Surviving and Thriving as a Bivocational Pastor
Bivocational ministry is a reality for many rural churches. We asked Rob Scothern of Peak Trinity church to share the lessons he’s learned in bivocational rural ministry.
Here’s what he has to say:
Peak Trinity Church will be five years old in October 2023. We gather each Sunday in Bakewell. It's a beautiful but spiritually barren market town of around 4,000 people.
When we planted with a handful of people, we were persuaded that I should be bivocational. That meant I generated my income partly or totally from other employment. So, before and after we planted, I taught in schools for up to 4 days each week.
Why go bivocational?
There were a few reasons for our bivocational vision:
Firstly, the necessity. Our plant was dependent on external donations for 90% of our operational budget. We couldn't afford to employ me full-time.
Secondly, we wanted to be pragmatic. If the pastor was part-funded, more financial resources could be directed elsewhere (e.g. missional partners, building hire, discipleship, social projects and evangelism).
Thirdly, we believed this vision had a biblical premise (e.g. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
Finally, we saw the need to raise leaders for rural planting and revitalisation. We believed Peak Trinity’s adoption of a bivocational approach might catalyse similar efforts in rural GB.
Advice?
My friend Tim Wison asked, “What advice would you give to someone in bivocational ministry?” Here’s my answer:
1. Enjoy grace.
Being bivocational is hard work. The foundation for your ministry must be the finished work of Jesus. Only from a posture of rest in Christ will you (and your family) experience the joy of serving the Lord.
I know, only too well, how the temptation to prove yourself will suck out your joy like a Harry Potter Dementor.
2. Embrace your limitations.
It’s tempting for small rural churches to try and behave like huge urban machines. Friend, you're limited in what you can do. Prayerfully seek contentment.
I used to dream about what ministry would be like when we had x, y or z (usually individuals or families). I think it was Bonhoeffer who said our God has laid the only foundation of our fellowship by binding us together in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we should enter without demands and be thankful recipients of what we have today. Brothers and sisters, enjoy your church today with all its limitations.
Also in light of our limitations, less is more. God gave you a pattern of regular rest and to neglect this is foolish pride.
3. Do not neglect your family.
I often felt like I was robbing time from church, my employer and my family. Praise God there was no lasting damage.
I justified this neglect of my family as "being a season" where it was a necessity for all aspects of my life to flex. In hindsight, I demonstrated a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty and poor time management.
I believe those in ministry should be lovingly held to account for our time management and how we invest in our own family. A healthy household is vital for your ministry, the health of your church and your joy. Perhaps it is time for an audit?
4. Honour your other employer.
For a long time, I taught Maths in local schools. It was a good option because it paid well. The downside was it was very difficult to compartmentalise my week. Perhaps you are wondering what job you should do as someone who is bivocational. There is no easy option. You should expect to work hard and for your labour to be thorny!
Whatever your bivocational role, you must work as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). Remember at work you are a witness to your Lord. You must embrace this role as being of equal importance to your paid ministry role.
I remember the challenge of John Tindall at an FIEC Hub conference. He reminded us every Christian is called to full-time gospel ministry, but only some are called to paid full-time gospel ministry. You must model the vital importance of secular front-line ministry to your church.
5. People and prayer - not programmes.
One of the hardest questions (which exposes my sinful leanings) is this: “What are you doing this week?”
When someone asks this, I am tempted to redefine my week right there and then to sound more impressive. It sounds more impressive to say you are evangelising at the Farmer’s Market, rather than reading a book or chatting and praying with a brother.
As tempting as it is, you must resist the desire to impress others with the content of your week. I believe that the Lord would have you prioritise people and prayer.
6. Allow others to speak into your schedule.
It may help if you submit your weekly plans to your elders, church and your family. I wish that someone had encouraged me in the early days not to use my one dedicated church day in the way that I was.
I love Paul Tripp’s emphasis on leadership communities rather than individual leaders. A community can help you manage your time in a healthy, sustainable and effective way. You and I have blind spots and will say yes to things for the wrong reasons. When you say yes to something, you are also saying no to something else (perhaps to your family, your church or your other employer).
Be accountable and transparent. Invite and submit your schedule to the opinion of wise brothers and sisters. Resist doing this just for their approval (see #5 above).
7. You are not Jesus…. Or even Tim Keller.
We watch and listen to our favourite preachers (mine are Alistair Begg and Tim Keller). We often believe these sermons are the normal levels we are to attain week after week. Unrealistic expectations will crush you and suck out the joy from your ministry.
Christ chose you to minister to your rural family; not Keller or Begg. Preach the gospel to his flock within your time constraints and according to your own gifting and personality.
I was once challenged in my weekly preaching prep to take the Sword of the Spirit and plunge it into my own heart first. Do this! Then, share with your church how your passage leads to repentance and faith in Christ. Show how you have been challenged and how your affections have been stirred for Jesus. The reality is you may not have the time that others have to read every commentary on your passage. Simply share the good news of Jesus with integrity and trust your king to give salvation and fruitful growth.
I am grateful to The Rural Project for providing tangible opportunities to externally process the challenges of rural ministry with faithful brothers and sisters in a similar context. Hopefully, I will get to see you at The Rural Project Bakewell conference on Saturday 30th September.
Involved in Rural Ministry?
We’d love you to join us at the 2023 Rural Project Conference! It takes place on Saturday 30th September 2023, 9:30-3:30pm. We’re excited to have John Hindley to speak for us. John is a rural pastor in Norfolk, author of Serving without Sinking and lecturer on Rural Ministry at Crosslands Seminary and London Seminary. To sign up click the link below:
Rob Scothern
Rob is pastor of Peak Trinity Church in Derbyshire, England. He is part of the Rural Project steering committee. He studied with Porterbrook Learning and Crosslands Seminary, is married to Claire, and has three children (Grace, Harry and Theo).