Denominations and bivocational ministry

Next Wednesday a doctoral student will defend his dissertation on bivocational ministry. A few weeks ago he sent me a copy of his paper for my comments as he was preparing his oral defense. The paper is very good, and I've encouraged him to consider reworking it later into a book. I think it would be very helpful.

The focus of his paper is on ways denominations can better serve and resource their bivocational ministers. His focus is specifically on his own tribe, but what he writes has wide application to all denominational groups. As a bivocational minister himself he feels the pain of being isolated and misunderstood by many of his colleagues. He describes what many of us serving in bivocational roles have felt, and he challenges denominations to reconsider how they view their bivocational ministers.

His comments are not new. I've written widely on the problem as have many others. Denominations struggle to identify their bivocational ministers and the churches they serve which leads to those churches and ministers being largely under served. With the growing number of bivocational ministers across denominational lines, and the expected continual increase, it amazes me that more isn't being done to better serve those ministers and their churches.

The relative lack of denominational support means that many of these denominations are writing off a third to over one-half of their churches. They do not understand why these bivocational churches are not more involved in denominational life and mission, and they seem unable to correlate that lack of connection with their own lack of interest in better serving these churches.

This young man's dissertation offers specific ways denominations can come alongside their bivocational leaders and churches to build relationships and provide resources. I hope it will be widely read and applied.

In the meantime, a big shout out to all my fellow bivos. You remain my heroes. You're doing great work for the Kingdom of God, and whether anyone else recognizes that, He does!