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Mixing and Phasing of Roles Among Volunteers, Staff, and Participants in Faith-Based Programs

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work

Mary Katherine O’Connor

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work

M. Lori Thomas

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work

Gaynor Yancey

Baylor University School of Social Work

In this grounded theory research project, face-to-face interviews were conducted with program participants, board members, administrators, coordinators, and collaborators in 15 faith-based programs. Findings concerning the roles played by participants, volunteers, and paid staff reveal the wearing of multiple hats, facilitated by a tendency toward cross-training, role diffusion, and doing what is needed. Boundaries created by roles appear to be less important than pragmatically responding to meet human needs. The moral imperative or faith-based nature of the work appears to be a recruiting tool for both paid staff and volunteers, as well as an expressed personal benefit for both. Challenges include turnover among paid staff and volunteers, heavy reliance on volunteers, and low pay. Psychological contracting with a faith-based community may be related to the ability to cope with fluid role expectations and associated ambiguities.

Key Words: grounded theory • staffing • social services • religion

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 2, 179-205 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0899764005275204


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