivator, even though we have a long history of using it. Grimly dutiful volunteers drain the energy and joy from a program.

4. Conducting exit interviews with volunteers completing their service will improve programs. The interviews also honor and value individuals, making it more likely that they'll remain active in the congregation rather than disappear.

5. Although volunteers serve because they're called to help people, it's appropriate to have a party when they finish. People like to be thanked, even though they might claim otherwise.

6. Volunteers don't sign on for eternity. Allow them to move on when they complete their term. Working for 30 years in the nursery because "no one else will do it" isn't necessarily a good thing.

7. People can decline when asked to serve, and they aren't obligated to spell out the reasons. If they aren't free to say no, their yes means nothing.

8. No one's born knowing how to work with volunteers. Every leader in charge of a program, whether it's Christian education or the stewardship campaign, is a volunteer manager and should be trained.

9. People need to be asked, one by one, to volunteer. The "spray and pray" recruitment method (spray the invitation around and pray someone responds) doesn't work well.

10. Conducting background checks on volunteers doesn't show a lack of faith, but rather keeps the faith with those entrusted to our care.

Nancy A. Gaston, president of the International Association for Volunteer Administration, provides training and consultation for faith-based organizations.

Copyright © 2005 Group's Church Volunteer Central.