tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581050.post8593223933368989208..comments2024-03-21T05:10:57.134+00:00Comments on Mustard Seed Shavings: VolunteersSteve Tilleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17400505989949096631noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581050.post-3736288990518374862010-01-31T12:57:54.492+00:002010-01-31T12:57:54.492+00:00Let me leave an interesting slant.
The church teac...Let me leave an interesting slant.<br />The church teaches us to give freely. <br />Where an individual is motivated by passion and zest from within there are opportunitites for both sides - giver and receiver - to grow and develop. The outcome should be no less than if one was paid. An interesting point you make, how does the church hold volunteers to account when undertaking such heart felt work, often with busy lives? <br />Firstly, when volunteering, we need to examine our underlying motive carefully in undertaking church work. Most human beings grow when they are supported in their work and need genuine affirmation, but perhaps we need to examine in taking such a position whose needs the act of service is meeting? The fact that we gain pleasure doesn't matter as long as we know in what proportion this is in. (Pride in balance for our work is not perhaps the sin we think it is!) A church needs though to be aware of the idealising transference which is put upon the system and also realise that individuals will be drawn to this environment for a sense of belonging through positive identification with one another. Theory remarks that an organisation where there is a common Christian passion can mirror the process of a person's family. Flip! When we are let down there may be fantasies that are shattered bringing disappointment in our expectation. <br />As a leader in a church you are Steve, tredding on fragile ground, which could blow up with an overacting, self detructing response! Helpers too need responsibility to continually assess committment taking responsibility for their own boundaries. Having said all that if the church, generally speaking, becomes more encompassing of the (sometimes) struggle in the work, for the wellbeing of others for various complex reasons, the helper gets positively reinforced and the roles between helper and receiver are more consiously defined. <br />To finish, clergy have a role that has parallel task, the vision of God's work, where we too hope to instigate action, and the complexity of us individuals in the church who have needs. Paid and unpaid have the vision. Let us not foget that Clergy too cannot fulfill everthing for us and that they have their own personal needs for support whilst ministering. <br />For us both there is a limit but we believe God's limits are infinite!Sallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581050.post-9037616782153782132010-01-30T12:23:00.561+00:002010-01-30T12:23:00.561+00:00As Revsimmy said...As Revsimmy said...Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581050.post-75879535222619812522010-01-29T18:22:15.063+00:002010-01-29T18:22:15.063+00:00Thank you ST. It's amazing how many people se...Thank you ST. It's amazing how many people seem to think that ordination also confers omniscience!Revsimmynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581050.post-76323539081554369832010-01-29T09:03:45.809+00:002010-01-29T09:03:45.809+00:00... and then, as you hear the volunteers out, st........ and then, as you hear the volunteers out, st... who will listen to you? Mrs Mustard? of course, but....<br /><br />part of the logic of giving you some money to be a pastor-teacher is to free up your time to do this sort of thing<br /><br />but it is draining and I frequently wonder who's looking after the looker-afterers... <br /><br />my usual response is an invite to supper and space to talk of whatever comes to mind, but Nailsea to Northamptonshire and a gap of 30 years is probably too big a commute, <br /><br />but following your post, I'll give my clerical error a call today, and invite him and his wife for supper in your place...<br /><br />not so much an angel as a mean Shepherd's pie or curry! :-)Caroline Toohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751846730467721675noreply@blogger.com