Volunteer application form question...

[Ed W]

(Offered as an alternative to yet another River Tax post!)

My daughter is interested in a volunteer position working with kids in a faith-based setting.  As far as I know, this organization is not affiliated with any church.  The application asks for the applicant's views on discipleship,  pre-marital sex, drinking, and drugs, among other things.

Are questions like this legitimate when looking for volunteers?  I assume that the organization offers employment to those they deem suitable after the volunteer for some time, but I know these questions are absolutely forbidden in any pre-employment screening.

And I think it's a difficult question to answer because I can fully understand the organization's point of view, yet I can't see such intrusive questions being permissible in job screening.

[Rowdy]

Well it all depends.  I would say that if there is an organization that is looking for volunteers, they should be able to screen people that way.

If I was going to attend a Faith-based school, I would be asked those very same questions. I wonder what the law states on that since you did not speak of whether or not it is a Non-Profit Organization or not.

[Ed W]

I don't know if it's a non-profit, Rowdy.  Are the laws different for them?

[Rowdy]

Info I found:

"Churches and religious non-profits are something of a special case, because the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids the government making a law "respecting an establishment of religion" and also forbids "prohibiting the free exercise thereof [that is, of religion]." The First Amendment by its terms binds only the U.S. Federal Government, but its effect was extended to state and local governments in the U.S. by passage of the 14th Amendment at the close of the Civil War. Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act many generally applicable state laws regarding employment, zoning and the like are relaxed for churches.

Similarly, some non-profits, as private organizations, are not subject to the anti-discrimination laws which might apply to similar organizations serving the public for profit. As an example, the Boy Scouts of America do not allow girls as Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, and the courts have held this does not violate anti-discrimination laws."

[cannon_fodder]

Ed, if its not a non-profit - DONT VOLUNTEER FOR THEM (unless you know a ton about them).  If it is not a registered non-profit your daughter could be working for free in a venture that is making someone else a tidy sum of money.  Unless this is a huge dot a resume or something, that doesnt sound like a good idea.

As per the questions, if it is a faith-based organization they are probably trying to assure that the face of their organization shares their core values.  Either that, or the organizer is a pervert and only wants young girls that think pre-marital sex and drugs are cool and are complete followers.  Probably the former... just sayin' beware of scumbags.

[Wingnut]

quote: As per the questions, if it is a faith-based organization they are probably trying to assure that the face of their organization shares their core values.

To add some fodder to Fodders comment....most faith-based orgs want people with views that are compatible with theirs. If they were to differ, it could cause trouble in the ranks as well as problems with the public preception of the group. It could also take the organization in a different direction than the group would want to go, or cause it to not meet the need it was developed for. Some may have a statement of faith that would need to be signed saying that the volunteer agrees with and will abide by the values of the organization. It is pretty standard to do this. I know if I had a organization like that, I would do it.