Normally, I just ignore it and don't volunteer. I recognize that this shifts the burden to others, probably the Same Ten People (STP), but it's been my way of coping with what I feel is egocentrism...
Anyway, last time the EQ was supposed to clean, no one came to do it. So our Ward Auxiliaries changed it up. They assigned people into teams by family, with no single auxiliary responsible. Responsibility was diffused across families. Then they set up a schedule. Each team is way overstaffed to allow for attrition (not stated, but I know that's why they did it). Each team has a rank and file member, generally reliable, as a team leader.
This is what irks me. First, I don't agree with this assumption that members can just be called upon to do this kind of work. I think if I was more committed, I would do it (I used to do it all the time prior to my faith transition). But I'm not in that place anymore. Further, speaking personally, years ago something "snapped" in me due to lack of support in cleaning at home, and I learned to achieve many things while not cleaning my space. I hate it, but for some reason I can't bring myself to clean anything but the common spaces in my home, and even then, it's because my wife has matured to the point she pulls her weight in this department, and I want to be an active participant as a show of support. With her support in those spaces, I do it. But in my own space, I CAN'T seem to bring myself to do it. I hate it but I live with it. To have to then clean some other space at church repels me significantly.
But even more bothersome, and the focus of this thread, is how people are just ASSIGNED to do it in this case. They also do it with missionary exchanges as well now and then.
To me, this is abuse of the goodwill of the members. While I realize it's not a calling, but an assignment, the only guidance we have on how to get people working in church work is through the 2nd Handbook of Instructions, Section 19.2, on callings.
Note that people are extended callings after it's determined whether they are willing. If they are not willing, then they aren't extended the call.After receiving the necessary approvals, an authorized leader conducts a personal interview to determine the member’s faithfulness and willingness to serve. If the member is willing, the leader extends the calling. The leader may invite the spouse of a married person to be present and give support when the calling is extended.
Should this principle of willingness apply to the membership at large when it comes to chapel cleaning? Is it right to simply assign families to clean without regard for their agency? Should people be asked if they are willing to serve this way, or do the local leaders simply have the right to assign people to do anything, expecting them to follow? Is there a better way to deal with the admittedly undesirable task of chapel cleaning?
Maybe I shouldn't be complaining. At least we haven't been assigned to clean the jail!