Good experience in serving community

[Anonymous]

Well, as many of you know, I now serve in the community rather than the church. I have enjoyed it so much more that church service in the last year. Here are some things that have made it refreshing:

1) I served for a term, which I chose not to renew this week. That was so empowering to be able to say “I’m done for the time being” since there was an end in sight for the position. The position is open.

2) I was nominated for a Volunteer of the Year award, which gave me a sense of appreciation from the local leadership in the organization that I never felt in the church. Our often demanding leaders and our “serve where placed until released [often without thanks]” model of “volunteerism” seem to dull any appreciation I have felt over the years. (I prefer to look at is as conscription “We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er”.

3) The reason I didn’t renew was that the people above me (the acting VP, paid program manager, and a local government officer) would agree to do things, and then not follow through. Or I would have to follow up 4 times to get the thing they agreed to. This wasn’t true all the time, but it happened enough and wasted enough of my time that I felt I couldn’t accept another term in the position. And there was no good reason for it — just indifference, laziness, or lack of attention.

4) I indicated I would finish up several projects I have running as a former Board member, and then re-evaluate my level of involvement in six months.

I also indicated a key factor in my decision-making was the extent to which I felt the three layers of people above me supported me on those items on my list over the next 6 months or so. Essentially, indicating I would like to renew, but I need to see specific oustanding tasks resolved and delivered as promised.

#4 was especially empowering. There is no way you could claim that kind of autonomy in the church. The leaders would not like to “pushed around” like that. See how they reacted to a letter asking for only yes or no chastity questions in another recent post on this site.

I followed up my letter of non-renewal with a list of outstanding items on which I’d followed up many times, and indicated it would be good for the new leadership to clear these off within certain timelines (I was general about the timelines to be reasonable, but specific enough to indicate what was acceptable, and what was not).

I got a phone call from the new leadership indicating they were making these items a priority, along with pleas to resume the position for another term. I held my ground and indicated I needed those items taken care of, and greater support on other items that come up as I complete they projects

I stuck to my guns — politely, and then upped my level of performance in a couple projects to show my ongoing commitment to the organization. Surprised everyone by showing up for an event today and giving strong support for someone else’s committee work.

I just want to say that being a TRUE volunteer in this context has really made me feel “free” again. And if I get the Volunteer of the Year Award, I intend to share it with the local leadership in the new Ward we attend, as well as some people I know who are “gossipers” in our old Ward. This will help the local church leadership indicate what I am doing with the priesthood in this interim period when I am perceived as a non-contributor. I’ll have my wife leak it on facebook or something.

Ahhhhhh….I like this. Could I ever adapt this approach to church service after I get my Church mojo back someday?

[Anonymous]

Could I ever adapt this approach to church service after I get my Church mojo back someday?

Yep. As I have said often here:

Quote:

“If they call me, they get ME.”

They get the best me I can give, but it still is me and what I can give without hurting myself and my family.

We talk about accepting callings, and I do believe in the principle for most people in most situations, but being realistic in one’s expectations and not running faster than one’s ability are important, as well.

[Author]

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