Confessions of an Intentionally Bi-Vocational Minister
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I use the term “minister” with the purpose of being interdenominational. This post is about me wearing two hats; church & business.
The first time I read/heard about intentionally bi-vocational ministers was while reading a book by George Barna called Revolution. It’s a book that’s much like his other books. It’s based on research that tells us a little something about the current state of the American church. I’m sure most of the observations and opinions in this book, and others like it, are very accurate. However, there’s obvious tinges of personal preference intermingled with the reporting of data.
Barna stated that ministers will become increasingly bi-vocational in the future as churches become less like businesses and more like natural organisms. I’m not sure if I agree with the prediction, but the concept of being intentionally bi-vocational was incredibly appealing to me. My first thought was that I could work a high-paying job (probably own a business) that had little time commitments and do ministry at the same time.
I read the book while at college and began chomping at the bit to graduate and start my dream of bi-vocational ministry. I began planning while I was still in school. As soon as I graduated, I set out to complete my plan:
- Get a normal job working 9-5 to get some real-world training. (Bible college doesn’t give you much real-world training.)
- Start exploring ideas of businesses to start, studying up on how to start a business, looking into funding for a future business, and solidifying a simple business plan. (Simplicity, in my mind, was key to being able to start a business that didn’t require much time beyond launch.)
- Start the business and begin making a decent living. (One step to sum up a huge part of the plan)
- Find a church that needed a super-flexible, intelligent, responsible minister that had no real ministry experience, but didn’t need a huge paycheck. (I thought this would like shooting fish in a barrel. Not true.)
- Live a great life of having my cake (being a business owner) and eating it, too (doing ministry with freedom from salary restrictions).
To me, as a 21 year old college grad, this sounded like a fine plan. This plan allowed Erica and I to choose where we served without having to worry about income.
Now that I’m “living the dream,” I’ve realized some other hidden downsides.
- If your business doesn’t make enough money to cover the difference, you’re screwed.
- If your business takes too much time, then your ministry will suffer.
- If your ministry takes too much time, then your business will suffer.
- Balance is unattainable.
- Mediocrity can gain an easy foothold in every aspect of your life.
- Ministry is less fulfilling when you can’t spend the time with people that you desire and God desires from you. After all, people matter to God.
- It sucks when business meetings and funerals of members overlap. (BTW, funerals always win.)
- Living a double life isn’t as “James Bond” as I expected.
Currently, I enjoy my state of bi-vocationalism (not a word). I know it’s exactly where God has me at this point in my life. I know that I full a vital role in my church staff and church family. But, I just wanted you to know that it’s not all roses.
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Working a job and not just bible study is a gold rule. So many ministers come from bible school and think they are ready for it, they have the knowledge but the people skills and ability to be a testimony in the ‘real world’?? They fall flat on their head.
I reckon all bible schools should have a requirement that the students at least work once or twice a week.
Jermayn Parker’s last blog post..No Matter What it Takes - Jeremy Camp
I’ve experienced every one of those downsides in the last two years. But like you, I also know this is what God has for me right now. Not sure if it’ll always be this way, but it’s how it is right now and I love it.
I don’t think I would be an effective pastor at all without the knowledge I’ve learned from running a business.
But I have to say, if your life isn’t “James Bond” enough, here’s two things that can help.
1) Shoot more people and then make a smart remark at their dead body.
2) Barring number one, you can always just have the Bond theme played every time you walk into a room. It’s what I do, and it’s effective. (On a side note, you’ll dig this post http://tinyurl.com/3h96k9)
Chad Wright’s last blog post..The one where I vomit for an audience
BTDT Scott.
I miss bivocational ministry sometimes. I learned so much everyday that I could take with me into people’s lives on Sunday. But my family really, really suffered as I tried to make it work. Gave up the corporate job (P&G) because of demands on my time, struggled through a series of other jobs. Wound up losing church plant, house, and for a while one son.
It needs work. (smiling when I wrote that) Good work. Steady work. Work with benefits and security. School teacher. Lawyer. Cop with normal hours - work. I suggested to my seminary that they offer an M.Ed. to run alongside an MA in Church Ed so folks could get a teaching gig and have some security for their families as they went forth. I was almost laughed at, and told “God will provide.”
Needs work.
David
David Wilson’s last blog post..Falling Forward