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Suggestions on the volunteer/parish relationship
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Application Form
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Work Agreement
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Automobile Insurance Statement Form
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Can volunteers be paid a stipend?
Are they really a volunteer or could they be considered an employee?
- Is work performed during normal work hours?
- Is work similar to employee's regular job duties?
If no to BOTH of the above, this is volunteer work. A volunteer can receive a stipend (monetary appreciation) for efforts, and remain a volunteer, only when:
- The amount is no more than 20% of what a regular employee would be paid; and
- The fee is not a substitute for wages; and
- The fee is not tied to productivity; and
- The fee is not tied to the amount of time expended; and
- The individual is only available for specific times; and
- The services are provided as needed (not throughout the year).
(More information can be found in the Department of Labor Opinion Letters FLSA2005-51 and FLSA2006-18.)
Safe Environment Requirements
The minimum requirement is that all Church Personnel, regardless of pay status (employee, contract, stipend or volunteer), who have ongoing unsupervised contact with minors or vulnerable adults, are required to:
- Complete a criminal background check (and have it renewed every three years if the work is ongoing);
- Complete a Church Personnel Agreement form agreeing to follow policies and guidelines in the Policy for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment, Code of Professional Conduct for Church Personnel and the brochure for Reporting Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults within three days of beginning service; and
- Attend Called to Protect for Ministries (or other required training) within 90 days of beginning service.
Non-employees and non-ordained personnel (contracted, stipended or volunteer) who are not paid through ADP and do not have ongoing unsupervised contact with minors or vulnerable adults may not be required to complete a criminal background check, sign the Church Personnel Agreement form or attend Called to Protect for Ministries (or other safe environment training classes). Please contact the Safe Environment Office (206-274-3188 or sep@seattlearch.org) or the Office of Human Resources (800-261-4749 or 206-382-4570) for questions on which safe environment requirements apply to which positions.
A local decision may be made by the pastor or other appointed pastoral leader to require completion of a criminal background check, Church Personnel Agreement form and/or attendance at Called to Protect for Ministries (or other safe environment training classes). Archdiocesan requirements are a minimum, but individual parishes may require a higher standard.