How Can We Keep Things Legal with Volunteers? A Complete Guide for Churches

Many churches depend on volunteers to be the heart and hands of their missions. They give their time and skills freely. But managing volunteers also comes with legal problems and risks that can lead to expensive fights if not done correctly. To keep their ministry safe and in line with the law, church leaders need to take the initiative to set up procedures and rules to avoid these problems. This handbook talks about the most common legal problems that churches have with volunteers, the most important policies and agreements, the best ways to screen and train volunteers, how to manage risk, and how Church Law and Strategy works with churches to protect volunteer programs.

Legal Problems That Happen Often with Volunteers

Churches often have legal problems with volunteers, such as:

• Claims of negligent supervision
• Accusations of sexual abuse
• Putting volunteers in the wrong category as workers
• Responsibility for volunteer wrongdoing
• Breaking privacy or secrecy

The first step in stopping these hazards is to know what they are.

Important Rules and Agreements

Volunteer Agreements and Rules of Behavior

Make sure everyone knows what is expected of them, what their duties are, and what behavior is expected of them.

Liability Waivers and Releases

Use waivers to protect the church from lawsuits, but be aware of their limits.

Policies for Protecting Children

Make sure that minors are safe in ministry by putting stringent rules in place.

Screening, Training, and Supervision

Checks of the Past

Do the right kind of screening based on the person's job and how much they work with vulnerable groups.

Training and Orientation

Teach volunteers on the rules, safety, and their legal duties.

Supervision and Responsibility

Keep an eye on everything and make sure there are clear reporting lines.

Strategies for Managing Risk

Insurance

Make sure that your insurance covers volunteer work.

Reporting and Keeping Records of Incidents

Make plans for quickly writing down complaints and incidents.

Consultations and Legal Audits

Get legal advice on how to manage volunteers on a regular basis.

How Church Law and Strategy Helps Churches

Church Law and Strategy gives:

• Templates for customized volunteer agreements and policies
• A lawyer looks over the waiver documents and child safety rules.
• Training seminars on how to handle risks for volunteers
• Ongoing legal counsel and audits to make sure you stay in compliance

Questions That Are Often Asked

Are volunteers officially employees?

It is possible to misclassify people, but clear agreements and role definitions can help prevent this.

Are liability waivers really safe?

Waivers lower but don't get rid of legal risks; you need to use a combination of tactics.

How often should volunteers be trained or checked?

The ideal way to do things is to do an initial screening before service and then refresher training every year.

In Conclusion

Volunteers provide value to church programs, but they also have legal duties. Churches that have thorough rules, screening, training, and risk management plans make it much less likely that they will get into legal trouble. Working with Church Law and Strategy gives churches the knowledge and tools they need to keep their ministries and volunteers safe.

Disclaimer: This blog article is just for informational reasons and should not be used as legal advice. If you need assistance that is specific to your church or group, talk to a lawyer.

Links Inside

• Find out more about the legal policies that protect church volunteers.
• Look into the Child Safety Policy for Church Ministry Legal.
• Read the Church Legal Audit and Compliance Report.

Links to Other Sites

• National Council of Nonprofits Volunteer Screening Best Practices: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/background-checks-and-volunteer-screening
• Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) Child Protection Policies: https://www.ecfa.org/Content/ChildProtection
• Federal Volunteer Protection Act Overview: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/673