We know it’s very common for churches to rely on volunteers.
In many ways, it’s tough for us to compete. Volunteers are able to serve the church at a price point we just can’t touch.
However, as you may already know, volunteers are a two-edged sword.
While they are a great blessing to your ministry, they can also carry an intrinsic cost that may prove expensive over time. Here are a few examples:
– It’s very difficult to fire a volunteer. We’ve all been there in ministry where a volunteer just isn’t in the right position for their skill set, eventhough they really want to be where they are at. There’s a tough conversation that has to happen which is usually not comfortable.
– You often get what you pay for. Just because a person can do bookkeeping or has in the past, doesn’t mean they are the right fit for your church.
– It opens a door for a hyper-control position. We’ve experienced several church bookkeepers that see it their duty to hoard the church’s funds. This makes it very difficult for ministries to grow and develop.
– Just because you can keep a business’ books, doesn’t mean you can do a church. Church accounting is a different animal. There are little nuances that just make things a bit tricky, and there really is no complete church software solution that helps.
– You will always be second fiddle. No matter what, a volunteer will always have something else going on in their lives that the church takes second place to. Whether its a job, family or whatever, by not being paid, even the most servant hearted individual will have other things that require their time.
