**If I were to write a book on bivocational ministry, this would be the outline. For now, these are some thoughts as to why I chose to work outside the church while serving as an associate pastor.
Introduction:
I begin by defining the bi-vocational model along with my personal story of choosing to pursue a “secular” job in addition to pastoring. This section also includes a couple caveats that this is not like the thousands of other ministry books that claim to revolutionize the church world, and this is not for everyone. It is simply my story, and hopefully it will prompt some thought.
Part One: For the Pastor
Chapter 1: Spiritual Health
It may shock some to hear that pastors can operate on “empty” for a while. Busyness can leave them even neglecting spiritual disciplines, and they can cultivate harsh reactions to God and people. Bitterness can take root. Becoming involved in the secular world allows pastors to relate with their people, because they have widened the scope of their daily life…and they have a bigger pool for sermon illustrations.
Chapter 2: Social Health
Evangelize! Make disciples! Shine your light! I was sitting in the office for 35 hours a week. There aren’t many pagans in there. Rubbing elbows with those in the work force allows a pastor not only to make friends with those outside his weekly bubble but also have a positive influence in their lives.
Chapter 3: Family Life
Hold on a second. Doesn’t another job add to the schedule? How does this improve family life? This absolutely requires time management and understanding from all in the family. And family still must come first. But part two is going to introduce how this model also requires members of the church to serve with their gifts and abilities. Once others are involved in various areas of ministry, the pastor can have a more balanced approach to church, work, and family.
Chapter 4: Emotional/Mental Health
How many stats do I need to provide for the depression rates of pastors in this chapter? Or the rotating door in most churches, where the average tenure is 3-5 years? Secular work provides another focus, a release. Though the purpose remains extending God’s kingdom and caring for members of the church, having another task that may reach completion on a daily or monthly schedule can be rewarding.
Chapter 5: Financial Health
I may or may not touch the average salary of pastors in America (average, not megachurch). The point here is simply that money is messy. It subconsciously has strings attached. The Bible discusses honoring pastors financially, but if a pastor can find an additional occupation, I would recommend it. Having all income from the church seems great, but there’s always the underlying feeling of getting paid to do certain tasks. I am no hireling. Where’s the line between what I “get paid for” and what I do because I’m a church member? I was called to serve, and I never want any member thinking, “Oh, yea, we pay you to X, Y, Z.” Get me an outside job. It relieves a ton of pressure.
Part Two: For the Church
Chapter 6: Proper View of Pastor
I will explain the similarity between the terms of elder and pastor. I will rehearse the perspective of the pastor as an overseer of the church, leading and guiding with his vision. He is not a hireling, paid to complete all the tasks of the church and “keep it afloat.” I may introduce the various church polities, including the power of church voting. If a pastor spends weeks and months praying and developing a vision for the church, and the church votes it down, who is leading? I understand accountability, as that is discussed later.
Chapter 7: Equipping Members
The main job description of pastors is Ephesians 4:11-12. The pastor equips members to develop and use gifts in the church. All are called to serve. This means delegation of tasks, allowing members to “buy in” to their church membership. Spectators and consumers are not what Paul had in mind.
Chapter 8: Deeper Training
If we are called to make disciples that make disciples, this should ultimately lead to the training of biblically minded students and teachers. Men and women can rise up in church who use their gifts and benefit the church. We can send them out to other churches, cities, and countries to impact the world. Are we stealing pastors and elders from other churches, or are we training men and women from within who can study, teach, and train others within our community and around the world?
Chapter 9: Sharing the Load
This introduces a supplemental thought to bi-vocational ministry. There are bi-vocational pastors who run the show by themselves. I think it’s best to have other pastors to discuss church matters, make decisions, and oversee the church. This relieves the burden of making decisions on one’s own and maintains accountability for the pastor(s). If one pastor is called to another place of ministry, there is no need for a large pastor search. The model is stable and sustainable.
Chapter 10: Financial Freedom
You will notice that financial “struggles” of the church is not even a major point. I saved this for last, because it wasn’t a factor in our decision. However, it is a benefit of turning to a bi-vocationalmodel. Relieving the church of the bulk of pastoral salaries allows the church to be more generous to, say, missionaries, those in need, or other church ministries.
Part 3: The (Intended) Payoff
Chapter 11
So the church went from 80 members to 250 in one year, right? Haha. If anyone knows me, that is not the metric I care about at all. The “payoff” has been described throughout each chapter: mental and spiritual health of the pastors, spiritual health of the church, and unity in one mission to impact a community.
No comments:
Post a Comment