When to Let a Volunteer Go
Nobody wants to talk about this. But sometimes a volunteer is hurting the church more than helping it. And keeping them in place is not kindness. It is avoidance.
Signs It Is Time
They Have Become the Obstacle
There is one in every church. They resist every new idea. They block every decision. They make every change into a conflict. When the church cannot move forward because of one person, you have a problem that love alone will not solve.
Their Behavior Is Hurting Others
Gossip, manipulation, triangulation, passive aggression. If a volunteer is making other volunteers miserable, the kind thing is to address it. Quickly.
They Are Working Against the Church’s Mission
This is rare but real. Sometimes a volunteer actively undermines the church’s direction. They recruit allies against the pastor. They spread misinformation. They create factions.
They Refuse Accountability
Every volunteer operates within the church’s values and policies. If a volunteer refuses to operate within boundaries (financial policies, child protection policies, interpersonal respect), they need to step down.
How to Have the Conversation
Do.
- Meet in person, privately
- Be specific about the behavior, not the person
- Give them the benefit of the doubt (you may not have all the information)
- Offer a path to restoration if appropriate
- Follow up
Do not.
- Handle it over email
- Involve the whole congregation
- Make it about personality conflicts
- Ghost them (avoiding the conversation and hoping they quit)
The Aftermath
Letting a volunteer go is painful. People will have opinions. Some will side with the volunteer. Some will praise your courage. Your job is not to manage opinion. Your job is to steward the health of the church.
Our Volunteer Management Guide includes sample conversation scripts, documentation templates, and a process for difficult conversations. Download it free.
Brent Lacy is the founder of MinistryPlace. He has had this conversation more times than he likes to count.
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