THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERS AS RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATIONS

A 1993 study of Assemblies of God, Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Presbyterians inquired about levels of volunteering by parishioners t o support church programs. About half of church members volunteer for their churches. Levels of volunteering to support church programs are higher in conservative and evangelical churches, while volunteering fo r community programs is higher in mainline Protestant churches. The va lue of volunteers to most churches is roughly two-fifths the value of their monetary contributions. Volunteers' value is highest among Luthe rans and Baptists - almost half the current amount of monetary contrib utions.