Here is a great article written by Bill Hybals at the (historically) influential Willow Creek Church in Chicago.

http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2006/060403.html

Some highlights:

on the value of staff volunteers…

“Volunteers need and deserve to be given competent leadership, sensitive shepherding, ongoing development, training, and tools to do their job. They’re supposed to be nurtured and coached by the staff into their full-redemptive potential. That’s going to require some staff. At Willow, we give some of our high capacity volunteers their own office, their own phone, and computer. They come to staff meetings. They don’t get a paycheck for it, but we certainly give them the tools and the equipment that they need to do what God has called them to do. They do an enormous amount of work for us. But they really aren’t free.”

on finding a good fit…

“In some dysfunctional church environments, a pastor will stand up and say, “Let’s talk about commitment. Let’s talk about keeping your word. Let’s talk about loyalty.” And the volunteer is thinking, “I am committed, I’m loyal, I’m faithful. I might just be in the wrong role.” In healthy, high-functioning churches, staff and volunteers stay in a consistent dialogue about how it’s going with the volunteer and whether the work still seems like a good fit.”

on the benefits of encouraging people to serve…

“Volunteerism done right will grow people’s faith, deepen their trust, stretch their skills, enrich their relationships, increase their joy, and last, but hardly least, it will set them up for the commendation every sincere Christ follower wants to hear at the end of their time here on planet Earth: “Well done, son. Well done, daughter. You loved me, you served people, you used your gifts, you made a difference in this fallen world. Way to go!” Is there anything better than that?”