This is Bivocational Ministry
Bi-vocational ministry is an increasingly common way of doing life when someone says yes to a call to serve in a congregation that is smaller, newer, or unable to pay the a full living wage. In some of these places the job as pastor is entirely volunteer. Because being a spiritual leader is much more a calling than a job, often we see "pastor" as more of who we are, and the paying position outside the church almost as "fundraising" that enables us to continue doing what we feel compelled to out of obedience to God's call on our lives.
All of the pastors at my church, The Table, are bivocational. As I attempt to describe what they do, I hope I get this right...
Pastor Alicia does freelance online consulting. Some of you know this already, but Alicia and her husband are millennial winter visitors. They live in a renovated school bus (a schooly), so they go where the weather and the opportunities lead them, and the work she does then goes with her.
Pastor Trevor is a 911 operator and dispatcher for the police department. He deals calmly and kindly with people in some of their very worst moments.
Pastor Ryan just launched his own company, ryanalbaughcreative.com. He specializes in digital marketing, video, web design, photography, and graphic design. He is excellent at what he does. Definitely go check out his website or like and follow his Facebook page.
When I decided join the Table Church, I knew that I would need to make up for some of the change in our household income, while still leaving time to finish up my course of studies and stay involved in my kids' schools and activities in some way. So, I decided to give substitute teaching a try. It is by far the least boring job in the world.
The downsides of the whole bivocational thing seem pretty obvious. We wear a lot of hats. I know I sometimes have trouble figuring out which hat I need to wear when they all seem so important. Mom. Daughter. Wife. Teacher. Pastor. Student. Taking care of a home. Self care. Friendship. It can be a lot and it's impossible to do it all well all of the time. Some days I feel like I'm failing a little at all of them.
But there are many plus sides to bivocational ministry.
The skills we're acquiring on the field equip us and benefit the ministry. Ryan and Alicia's use of technology and systems they've learned to keep us efficient and up to date. Plus, in a home church network all of our "curb appeal" comes from our online presence. Most people scope us out there first, not only to find out when and where we meet but also to get a sense of whether we are the type of community they want to be a part of. I am so thankful for the stewardship of their gifts in these areas.
Trevor's experience with people in crisis has helped us so much as people we do or even don't know reach out to us for prayer or assistance. He has knowledge of resources he might not have without his job. He isn't easily shocked and can keep a calm head when others emotions get high.
And I feel like the job I've chosen compliments my calling perfectly. It gives me the freedom to prioritize ministry and family. I feel as though I'm doing a needed service that allows teachers to take their days off. Maybe even do some soul care. And I believe it puts me in touch with the community I live in more than I have ever been. In fact, the connections I have started making have given our church a direction for our yearly back-to-school supply drive, pairing up with a Title 1 school in the neighborhood of one of our home locations. We now know some of the best ways we can be a blessing.
The other benefits of bi-vocational pastors include freeing up would-be-paychecks to put towards missions, or give to those in need who are connected to our church. And, it brings us closer to "the priesthood of all believers" Luther taught about. It's become customary for congregants in western Christianity to see tithing and full-time paid staff pastors as an exchange of goods. Pastors provide church amenities and the consumers decide if they're "meeting their needs" and doing what they pay them to do. This isn't historically, or biblically, what the primary role of pastor looked like. Pastor literally means shepherd, and their job is to equip the saints for ministry. In a bivocational situation, we begin to turn this back around and attempt to restore some of that lost balance. This doesn't mean it always happens...we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and old habits die hard. A lot of us in this vocation have a tendency to want to control or micromange at times. But, "equipping" is the goal. To serve alongside and empower a whole community of those who serve.
I've learned a lot in the past four months. I have learned how to pivot from preaching to 100, to preaching in a living room (which in my opinion is actually a lot harder). I have learned which schools prepare well for subs and which do not. I have learned not to let the kids know that I'm new to this, or to assume the day will end as it started, for better or for worse. I have learned how to keep a very detailed calendar on my fridge and delegate tasks a little better. I still haven't gotten it all down. Sometimes I come home from a class of third graders and just need to be alone and watch a cheesy movie on Netflix in my room all by myself. Sometimes I have trouble staying awake during 8 p.m. zoom leadership team meetings. Or, I forget that I don't have an office with a copy machine or a store-room full of random craft supplies. But I love this little group I shepherd with. We can hold babies while we serve the eucharist. We can adapt to each other's changing work schedules. We can use what we're learning for the Kingdom. And I know that God has a plan here and he is equipping us even as we equip others.
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