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At the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress, attendees explored a fresh and theological approach to parish volunteerism during the workshop “Engaging Volunteers: How to Find, Engage, and Maintain Effective Volunteers,” presented by Orthodox theologian Dr. Eve Tibbs.
Rather than viewing volunteers simply as people needed to fill parish responsibilities, Dr. Tibbs challenged participants to see volunteer service as a natural expression of Christian discipleship and participation in the life of the Church. Rooted in Christ’s example of servant leadership, the workshop began with a reflection on the Gospel of John, where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples (John 13). Dr. Tibbs outlined three stages of Christian service: first receiving Christ’s love, then allowing to be formed and transformed through communion with Him, and finally serving others in humility and love.
This workshop reframed volunteerism as more than recruitment or organizational management, rather, it presented volunteerism as an invitation to encounter Christ and participate in His ministry. By grounding volunteer engagement in faith, parishes can cultivate communities where service becomes both meaningful and transformative.
During the session, participants learned strategies for creating positive volunteer cultures within their parishes. Dr. Tibbs offered insights on how church leaders can identify and invite volunteers, mentor them effectively, recognize their gifts and ask them to serve in the place where they will succeed and where they will find fulfillment. They also learned how to honor volunteers and be flexible with their time.
Congress participants left equipped with actionable tools and renewed inspiration for building volunteerism members feels valued, empowered, and called to serve.
The workshop was led by Dr. Eve Tibbs, a respected Orthodox theologian and educator. She holds a Ph.D. in Theology and is the author of A Basic Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology: Introducing Beliefs and Practices and Seeing the Gospel: An Interpretive Guide to Orthodox Icons. Dr. Tibbs teaches graduate-level theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and serves on the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. She is also the Ministry Lead for Adult Christian Education in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Dr. Tibbs and her husband, Steve, are active members of Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine, California.
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