Welcome to The Deacon’s Bench Online

You’ll find the latest edition of our risk management magazine for ministries,
plus bonus articles and checklists.

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The Deacon’s Bench

Good organization attracts volunteers, keeps them on board, and protects your organization. In this issue of The Deacon’s Bench, you’ll learn from other Christian ministries about the importance of screening volunteers, how to manage their talents, and why oversight is the perfect companion to trust. Plus, how one California ministry rallied a volunteer revival to help tackle a community problem.

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Handbook 101

Much like an employee handbook, a handbook for volunteers sets your ministry’s expectations. It’s a collection of written guidelines that gets volunteers and ministry leaders on the same page.

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“If you don’t have expectations that apply to everyone serving, then you haven’t communicated your standards. And inconsistency can lead to problems.”

—Steve Case, assistant vice president, senior corporate counsel for Brotherhood Mutual.

Volunteers: Saying
Hello and Goodbye

Volunteers are the mechanism that pumps life into your mission. But a volunteer is not an employee—and the ministry has a lot of flexibility when it comes to managing them.

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Selecting and Screening Volunteers

Selecting and screening volunteers protects the safety of everyone involved in your ministry. With some planning and organization, your church or school can develop a robust program.

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Students on the Move:
Parent Transportation

Volunteer drivers using personal vehicles to transport students expose your school to numerous liability risks. Learn how to diminish the risks to improve safety and reduce liability.

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These resources can help
jump-start your volunteer transportation program.

- Sample Driver Screening checklist
- Sample Activity Participation Agreement
- Sample Notice of Injury form

Injuries and Property Damage:
When a Volunteer is Involved

Your ministry should know how to financially protect itself for when a volunteer is injured and when a volunteer injures someone else or damages another’s property.

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Mission Protection

Emergency situations can be especially confusing for volunteers while traveling. It’s difficult to know what to do or who can help. A little preplanning helps avoid problems and offers your volunteers and your ministry peace of mind.

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