Volunteer Opportunities

The Northern California Nevada Conference is not simply the professional staff members, it is the more than 13,000 members and friends of our Local Churches across northern California and Nevada. We aren’t able to deliver on our mission of Supporting Leaders, Uniting for Justice, and Nurturing Local Churches without the work of our paid professional staff and volunteers together. 

In addition to the governance and oversight positions on Conference Council, the Committee on Ministry in various Sections, or other committees, numerous short-term and long-term volunteer positions are available. 

For all volunteer positions, an application process is required. Certain positions have additional requirements, which are indicated in their role description. 

  • Submit a Volunteer Application for all positions listed below. 
  • For governance or committee service applications, complete a Nomination Form. (Coming soon!) 
  • Depending on the position, you may be required to complete a basic criminal background check.
  • Complete an orientation and training process. (Online; some positions require a further individual training with a staff person.) 

Short-Term Volunteers 

Short-term volunteers (STV) are those who have a few hours to spare or wish to volunteer for a specific project or event. Often STV positions build upon a person’s current knowledge and skills and require limited role-specific training. That’s not to say these positions are always simple or less essential! 

  • Administration 
    • Data Entry Volunteer (minimum of two hours per shift, minimum of five shifts preferred) Data Entry Volunteers will import and update specific records on digital systems. Requires familiarity with relational databases and Web-driven productivity platforms; specific experience with Salesforce and Microsoft 365 strongly preferred. 
    • Data Research Volunteer (at least 10 hours per project) Data Research Volunteers are tasked with digging into records for a specific project or intent. This can include both digital and paper records. A specific scope of work will be provided by the designated staff person, which will include duration of time, deliverables, and any necessary requirements. 
  • Communications 
    • Annual Gathering Tech Steward (duration of Annual Gathering, plus four hours of training before AG) 
    • Language Interpreter – Written Materials (time varies based on necessity) Language Interpreters receive written materials (reportsetc) with up to two weeks to translate from one written language to another. 
  • Events Support 
    • Language Interpreter – Real Time (time varies based on event) Language Interpreters during events make themselves available to translate spoken word, including conversations, from one spoken language to the language of a participant. In general, Language Interpreters volunteer for the duration of the event and work one-on-one with individuals or a small group (up to three) in one specific language. 
    • Maverick (minimum of two hours per shift, includes specific event plus day before/after) Mavericks are individuals who can provide physical support with event set-up and tear-down, as well as physical tasks during the event. In general, “doing whatever needs done.” 
  • Philanthropy & Stewardship 
    • Philanthropy Host (four or more hours during Annual Gathering; other events as needed) Provides a friendly, inviting presence to share the story of the Conference and inspire joy in financial giving. At Annual Gathering, this individual is ideally not a voting member so they can have scheduling freedom during plenary sessions. Philanthropy Hosts should be broadly aware of current events in the Northern California Nevada Conference and energized by the possibilities. Philanthropy Hosts must be comfortable making a direct ask for monetary contributions and themselves be donors to the Conference in the past 12 months. 
    • Phone Bank Caller (minimum of two hours per shift, call-a-thons in spring and fall) Able to call current and past donors, including Authorized Ministers and Local Church leaders, to express gratitude and share stories of how their financial gifts have made a difference in our Conference. Callers should be broadly aware of current events in the Northern California Nevada Conference, as well as able to demonstrate a calm and solution-oriented posture, able to “think on their feet.” Callers must be comfortable making a direct ask for monetary contributions and themselves be donors to the Conference in the past 12 months. 

Long-Term Volunteers 

Long-term volunteers (LTV) are those who commit to a set number of hours per month, or who are providing strategic leadership for a specific project or event. While LTV positions often build upon a person’s current knowledge and skills, LTVs are provided all role-specific training as well as supplemental training necessary for the Conference’s operational continuity and to fulfill necessary risk management purposes. 

  • Administration 
    • Historian (minimum one year commitment, minimum 40 hours per month) The Historian is responsible for cataloging and managing the historical archive of the Conference, including relationship with archives located at the Graduate Theological Union Library and the Bancroft Library of the University of California. The Historian has an interest in preserving the history of our Conference as helpful narrative for future generations. Special attention to appropriately archiving print and digital material would be helpful. Must be a strong, independent self-starter with ability to work under minimal supervision, with a wide lens to the unique and particular histories of this Conference. 
  • Communications 
    • Newsletter Editor (minimum six months commitment, 5-10 hours per week; can be combined with Website Editor) The Newsletter Editor is responsible for compiling and formatting the weekly e-newsletter. Most all content is pre-packaged by the submitter, though occasionally the Newsletter Editor will need to generate brief overview copy (one paragraph at most) based on the submitted content. The Newsletter Editor requires some pre-existing familiarity with web content platforms; MailChimp and WordPress are preferred. Requires consistent, reliable broadband Internet access and personal computer with updated operating system capable of running Web-driven applications. Must be a strong, independent self-starter with ability to work on consistent, hard deadline under minimal supervision. Newsletter must be print-ready no later than 3:00pm each Wednesday afternoon. 
    • Conference Correspondent (minimum six months commitment, 3-10 hours per month) Supplemental application Utilizing skills in written word, spoken word, photography, graphic design, videography, and digital editing, Conference Correspondents work with the designated staff person to report on ministry activities and events across the Conference. Material produced is used for digital and print storytelling, philanthropy and stewardship efforts, and otherwise sharing of the work of our Conference. Volunteers must have some pre-existing knowledge of their respective medium; training is only provided on filing content with Conference systems for submissions. Must have comfort with an all-digital workflow; the Conference does not accept analog/print media to file. Must be a strong, independent self-starter with ability to work on deadline under minimal supervision. A quarterly Zoom team meeting is required. 
    • Website Editor (minimum six months commitment, up to 10 hours per week; can be combined with Newsletter Editor) The Website Editor is responsible for content management on the Conference website. This includes uploading submitted articles, making edits on existing pages, and creating new pages and attaching them to navigation menus as needed. The Website Editor requires pre-existing familiarity with web content management systems; the most successful Editor has experience with WordPress, Gravity Forms, and Salesforce. Requires consistent, reliable broadband Internet access and personal computer with updated operating system capable of running Web-driven applications. The Website Editor will have at least one-on-one meeting each month with a designated Conference staff person. Must be a strong, independent self-starter with ability to work on deadline under minimal supervision. 
  • Philanthropy & Stewardship 
    • Conference Ambassador (minimum one year commitment, minimum of five hours per month) Conference Ambassadors cultivate an active relationship with an assigned group of Local Churches, Authorized Ministers, and/or individual donors. Ambassadors seek out the individual stories of churches, ministers, and donors and integrate them in the broader narrative tapestry of the Conference. Through conversation, Ambassadors are strengthening the relationship between Conference and church, minister, or donor, as well as listening for additional ways to strengthen mutual involvement, including volunteering and financial contributionsAmbassadors may be clergy or laity; if clergy with full-time Local Church commitments that preclude visiting other churches for worship, they will be assigned to a group of other clergy or individual donors. Past Conference leadership experience (e.g. Conference Council, Committee on Ministry, etc) is preferred within the prior five years. Ambassadors will meet quarterly as a group for a Zoom call and will file visit reports with a designated Conference staff person for each contact. Ambassadors must be comfortable recognizing an appropriate moment to directly ask for both volunteer and financial contributions. Ambassadors must be donors to the Conference within the past 12 months. 
    • Grant Writer (minimum one year commitment, up to 40 hours per month) Grant Writers must be skilled storytellers with a high attention to detail. It is the Grant Writer’s responsibility to compile necessary materials for grant applications, write the grant request according to foundation guidelines, and prepare a report for Conference staff regarding ongoing reporting responsibilities in the event of a successful grant. The Grant Writer will work closely with the Associate Conference Minister for Philanthropy & Stewardship to identify grantmaking opportunities in alignment with Conference strategic goals and ministry objectives. 

Youth & Outdoor Ministries Opportunities 

Numerous positions keep our Youth & Outdoor Ministries programs strong. These positions require a supplemental application, as well as compliance with the Conference Safe Church Policy. This includes: 

  • Minimum six hours of boundary and professional behavior training, renewed every three years 
  • Enhanced criminal background check, including fingerprinting (LiveScan) 
  • Personal interview with staff or key leaders 

Available positions include: 

  • Camp Chaplain (minimum nine months commitment, at least one week’s commitment for specific camp and ten or more hours per month in advance planning and wrap-up) Supplemental Application 
  • Camp Director (minimum nine months commitment, at least one week’s commitment for specific camp and ten or more hours per month in advance planning and wrap-up) Supplemental Application 
  • Event Director (minimum five months commitment, commitment for specific camp and ten or more hours per month in advance planning and wrap-up) Supplemental Application 
  • Event Chaplain (minimum five months commitment, commitment for specific camp and ten or more hours per month in advance planning and wrap-up) Supplemental Application 
  • Cabin Counselor (one week minimum, plus additional training days before camp) Supplemental Application 
  • Health Supervisor (one week minimum, plus additional training days before camp) Supplemental Application 

Youth & Outdoor Ministries Programs are currently suspended from in-person gathering for health and safety reasons in response to COVID-19. Additionally, programs at our Camp Cazadero and Camp Tamarack sites are being re-envisioned. As progress is made on both fronts, applications will be made available here.

Governance & Committee Service 

Individuals who volunteer to serve on Conference Council or the various committees are key to our Conference success. A nomination application may be completed at any time, which is provided to the Committee for the Recruitment of Conference Leaders (“nominating committee”). Note: a minimum financial contribution is mandatory for Conference Council and Philanthropy and Stewardship Committee members, with suggested amounts for other committee members. 

  • Conference Council (three-year term, renewable once) 
  • Committee on Ministry (three-year term, renewable once) 
    • Section A 
    • Section B 
    • Section C 
    • Section D (currently being re-envisioned) 
    • Section E 
  • Conference Inclusion Task Force (two-year term, renewable twice) 
  • Camp Cazadero Facilities Management Committee (three-year term, renewable once) 
  • Camp Tamarack Facilities Management Committee (three-year term, renewable once) 
  • Finance and Business Committee (FABC) (three-year term, renewable once) 
  • Justice & Witness Ministry Team (two-year term, renewable twice)
  • Philanthropy and Stewardship Committee (two-year term, renewable twice)