Bi-vocational pastors part two

Bi-Vocational Pastors Part two
Rex Deckard

In the previous blog, we discuss the advantage of being a bi-vocational pastor. In this follow-up, we will look at the disadvantages.


Disadvantages and pitfalls
Pastors will need to be careful of a higher stress rate due to the enormous number of hours that are expended. This stress may extend into the pastor’s marriage and family, as well.

Self Image
No one who is a bi-vocational minister should allow himself to feel or be treated as a second-class preacher. If you are where God has led you there is no move up. The Apostle Paul made tents while he preached and he appeared to have been quite effective. Historically, most pastors also taught school, worked in industry or farmed until the 1950s when there was a push to get pastors to be fully-funded. It appears that in the future the number of bivocational pastors will rise significantly because of upcoming clergy shortages.

The problem with schedules and commitments between secular and ministry work that ‘overlap.’

A tendency to ‘let things go’ or ‘not get around to it’ due to the large number of demands on his time. This is especially true with visitor followup or preventative counseling of church members. This is the temptation to just address the most urgent needs.

The difficulty in expanding the base of the church through daughter plants and other endeavors that consume time and energy.

The danger that the Church will accept this situation as preferable to a ‘full-time’ pastor which would create more financial sacrifice on their part. The congregation should NEVER, NEVER see this simply as a ‘cost saving’ measure.

Thomas Trask says, Let me caution you in something. One of the traps of being bivocational is becoming accustomed to the income provided through your secular employment. I’ve watched it happen over the years. Because the secular employment provides, the pastor doesn’t feel he needs to accept payment from the church.I remember the second pastorate I had. When I was voted in they said, “Brother Trask, we are happy you have accepted our invitation, but we don’t have any income. We can’t pay you.”“That’s OK,” I said. “God’s called us here and we knew no payment was involved.”But that congregation needed to move away from their dependency upon my bivocational position and become responsible for the supply and the care of their pastor. You might need to move into that gradually. But don’t ruin the church by not taking income from them even though you are bivocational.

The absolute necessity on support staff- almost always unpaid- to pick up the slack for the pastor.

The need for effective time management skills that don’t overlook the family and the need for ‘time off’ of both jobs.

Focus on the Family Survey As part of the survey, bi-vocational pastors were asked if they had any words of advice for other current and future bi-vocational pastors. They were more than happy to share some of their accumulated wisdom to help others considering bi-vocational ministry.

The following are their suggestions:

Answer the call — Many pastors emphasized the fact that bi-vocational ministry is as significant and valid a "call" as full-time ministry. Your motivation for entering such a ministry shouldn't be the need for more money or the inability to get a full-time job.

Select a flexible job — Being a serious bi-vocational pastor requires that you be able to take time off from work on your other job. One pastor stated, "Choose a vocational experience that gives flexibility to conduct funerals and respond to emergencies."

Prioritize — "Decide what are the high priority tasks." Pastoring with limited time and energy means you must identify the greatest needs of the congregation and minister to those. Focus on what is most important, or else you may end up having two full-time jobs.

Encourage lay leaders — You will not be able to handle all the problems of the church, so expect and encourage each "layman [to] take more responsibility for routine church ministry (phone calls, etc.)." If you are willing to train people, you will generally find that people are willing to help out.

Schedule family time — Do not neglect your family. Be intentional about setting aside special time for them. One experienced pastor said, "I had to learn as a young minister to give more priority to my family." Many pastors admitted that their families suffered the most from them having two jobs.

Fellowship with other clergy — Many times, bi-vocational pastors feel that they are "out of the loop" with full-time pastors. Full-time pastors often aren't aware of the need to reach out to you, so you should to take the initiative to get to know them. Also, ask your church body to schedule meetings at times that would be good for you as well as the full-time pastors.

The best advice that the majority of those already in bi-vocational ministry have to offer those considering it: (1) Think carefully about how the decision will impact you and your family, (2) consider the cost, (3) find support and(4) answer His call.