Q: Our church of 2,400 attendees is currently looking at restructuring the volunteer function, which is causing quite a conflict (not that there are ever conflicts in churches, right?). I’m the coordinator of volunteers for our children's ministry (600 volunteers, 7 other staff people). After three and a half years, we now have our philosophy and systems running smoothly. Church leadership sees the need to boost volunteer participation in the church as a whole. Because they think we’re doing it well in children's ministry, they are proposing taking that function out of children's ministry and centralizing all the volunteer recruiting and placement functions so that all ministries are using a centralized service (kind of like an HR department). Aside from how this impacts me personally, are there any general thoughts on centralization vs. decentralization of the volunteer function?

A: What a great compliment that church leadership wants to duplicate the systems you’ve established in children’s ministry. Equipping is a value that can permeate every ministry in your church.

Equipping ministry can be centralized under the leadership of one office or each ministry director can champion the value within his or her department. Usually in a large church, one staff person needs to have this responsibility, but it’s possible for each ministry director to serve in this capacity.

The equipping staff champion (often called director of equipping ministry) is much like that of a conductor. He/she works with the full orchestra to make sure each leader is contributing to the vision of equipping. You honor and validate the gifts each person contributes while bringing them into alignment with the values of equipping ministry.

The role of an equipping ministry director is to:

• collaborate with the senior pastor to cast and recast the vision for equipping.
• develop a core team to facilitate an equipping ministry process.
• facilitate equipping ministry systems, supporting other ministry leaders.
• promote the development of team-based ministry.

An equipping ministry director is not meant to function as the volunteer getter for all program needs. Rather, you model and train other staff leaders to facilitate the functions of inviting and connecting people into ministry. A centralized equipping department can oversee the process of preparing, connecting, and equipping people for ministry, but the systems to make this happen will take place within each ministry department.  Do you see the difference? The role is to equip the equippers.

If you’ve nailed down these items in children’s ministry, you’ve paved the road to extend equipping to the entire church. Your department will model what you want to see happen in each ministry area. The systems may look different to match the culture of each group, but the values will be consistent.

Keep up the good work! Soon the culture at your church will not only boost volunteer participation but transform volunteers into ministers.

Bob D'Ambrosio serves as a volunteer leadership consultant with Church Volunteer Central after 25 years of experience in education, discipleship, and equipping ministry. For help with your volunteer questions, contact one of our ministry experts by clicking here.