As leaders in the church for the most part we are leading volunteers. Volunteers are there out of a wiliness to serve and are not there for compensation. Thus they have different attitudes and expectations from professional staff that we must be aware of. Volunteers may also have a stronger sense of ownership to their church, and may see it as ‘my church’ and not our church. So we are to walk a path that is difficult, but not impossible. Just like managing professionals, leadership takes commitment to stay the course in a consistent course in the mist of frustration and conflict. Staying a constant course with the characteristics we will discuss is paramount. Because if we deter the ship away from the storm the waves will buffet on our sides where we are not protected or able to withstand, we will then capsize.
A ship must go into the waves head on, to be able to go through them safely. True leadership is the ability to keep the helm steady.
Most people can manage when things go well, this is not success, it is how we are with people and crises when the seas are tossed. Strong characters that are poured out to the Lord are essential. This will be the ability to move people from distrust and frustration in to a godly centered path. We are to move people past conflicts past the storm and into the waters, into the place that the church is for.
Filed under: Leadership Issues | Tagged: leaders in the church, leading volunteers, Ownership, serve, volunteers |
Acts29.org 
When I consult worship leaders, pastors and tech directors – one of my main areas of focus is volunteers.
You are right, there will be frustration and conflict. As leaders, we set the stage for how that is handled.
My time is precious, so when I volunteer for something, I want to know that 1). There is a clear vision I can get behind for the project or service or church, 2). That there is someone in leadership who knows where we are going and how to get there, and 3). That there is a system of healthy communication in place for when conflict arises – – and it always does.