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Connections
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| Posted: Dec 07 2011 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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Would you please share strategies for successfully recruiting volunteers for church ministries.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Tracey
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guitarnan
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I think it helps to have a clear statement of volunteer duties (what they will do), training requirements (including youth protection training) and expectations for time commitments (2 hours of one-time training plus 1-2 volunteer hours per month, for example). I think some folks don't volunteer because they don't know what's involved.
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Erin
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Issue a personal invite. Many people are shy, particularly if they are more introverted they would rarely volunteer but yet might be delighted to be included. A good way to help introverts join in.
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Erin
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leanne maree
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I agree the personal invite is certainly the way to go.
Our PP definitely does this and it really makes a difference.
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Leanne
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Connections
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Thanks, ladies.
I would love to hear more ideas about how to identify people to personally invite.
We have a very large parish.
Any ideas?
Also, specific duties will likely be very helpful.
Anything else?
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JodieLyn
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People who feel included and like they belong are more interested in helping out. Does your parish do any sort of welcoming or coffee hour where people have a chance to talk with others?
We're often welcomed because people want to come up and talk about the number of children we have 
But it really makes such a difference if you (in general) make an effort to chat with people after Mass and make people feel welcome and noticed.
Once you're talking with people it's much easier to say things like.. "oh you do _________ we'd love to have your help with ________ ministry."
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MicheleQ
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Connections wrote:
| I would love to hear more ideas about how to identify people to personally invite. |
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I find the pastor to be helpful in this regard --also the pastoral assistant if you have one. They tend to know the most people in the parish and can generally guide you in the right direction.
Connections wrote:
Also, specific duties will likely be very helpful.
Anything else?
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Be clear about what the time commitment would be. It gives people an idea of what would be expected of them and thus reduces drop out rates later on.
That being said I have found that getting people to volunteer to help is a challenge. Take RCIA for instance. We have plenty of people who tell us they would like to teach a class but few who are willing to come every week and help set up snack, clean up, fellowship with the candidates and catechumen, etc. Add to that being an RCIA teacher requires training, an assurance of fidelity and a thorough understanding of Church teaching AND the RCIA process. Not many people are willing to go that far.
Do I sound frustrated? Yeah. 
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Angie Mc
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Pour on the love and welcome! Expect to love, love, love before asking for anything.
Make it doable. Break down whatever ministry you want to provide down to its smallest, tiniest components. Spell them out specifically and assure volunteers that you are grateful for any and all contributions, whether time, treasure, or talent.
The worst thing about any ministry or community service is when the administrators of said services forget that these positions are voluntary. We need to be super honest and super reassuring about the truth of what is expected...and never become disgusted with folks who can't live up to them. As administrators, we must expect that volunteers, by their nature, are inclined to certain behaviors. Factor those in.
Love,
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Church Ministries
