How can denominations resource their bivocational pastors?

A few years ago I was invited to lead my "Healthy Small Church" seminar to a gathering of bivocational ministers in a United Methodist district. This district had over 100 bivocational ministers who turned out for the event. The following year this district asked some of their pastors to serve as coaches for these bivocational ministers and invited me back to train them on bivocational ministry and coaching techniques. I thought that was a great way for a judicatory to assist their bivocational ministers.

My DMin thesis was "Coaching Bivocational Ministers for Greater Ministerial Effectiveness." The last report I received indicated that thesis has been downloaded over 2,600 times. That thesis later became the basis for my latest book The Art and Practice of Bivocational Ministry: A Pastor's Guide.

For my thesis I coached six bivocational ministers for three months to see if that would assist them with some of the issues they were facing. As in all coaching, the person being coached chose the topic he or she wanted to address during the session. In addition to the six chosen to participate in the exercise I added four additional bivocational ministers I had coached previously to the book. Each of these individuals reported the coaching helped them resolve some of the issues we addressed.

One reason coaching bivocational ministers can be effective is because of their schedules. To insist on a face to face meeting can be very difficult. However, coaching can work just as well on the phone as in person. For the project I was coaching pastors in various places in the country and one in Canada. I think only two of the ten in the book were coached in person. The other eight were done over the phone.

Another reason coaching can be helpful is that the person being coached identifies the issue he or she wants to address at that time. That way you know you are dealing with the most pressing issue the minister is facing.

A third reason coaching can be helpful is that good coaching always demands accountability. At the end of each coaching session the person being coached identifies steps he or she is willing to take towards resolving the issue before the next coaching session. At the start of the next session the coach determines if the assignment was completed and the results of that. Coaching that does not lead to action steps is not good coaching.

A fourth reason this can be a good tool for the judicatory or denomination is that the coach can deal with a lot of people in a short period of time. The coach doesn't have to drive some distance to each person. It's possible to coach several people in one day on the phone where if you had to drive to a meeting with each person you might only be able to meet with 2-3 people.

Denominational leaders should look at coaching as a way to resource their bivocational ministers. It's been proven to add value to their lives and ministries.

If you are a bivocational minister who would like a coach, feel free to private message me. I would love to talk to you about the possibilities.