Paying Volunteers!? Oxymoron?

As the Living Water Church grows, things that were once a simple are becoming more complex.  For instance, with one venue we would make copies of curriculum for the kids and give them to the teachers - no problem.  With 3 venues we have to print curriculum, make sure that it meets the needs of the age breakdown at each campus (which are each different), and then deliver it.  Add to that scheduling worship bands, coordinating ushers, transporting the speaking pastor, producing Saturday night's message on video for the Theater Campus on Sunday etc...  More complexity with every change.

Today we discussed "who we should pay and why"...

In order to provide 5 weekend services at 3 venues over 2 days, it takes well over 150 people.  Some of those people program high-end light boards and some set up chairs.  All of them have the heart of a servant and believe in Living Water's mission to evangelize and disciple.  The vast majority of our volunteer team serve regularly without any thought of monetary compensation.  There are some who, because of the level of expertise required or the training needed, are offered a stipend for their service.  While some churches pay a large portion of their weekend team like CM workers or worship team musicians, we take a much more conservative approach.

I think that most people who serve at church wouldn't want to be compensated even it it were offered.  Many people see what they do as an act of worship and consider it an honor to be a part.  That kind of selfless service is one of our core values that many have embraced. 

What do you think?  Should anyone or everyone get paid to help at church?  Do you serve regularly and if so how do you feel about it?

Comments

[Jon]

I was a paid volunteer:) I think I "made" 150 a month as an intern--did we work 70hrs a wk? I've had this conversation at my school. There are paras who make 1000 a month and have worked for the district for 15 yrs. I make 2600 a month and have worked there for four. I take every opportunity to point out how crazy that is. Other staff members think I am crazy, however I don't see my skill set as more important (and thus requiring more money). I think the Gospel compels me to think about money and justice. It has been a number of years since I've rolled in LW circles, but I would imagine that there are still "paid" volunteers and quite a discrepancy between the highest paid and the lowest. It is not a dish on LW. It is like that in all sorts of orgs. I suppose what I want for people is a living wage. Can they survive. I'd like to see my paras make as "much" as me...wait maybe I'd like them to make a bit more:)

One last idea, it is hard to say running the sound board is a ministry and setting up chairs is a ministry but then say we will pay someone for a more specialized "ministry." It sets up a false hierarchy. The problem is solved when everything is called an act of service--i.e. volunteering.

Peace

[Taylor Lyall]

I think the way LW has been doing it is pretty good, from what I can remember. I don't think you should pay anyone, except if it's the only way the service will happen (i.e. you don't have anyone in your church who can install the lights at Oly). My old church payed certain people on the worship team, even some being non-Christians, for the sake of having good sounding worship. I disagree with that on a number of different levels. Anyways, pretty much in almost every case, I think we shouldn't pay volunteers.

[David Varpness]

thats a tricky one right there casue some things people do who dont get paid is a big part or what mak church happen and while some people may want to get paid for a lil work here and there i know me personally i wouldnt refuse any amount of payment for what i do which most people dont even think about and thats why i do it casue its satisfying to me an i enjoy it and could care less if others know about it or thank me for it, im just a behind the scenes kinda guy. O and by thw way what i do is pretty much the first step in making church happen at oly and the theaters since if the trailers wernt there we probly wouldnt have church there so while i may not enjoy getting up at 2am and not being able to hang out saturdays nights like some people i do it cause i want to serve the lord even though i constantly ask him to allow me to do something that dosent involve getting up at 2am every sunday but whatev.

[Joey Archer]

I have one thought. I pondered on this several times when I worked at the church. Once you pay somebody to do something it seems to me it would be difficult to go back to not paying them if the situation changed.

Now granted some people would do it whether you paid them or not. So they would just treat the money as a nice thing, nothing more. But some would come to expect it, and that could cause a problem I think.

It seems once you cross the line and pay, going back will be difficult if you ever need to. I could be wrong though :o) just my perspective.

Personally I'm not against paying certain people a stipend. I think if the situation warrants it and their expertise and skill is needed. It's great to bless them that way.

[Jeremy]

NOPE. Shouldn't do it. If you're paying volunteers you're just hiring more staff. The question should be asked, if the church has to buy the church members service what's going on that our church members haven't bought in to what we're doing. Being a member of a church means contributing to what the church is doing. We should be discipling contributing members not hiring paid attenders.
Too harsh?

[Rachel G]

I serve regularly. I like it. I don't need to get paid, but I don't use a skill that I consider worthy of the responsibility of monetary compensation. I think some people are bringing an expertise that is valuable and should be compensated/appreciated. Not to mention it allows for a standard of excellence when you can hold paid volunteers accountable.

Either way, I really think that's not the point.

The question really is about the condition of the heart. Is it the heart of the worker to serve because they are getting paid or because they love the Lord and love people? Which makes a better work and honors the Lord (that should be an obvious answer)?

Also a consideration is the heart of the leader. If a leader is looking to get cheap/free labor, than that's what will happen. Cheap labor will never be the same as motivated and/or appreciated volunteers.

[Dillon]

Generally, I think it should come down to the level of responsibility the person is carrying and of course their need. With regards to the level of responsibility, I think you have two options. Distribute the load so no one is carrying so much that they should be compensated OR compensate them.

Fundamentally, I think it comes down to the job description as it where. If it looks like a big job in terms of weight, load, energy or time, then it probably is and should be carefully considered for compensation. If it's simply serving on the weekend with very little "non-service" responsibilities, then it's probably just the church being the church.

I think of Paul. Could have been paid, should have been paid, chose not to be paid. Why? I believe because he didn't need it and he didn't want anyone telling him what to preach. His load was huge, but his need was most likely minimul. So, he chose to not require compensation and just make a few tents here and there.

Final point is, this may be an ever evoloving case-by-case issue that may not fit into a neat system. Nice question...I like the conversation as we move into serving more of the community.

[darlene]

I agree Jeremy. Any church no matter what the size has only a certain percentage that are active participants in ministry. If I remember correctly it might be 10%. Whatever it is it is way to low.
When people are really into the mission of the church they will serve without any pay and will be knocking the doors down to volunteer.
I think to much money is wasted by paying people to do things that a volunteer could do.

[Matt]

I completely agree with Dillon. I have been serving the church since middle school and have never once even thought about getting paid, because I love serving and love what i do. However once a person takes over a significant amount of responsibility, and has a service depending on them compensation needs to be considered.

[Josh]

I'll Take All The Money You Guys Don't Want...

[Jon Cobler]

Great comment Rachel!

[Jon Cobler]

LOL

[Jon Cobler]

You're right David, without you and others like you a lot of people would miss out. Thank you!