Brother, sister, let me serve you… Faith based volunteering in the pews Greg Morgan

Volunteering outside the square Lorraine Kerr and Deidre Tedmanson in Australian Journal on Volunteering, (2003) 8/1, p.23ff. When is volunteering not volunteering?

Respondents said … We are Catholic and its part of our religion you can only get what you give out - it's the Buddhist way you feel you belong to a bigger family - you gain a sense of belonging when otherwise you'd be isolated

Volunteering within my culture social concern and a sense of responsibility religious and/or spiritual beliefs to do something worthwhile for others to maintain culture to do things that need to be done a sense of duty and obligation to give something back to the community to be useful and active to gain skills and experience

The church context Family and social life Parish council, committees Mission outreach Learning and development How has the experience of church changed?

Freely given Report by Nicky Lee to the Christchurch Cathedral Chapter and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, June 2009 … welcomers – info desk staff – tour guides – event stewards – sidesmen – gardeners – room guides – education programme vols – shop assistants – cafe staff – holy dusters and tomb cleaners – calligraphers …

Methodist law book Lay Worker means and includes any person not a Presbyter or Deacon employed for any purpose of the Church, and includes all or any full or part time staff employed (including unpaid and voluntary workers) by any entity responsible to Conference.

Good practice volunteering What now motivates people to build community through their church? What about the digital space? What is is the status of unpaid leaders? Volunteer reimbursements? Recognition how? Local shared ministries: in fact, a volunteer element?

Blended learning options

The call to responsibility Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religions reach their highest levels when they stop worrying about other peoples souls and care, instead, for the needs of their bodies If we listen carefully enough … we will hear the voice of God in the human heart telling us that there is work to do and that [God] needs us