So, to clarify, bi-vocational just means you have another job aside from being a pastor, right? But otherwise, this sounds like the model of most churches: train people in discipleship so they can go and do ministry God is calling them to. Can you say more about the covenantal piece? Is it til death do us part? Because if it’s not I’m just not understanding how this is different than how most pastoral roles function (full or part time).
1) By bi-vocational, I mean working a professional full-time job and investing the time outside that profession in substantial, sacrificial and focused ministry efforts. Especially those normally held by paid professionals.
Most churches have some aspect where some team members are serving as described above. The key idea is to normalize it for everyone in the Church.
2) I know this isn't exactly what you mean, but I think it is an important note:
Technically, in the covenant family, not even death will separate us. The bonds formed through Christ carry to eternity, surpassing even marriage bonds.
Christians ought to allow this eternal reality to frame how we work together in our local churches and call us to a much higher degree of long-term commitment.
However, most pastoral roles, in North America at least, are contractual at their core: spiritual services are provided for an agreed-upon remuneration.
I am not suggesting that pastors cannot be paid or that they do not genuinely love their people. I'm just emphasizing that the foundation of the relationship is not covenantal.
In general, a contract is all about mutual benefit, whereas a covenantal relationship is about shared mission, even without any personal or reciprocal benefit.
So, to clarify, bi-vocational just means you have another job aside from being a pastor, right? But otherwise, this sounds like the model of most churches: train people in discipleship so they can go and do ministry God is calling them to. Can you say more about the covenantal piece? Is it til death do us part? Because if it’s not I’m just not understanding how this is different than how most pastoral roles function (full or part time).
Great questions!
1) By bi-vocational, I mean working a professional full-time job and investing the time outside that profession in substantial, sacrificial and focused ministry efforts. Especially those normally held by paid professionals.
Most churches have some aspect where some team members are serving as described above. The key idea is to normalize it for everyone in the Church.
2) I know this isn't exactly what you mean, but I think it is an important note:
Technically, in the covenant family, not even death will separate us. The bonds formed through Christ carry to eternity, surpassing even marriage bonds.
Christians ought to allow this eternal reality to frame how we work together in our local churches and call us to a much higher degree of long-term commitment.
However, most pastoral roles, in North America at least, are contractual at their core: spiritual services are provided for an agreed-upon remuneration.
I am not suggesting that pastors cannot be paid or that they do not genuinely love their people. I'm just emphasizing that the foundation of the relationship is not covenantal.
In general, a contract is all about mutual benefit, whereas a covenantal relationship is about shared mission, even without any personal or reciprocal benefit.
Does that help?