037: Volunteer Exploitation: How Churches Use (and Sometimes Abuse) Volunteers

This episode of the Church Disrupted podcast explores the topic of volunteer exploitation in churches. Host Jeff Cochran, joined by Nick Flores, discusses the damaging effects of volunteering gone wrong and how churches can better protect their volunteers. They share personal experiences of volunteer exploitation and highlight the importance of setting boundaries and providing support for volunteers. The conversation emphasizes the need for churches to slow down and prioritize the well-being of their volunteers. They also discuss the power of meaningful conversations and the impact they can have on volunteers' lives. In this conversation, Jeff and Nick also discuss the concept of spiritual bypassing, where faith is used as an excuse to avoid taking action or addressing real issues. They emphasize the need for open dialogue, asking deeper questions, and creating safe spaces within the church community. They also touch on the impact of language and labels, such as the 'dream team,' and how it can create an in-crowd versus out-crowd mentality. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about Nic's work with the Collision podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Exploring Volunteer Exploitation in Churches 02:35 The Damaging Effects of Volunteer Exploitation 08:07 Personal Experiences of Volunteer Exploitation 14:38 The Power of Meaningful Conversations with Volunteers 31:38 The Importance of Slowing Down and Being Inclusive in Volunteer Culture 38:26 The Impact of Boundaries and Support on Volunteer Engagement 43:47 The Need for Resources and Conversations on Volunteer Well-being 45:01 Income Disparity and Exploitation 50:46 Addressing Spiritual Bypassing 57:36 Taking Care of Pastors 01:10:33 The Impact of Language and Labels