Before You Fire a Volunteer
In the past, I’ve witnessed the following issues that have required the firing of a volunteer:
- Consistent refusal to follow the direction of leaders/staff when asked, including unkind words or gossip discussed with others within the church
- Heart or sin issues that translate into power or verbal abuse with other volunteers and/or staff
- Extreme issues of volunteer leaders associating their salvation or identity from their leadership of a ministry (i.e. “without me, this ministry wouldn’t exist”)
Before you fire a volunteer, it is important to ensure that the issue requires dismissal of the volunteer. Consider the following questions before you consider the firing of a volunteer:
- If the issue is minor but consistently happening, have you worked with the volunteer to try and correct the issue?
- If the issue is major, has there already been discussion with staff/elders regarding the issue and counselling conducted?
- If the issue one that can be corrected with accountability and study/prayer, has this been attempted?
- Has this issue negatively impacted others within the church?
- Do you have the full support of your staff and/or elders before you fire the volunteer?
Firing a volunteer is a serious issue and can result is serious hurt. Before you decide to fire a volunteer, pray and think carefully and utilize the wisdom of other believers.
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