A bi-vocational status in ministry isn't for everyone, but it's also not a far-shot for everyone. In many cultures, it sometimes feels off to have a pastor, minister or church leader who serves the church on a vocational basis and garners income off other means too - a business, some book publishings, part-time or full-time employment.
I've been keeping a bi-vocational status as a church leader for about three years now, working as the administrator for communications and discipleship for church whilst doing freelance writing, team building services and leadership development talks on the side. In the relatively short time that I switched from being fully on board in ministry to maintaining two congruent yet separate sides to my career, there have been obvious improvements.
Being a bi-vocational church worker can have its disadvantages like longer working hours, less schedule flexibility and so on, but when leaders can make them work, there can be some great benefits too. Here are just five of the major benefits a bi-vocational pastor and their church can benefit from the situation.
It lessens the financial burden of both the church and minister. Some pastors opt for pay-cuts to keep bi-vocational status and this allows churches to allocate more funds to other things such as discipleship activities, missions, charity work, facilities or additional staff. On the other side of the coin, a pastor is given by God a new channel of provision.
Bi-vocational practice gives more insight to ministers. The corporate world can be a large source of knowledge which can be beneficial for ministry. Pastors and church leaders who lead in the marketplace gain valuable insights into human resource management, leadership, finance, organisational systems and behaviour and so on that can help advance the gospel through better church practices.
Pastors get a foot into the world outside ministry. If you've ever had a church member tell you, "Well Pastor so-and-so can't really give me good advice on my business because he or she has never had one," bi-vocational pastors can gain more credibility by exemplifying proper business practices, integrity, resilience and trusting in God.
It can give ministers an extra avenue to minister. A marketplace job can be just as much of a ministry as church, and bi-vocational pastors have the privilege to have a foot on both ends of the spectrum. Imagine what a pastor who also practices medicine could do in terms of ministering to the sick and unhealthy or how a pastor who writes books commercially could spread the gospel more through his or her writing.
A bi-vocational status can encourage others to consider entering ministry. When the pastor can keep a business, corporate job or free agent status and still effectively build the kingdom of God through His grace, it sets a wonderful example for church members to be empowered to minister as well even if they are not pastors themselves.
