When a Volunteer Steps Down

Volunteers step down from their roles of service for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the role they were serving in wasn't a good fit, other times its simply due to an upcoming busy season in life, sometimes its for personal reasons, etc. Regardless the reason, its very important to honor the sacrifice and efforts of the volunteer for the time they were able to give. Sometimes it's easy to focus on the work they will no longer be able to do vs focusing on and celebrating the work they have already done. A church is a non-profit and works primarily though volunteers. That being the case, volunteers will come and go. That's the nature of the beast. Sometimes they will go and never return. Other times they will go and after a bit they will come back. And we never know which it will be. That's why it's so important to never burn any bridges when someone steps down from a volunteer role. We honor what they have done. We thank them for what they have done. We leave the door wide open in case they ever want to return. And we speak highly of what they've contributed thus far and look with hope to their involvement again in the future. Paid staff don't have the luxury of coming and going, but volunteers do. I'm not trying to promote a lack of commitment on a volunteer's part. I'm not saying a volunteer can just show up to teach or serve or sing when they feel like it and you, as a department leader, should just take what you can get. That's not at all what I'm talking about. That's not following through on their commitment when they've agreed to serve. I'd be highly in favor of uninviting such a volunteer from serving if they acted like that. What I'm saying is when someone steps down, you should try not to take it personal, you should realize this is the nature of non-profit work, and you should express gratitude and the utmost appreciation for services rendered. This is New Day way of responding when a volunteer steps down.