Both of our Pastors are bi-vocational -- that is, they work outside jobs to support their families, freeing up church resources for ministry.
- Pastor Javier is the Dean of the Seminario Theologico de Baja California in Tecate, México.
- Pastor Steve is a freelance web developer and public relations consultant for companies throughout San Diego.
While bi-vocational ministry has been common from the earliest days of the Christian church (even Paul the Apostle did a stint as a tent maker -- see Acts chapter 18), most people wonder how it works. How do the pastors balance work and ministry?
While there are no easy answers, we interviewed Pastor Steve Babbitt for some insight.
Interview with a bi-vocational pastor ...
"Being bivocational comes with some immense challenges," says Babbitt. "I know that I would love to be able to work full-time in ministry. But the financial reality of working at an urban renewal church in a low socio-economic community means that we all need outside jobs to feed our families. The church simply can't afford to hire full-time staff to oversee all of the ministries we'd like to run."
So what are the pros and cons? Again, Babbitt answers:
"I'm speaking for myself, but I think we need to be clear right up front: bivocational ministry is not the ideal. The downside is obvious -- bivocational ministers experience more day-to-day stress and have less time to devote to being 'pastoral'. This can be a serious problem if you aren't able to deal with stress constructively and don't know how to draw boundaries around your personal life. The stresses of a career are one thing. Add to that the stresses of pastoring a congregation, and you have a pretty heavy load to carry. It makes for a very busy existence. You have to learn balance well or it can seriously harm you and your family. On the other hand, you can also tip the other way and short-change the church by not being available enough, which, in my opinion is robbing from God."
"But the upshot of bi-vocational ministry is very real -- and may be worth considering for some pastors. First, the church has more financial flexibility to invest in ministries that directly impact its mission. Let's face it -- like any company, the biggest expense most churches have is staff, and most churches struggle even to pay their pastors a salary that is barely above poverty level. If a pastor can properly balance secular work and ministry, they can free the church form the collective anxiety it feels about spending on ministries like emergency food programs, outreach activities, children's ministries -- you name it."
"The second benefit of bivocational ministry is that pastors are more self-sufficient -- and therefore less dependent on the local church for financial stability. That has a number of benefits both for the pastor as well as the church. The pastors enjoy the potential of earning a real-world salary that is probably better than most churches could afford. In my situation, for example, my wife and I are able to own a home, save for retirement and an occasional vacation in addition to putting food on the table. For us in particular, it is very important that we have good insurance because we have a son with very expensive special medical needs. Fortunately, my wife's teaching job provides her with good insurance, but, in theory, I could do better with insurance at a job outside the church than within. I know many, many pastors who aren't even able to do these basic things because they are working for churches that can't really afford a full-time minister."
"In a more subtle way, however, the church benefits from having a bivocational minister because the pastor is more free to speak the truth in board meetings and in the pulpit -- that is, we don't have to be afraid of losing our jobs if we teach something that may be unpopular with our board but is clearly true to scripture. It sounds far-fetched, but you'd be surprised how many pastors are afraid of offending their congregations for fear of losing their jobs."
"Finally, I think the most enduring benefit of being bivocational is that it helps pastors relate to the congregation in a way that being in full-time ministry could never do. Until I work in an office with a hard boss, until I know what being laid off looks like, until I know what it is to have a deadline, until I know what a bad day at the office feels like, I really can't relate to my congregation where the members experience these things every day. Being bi-vocational puts you on a whole different plane with your congregation -- and this affects everything from your preaching to your hospital visits to your prayers. Of all of the benefits of being bi-vocational, this one is the most significant, I think."
In conclusion, Babbitt says, "It is an on-again, off-again thing for a lot of us. I have been bivocational for the majority of my years in ministry. I have been in full-time ministry at various times when the economics worked out. There is nothing like being full-time in ministry: you can devote yourself fully to what you feel you were made to do, called to do -- and not worry about the day-to-day problems of another job. While I don't regret being bivocational, I also recognize that it is not for everyone and every situation. I am thankful to God for the insights I have gained by being bivocational, and I am honored to be able to serve alongside many other wonderful, powerful bivocational pastors."
As economic realities influence churches, more and more of them are considering the option of employing bivocational pastors. While, as Babbitt says, "It isn't the ideal," it has its advantages and may be worth considering. If you would like to discuss this with Pastor Babbitt, he may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
