When volunteers quit, your world can get shaken. Fewer words have the power to torpedo a children’s minister’s mood faster than a phone call or e-mail with the words “I quit.” A volunteer’s abrupt departure forces you to reprioritize your week; now you have to find a substitute for the weekend and a long-term replacement. The briefest volunteer tenure I ever encountered was a woman I recruited on a Tuesday who quit that Friday. Her criminal background check hadn’t even cleared before she bailed on the ministry, but I was sure she was guilty of having the attention span of a fruit bat.
I’ll admit. I was too busy judging her lack of follow-through to try to understand what was behind the sudden reversal. I later learned the woman was in an abusive marriage. I suspect her husband lost his cool when he learned his wife was about to build a stronger connection to the church.
The truth is that volunteers quit for a number of reasons, and irresponsibility is only one of several possibilities. Remember — just like the children you serve, you only encounter your volunteers for up to three of the 168 hours that make up the week. Odds are you’re unaware of the marital struggles, emotional or mental health issues, financial pressures, or parenting challenges your volunteers face.
- False Marketing — Volunteers also quit because they underestimate the commitment involved with their volunteer post. Perhaps they believed the recruiting pitch: “It’s not hard” or “It’ll only take a few minutes to prepare.” But when false pitches give way to the actual demands of ministry, some volunteers feel justified walking away.
- Disorganization — Volunteers quit for another surprising reason. The children’s ministry is run with a level of chaos that your volunteers imagined was only possible in a sack of angry ferrets. Volunteers quit organizations that are poorly run, uninspiring, and devoid of community.
And yes, volunteers quit because they’re irresponsible.
So when a volunteer fires off the words “I quit,” your first duty is to discern why he or she is stepping down. Take a deep breath and set aside your frustrations. Resist the urge to judge. Instead, ask probing questions to understand why the volunteer is unwilling or unable to go on. Remind your volunteer of the commitment he or she made. Help your volunteer articulate the exact source of frustration, and both of you brainstorm a solution.
If the volunteer insists on stepping down, ask the person to continue for two weeks so you can find a replacement. If you discover that the person needs personal support, help provide the appropriate pastoral or professional care.
