First published on this website in June 2007 and last updated in May 2011

When does a voluntary post in a church get to the point where you should appoint a paid member of staff instead? This is far from a straightforward issue, especially when you have part-time paid staff and volunteers giving longer hours.

These notes give six examples when paid employment makes sense. Examples include when the post requires a full working week, set availability times, a specialist or a pioneering leader.  Other examples are when church members are time-poor and when leaders are diverted from their proper roles.

But there are dangers in appointing staff. Six are listed: a denial of body ministry, confusion over roles, tensions between staff and volunteers, poor staff management, payment and tradition.

Here are valuable principles to inform your discussion and decision-making.