Become A Volunteer

Volunteer from anywhere, at any time.

Open Volunteer Positions

Helpline Agents - We train agents to communicate using peer support methods, listening to evaluate clients’ needs, maintaining accurate records, and protecting clients’ privacy

Support Group Leaders/Co-Leaders - Facilitate in-person or virtual small group meetings for the purpose of mutual peer support. We provide training, support, and technical tools (like a Meetup page and access to a Zoom account) for each Support Group and its leaders.

Web Developers - Software development / computer programming of web apps owned and maintained in-house by Recovering from Religion. The web apps we develop improve the experience of both volunteers and clients. Please review our qualifications page to see if your skillsets / interests are a match for this position.

Online Community Moderators - Moderate channels designated for a particular topic within Recovering from Religion's Online Community Slack workspace. Moderators ensure a positive experience for the clients participating in the Online Community.

Video Editors - Short-form video miner/editors

Writers - Submit stories or essays here. No training necessary. We always welcome writers to submit stories/essays for publication on our blog, ExCommunications.

In addition, there are other volunteer positions such as: Ambassadors, Grant Application Writers, International Growth, Billboard Outreach, RfRx Live Event Moderators & Social Hosts that you may be interested in instead of or in addition to your original role. Once you complete your initial training, please let us know if you would like more information or are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I - INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

  • WELCOME

  • OUR HISTORY

  • OUR MISSION

  • OUR VISION

  • OUR PURPOSE

  • OUR VALUES

SECTION II - EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US

  • WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU

  • LENGTH OF SERVICE EXPECTATIONS

  • TIME COMMITMENT EXPECTATIONS

  • TRAINING EXPECTATIONS

SECTION III - GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT

SECTION IV - VOLUNTEER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • AT WILL AGREEMENT

  • STATUS OF MINORS

SECTION V - STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & AGREEMENT

  • NON-DISCLOSURE CLAUSE

  • RIGHT TO TERMINATE AGREEMENT

  • RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

  • STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  • STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

SECTION I – INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW


WELCOME

Welcome to Recovering from Religion! Thank you for your interest in becoming a Recovering from Religion volunteer. Our team is made up of volunteers from around the world working with a common goal: to provide hope, healing and support for those struggling with issues related to doubt and non-belief.

We need volunteers with many types of skills and languages spoken, etc. Our volunteer application process is simple, and it begins here.  Please read the information below thoroughly before continuing. Then, fill out and submit the form at the bottom of the page. You will receive a confirmation, and be redirected to schedule an interview.

Please note: A more detailed Volunteer Policy Manual will be included in your initial training.

Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator if you have any questions or need more information volunteercoordinator@recoveringfromreligion.org.  

OUR HISTORY

Recovering from Religion was founded in 2009 by Dr. Darrel Ray, author of The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture, Sex and God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality, and two other books related to business psychology and management. 

As Dr. Ray toured the country promoting The God Virus, people sought him out looking for others also negatively affected by religious belief. Within a year, over 25 groups had ‘self-started’ for people seeking support for their own experiences transitioning away from their ‘faith of origin.’ By 2011 the support groups were still growing, and he brought on a team of people passionate about reaching anyone who identifies as recovering from religion. 

In 2011, RfR became a registered non-profit organization and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity with the Internal Revenue Service.

OUR MISSION

Recovering from Religion’s mission is to offer hope, healing, and support to those struggling with issues of doubt and non-belief.

OUR VISION

The vision of Recovering from Religion is to support, equip, and empower anyone who has been negatively impacted by religion or faith as they find their place in the secular community.

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Recovering from Religion is to:

Provide transitional emotional support and educational resources to people facing the myriad of issues that arise by disengaging from doctrinal belief.

Create positive and encouraging networking opportunities for individuals seeking support within the secular and non-theistic community.

Provide opportunity for each volunteer’s personal development and growth through a rewarding volunteer experience and a satisfying emotional paycheck.

Educate both the religious and secular communities on both the process and negative impact of indoctrination in the lives of our target client base.

OUR VALUES

1. We are committed to helping anyone who reaches out to Recovering from Religion for help or support, from questioning believer to lifelong non-believer.

2. We value the deeply personal and unique path everyone takes on their journey away from religion or faith. We respect everyone’s right to their journey at a pace that works for their situation.

3. We value encouraging opportunities for learning experiences and education beyond the boundaries of each person’s individual faith background.

4. We recognize the many emotional, societal, and cultural conflicts that can, and do, arise from reconsidering the role of religion in everyone’s life. We are committed to providing multi-faceted support opportunities to anyone experiencing these conflicts.

5. We are dedicated to educating the public on the need for these support services, and to working with organizations who share our values and goals.


SECTION II - EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US

1. We will be respectful in our communications with and about you.

2. We will provide a welcoming environment in which you can work.

3. We will provide resources and tools for projects you are working on, to the best of our ability.

4. We will provide a support network for you in your activities with RfR.

5. We will help you understand the amount and types of work expected from you.

6. We will be accommodating and understanding of your unique needs to the best of our ability.

7. We will accept and respect your lifestyle and time constraints.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU

1. We expect you to be respectful in your communications with and about RfR.

2. We expect you to be a good representative of RfR's mission, vision, purpose, and values.

3. We expect you to educate yourself about the projects and issues RfR is working on.

4. We expect you to work with us to find volunteer opportunities that fit your interests and skills.

5. We expect you to let us know in advance if you cannot follow through on a responsibility you committed to.

LENGTH OF SERVICE EXPECTATIONS

Recovering from Religion is heavily dependent on the many wonderful volunteers who make up our ‘boots on the ground’ around the world. As such, we are deeply invested in meeting your needs with the goal of maintaining a broad and diverse RfR support team. 

To maintain a healthy balance between the many demands on volunteer time and the need for continuity within RfR, volunteers are strongly encouraged to commit to one year of service at a time. If you want to continue for another year, we welcome you to renew your status with us and continue as a valued team member. If you prefer to take a break after a year or leave RfR entirely, we support you and appreciate the opportunity to have volunteered with you. 

TIME COMMITMENT EXPECTATIONS

Support Group Leaders/Co-leaders can expect to spend approximately 4-6 hours per month on their Recovering from Religion volunteer duties. This includes a monthly 2-hour meeting with a bit of prep and debrief on either end. They may also need to spend some time communicating and coordinating with fellow volunteers. This is included in the 4-6 hour estimate. The training phase requires as much as 20 hours of time total. This includes time spent in self-paced study, one-on-one meetings with trainers, and hands-on experience. The training can be done as quickly or slowly as is convenient. Volunteers are not assigned a group to host until they are ready.

Helpline volunteers can expect to have at least five interactions per month with clients, either via calls or chats. Helpline volunteers will receive training to undertake these interactions and have regular support from their Hero Supporters to maintain their training. 

Web Developers are encouraged to join weekly team meetings and given tasks based on current needs and matching their availability and skill sets.

Video Editors can expect about 2-4 hours per month, primarily focused on mining sub 1 minute clips from existing videos.  

All volunteers can expect approximately 8 additional hours per year dedicated to continuing education, training, and networking/support opportunities. 

TRAINING EXPECTATIONS

Volunteers are expected to successfully complete relevant training and education opportunities provided by RfR to adequately navigate their responsibilities within the organization.

All of our new volunteers are trained by veteran volunteers.  For most positions trainers make a huge commitment to your training. Please be respectful of the time they invest in training you.

SECTION III - GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT

As a ‘face’ or ‘voice’ of Recovering from Religion to our clientele, it is crucial you know and understand our rules.

1. Patience: Be willing to gently but firmly challenge personal and societal assumptions about the impact of religion on society. Use and develop empathy, open communication, and listening skills. Keep in mind the inherent co-dependency of religion when interacting with RfR clientele. This belief, for many, has been a lifelong process of indoctrination. It may take time for people to reconsider their approach to dealing with conflict and addressing logical fallacies. 

2. Neutrality: Take pride in maintaining respectful dialogue with everyone in their journey away from the confines of faith. Respect how personal a journey the process of leaving religion and faith is for everyone, and allow people to arrive at their conclusions in their own time, in a way that works for them. You may suggest resources that encourage thought beyond the fundamentals of faith, but you may not participate in or allow ‘religion bashing’. Owning personal opinions is acceptable (I- statements) but judgmental positions that ‘slam’ other beliefs (finger pointing ‘you’ or ‘they’ statements) are not. 

5. Proselytizing: As an RfR volunteer, there is absolutely no promoting, proselytizing, or evangelizing of any supernatural belief system under any circumstances. This includes ‘new age’ beliefs such as Reiki, chakras, etc.

6. Harassment:  RfR does its best to provide a safe and comfortable environment free of discrimination or harassment. Please treat everyone with respect and do not persist in any sexual or romantic advances that are unwelcome or unpleasant to the recipient. Intimidation, hostility, or offensive behavior will not be tolerated.

7. Confidentiality: RfR has a duty to ensure that those who seek services from us are not stigmatized or put at risk. Maintaining strict and total confidentiality at all times is crucial. There are no exceptions.

8. Honesty: Recovering from Religion believes in transparency and honesty. To the best of your ability, do not say anything dishonest, untrue, or misleading. However, volunteers who are closeted or otherwise concerned about revealing their identity are welcome to use a pseudonym.

9. Communication: Inform the RfR leadership of interactions that may require follow-up. In this way, we can maintain high-quality services for those who rely on us and it assists in our ability to schedule and maintain availability for community members.

10. Self care: Contact RfR leadership if you need support or time to process experiences that may have been triggering or difficult in your interactions with RfR clientele. RfR staff is here to support our volunteers any time an experience or interaction is difficult. It is important to care for yourself and seek support to avoid ‘burnout’. We are here for you! If stressors or circumstances outside of RfR are preventing you from being able to contribute, please inform a leader so that you may take a leave of absence or a break as it is necessary to secure your health and well-being.

11. Support: Check in on our Communications Hub - Slack - to connect with other volunteers. We do not work in isolation and find strength and community by connecting with one another.

12. Sobriety: Maintain sobriety while performing your volunteer duties. Clients deserve advocates who are present, and focused on their needs. Mind altering drugs and alcohol may inhibit your ability to meet your obligations to support a client in crisis.

13. Professionalism: Volunteers of  RfR are expected to behave with the highest level of ethical standards and behaviors. RfR is NOT an atheist evangelist organization. It is RfR's policy to speak the truth about the negative impact of religion while encouraging and facilitating discussions with those who question the role of religion in their lives. The truth should be direct and honest and never include personal insults. When in doubt, choose the high road and behave above reproach, in a manner that you would be proud to have under a spotlight and/or scrutiny.

14. Problem-solving: We are a team-based organization. We work together to provide the best experience for our clients and volunteers. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact any team member or leader. We try to resolve problems at the lowest level possible.  However, the Executive Director will provide support and counsel as needed. 


SECTION IV - VOLUNTEER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

AT WILL AGREEMENT

All positions are held at the mutual consent of you and Recovering from Religion. Both you and RfR have the right to terminate this relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, although reasonable notice is courteous to all parties and preferred, if possible. 

STATUS OF MINORS

Volunteers with Recovering from Religion must be at least 18 years of age.


SECTION V - STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT

I have read and understood the expectations, responsibilities, and basic culture of Recovering from Religion and agree to comply.

NON-DISCLOSURE CLAUSE: I understand Recovering from Religion requires strict confidentiality to be maintained with respect to information regarding clients and volunteers.

RIGHT TO TERMINATE AGREEMENT: Both Recovering from Religion and I have the right to terminate this relationship at any time. 

RELEASE AND WAIVER: The volunteer understands that this Release discharges RfR from any liability or claim that the volunteer may have against RfR with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage that may result from the volunteer's activities with RfR.

STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I agree that I have read and understand the expectations, responsibilities and basic rules of conduct of Recovering from Religion, the Non-disclosure Agreement, the Right to Terminate, the Release of Liability and Waiver, and all other sections as detailed above.

STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

I understand and agree that submitting this information form for the volunteer application does not automatically register me as a Recovering from Religion volunteer, and that there may be certain qualifications I must meet, including the acceptance of established volunteer policies and procedures before I may begin volunteering. I certify that I am 18 years of age or older. By submitting this form, I attest that the information I have provided on the form is true and accurate.

Updated March 2024