One of our soon-to-come training tools is called Caring for Church Workers, which helps churches know how to support their staff and volunteers. As a sneak preview, here's a short excerpt from an interview we've included in the tool. Lee Dean spoke with Doug Fagerstrom, president of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and author of Ministry Staff Member and The Volunteer.

How important is delegating and releasing church workers?

We need to know what we're releasing them to. Sometimes leaders are guilty of catch and release, which is a fishing term. I recruit you and release you to ministry but I don't touch you again. There needs to be a coming alongside. I need to be praying for you, engaged with you, evaluating with you. I need to be asking you good questions about your ministry. "Do you need help? Do you need more people or fewer? Do I need to be sharing with the rest of the organization what you're doing?" We need to release you, but not so released that we cut the line.

How can leaders ...