If people who are not paid to be Christian teachers or leaders - but who have gifts in teaching or leading - are going to exercise their gifts, they will need to be independently wealthy or get their income elsewhere. To gain an income from a paying job and also do regular teaching or leading in a gathering of believers is to be bivocational. There is a long history of bivocational ministry in the church. The Apostle Paul was one of the first in the early New Testament church. His day job was making tents. Today, many pastors of small churches have another job to help support themselves and perhaps a family.
I have been bivocational for about ten years. It started when I was the chair of the elders for a year in my church. During that year there was a church crisis that required a significant amount of my time. Although it was a challenge, I learned how to attend to two major roles without being irresponsible in either. Fortunately that level of activity only lasted a year. When I rotated out of the position, I stayed involved in church leadership, but at a more manageable level. Even so, I carried the title of pastor (albeit volunteer and part-time) for several years. In that role, and over a five year period, I shaped how church related to other cultures, both internationally and locally. I also started a non-profit organization, Africa Rising, that supports the work of African social entrepreneurs. Today, that is the biggest part of my non-day-job work. (In case someone reading this doesn't know me, in my day job, I am a professor at the University of North Carolina.)
A few things I've learned about being bivocational: (1) It helps if both jobs are of real interest to you. It is much harder when one of them doesn't also give as much emotional energy as it takes. (2) If you are married, your spouse must believe in what you are doing. (3) I have been able to do what I do because I have physical and mental health, a good marriage, healthy and well adjusted children, and a good day job. (4) I don't watch TV, not even on the computer. I know that I am missing some really entertaining shows. But what I gain in having a significant impact on the lives of others is incomparable. (5) I strategically place meetings and other tasks in the margins of my days. For a while, I had lots of early breakfast meetings on weekdays, before I started my day job. Now, with a new job, I meet with people over lunch, or a glass of wine at the end of the day. Then I aim to accomplish just one thing each evening. It could be writing a blog entry or answering a number of emails. I say "just one thing" because thats all I have time for after spending time with my family, washing the dishes, helping with homework, or whatever.
Now on that note, I'm going to go for a walk in the woods with our dog on this pretty Sunday morning.
I have been bivocational for about ten years. It started when I was the chair of the elders for a year in my church. During that year there was a church crisis that required a significant amount of my time. Although it was a challenge, I learned how to attend to two major roles without being irresponsible in either. Fortunately that level of activity only lasted a year. When I rotated out of the position, I stayed involved in church leadership, but at a more manageable level. Even so, I carried the title of pastor (albeit volunteer and part-time) for several years. In that role, and over a five year period, I shaped how church related to other cultures, both internationally and locally. I also started a non-profit organization, Africa Rising, that supports the work of African social entrepreneurs. Today, that is the biggest part of my non-day-job work. (In case someone reading this doesn't know me, in my day job, I am a professor at the University of North Carolina.)
A few things I've learned about being bivocational: (1) It helps if both jobs are of real interest to you. It is much harder when one of them doesn't also give as much emotional energy as it takes. (2) If you are married, your spouse must believe in what you are doing. (3) I have been able to do what I do because I have physical and mental health, a good marriage, healthy and well adjusted children, and a good day job. (4) I don't watch TV, not even on the computer. I know that I am missing some really entertaining shows. But what I gain in having a significant impact on the lives of others is incomparable. (5) I strategically place meetings and other tasks in the margins of my days. For a while, I had lots of early breakfast meetings on weekdays, before I started my day job. Now, with a new job, I meet with people over lunch, or a glass of wine at the end of the day. Then I aim to accomplish just one thing each evening. It could be writing a blog entry or answering a number of emails. I say "just one thing" because thats all I have time for after spending time with my family, washing the dishes, helping with homework, or whatever.
Now on that note, I'm going to go for a walk in the woods with our dog on this pretty Sunday morning.
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