Money. It’s one of those necessary discussions, and sometimes a major factor, in the decision to pursue one’s passion to plant a new church. I get a lot of e-mails from those that come across my Grace Church Planting Ministries website, who see the incredible need all around them and who are seriously engaged in thinking through the process. And that process always includes, “How will I make ends meet?”
Many prospective church planters express the frustration of feeling trapped in their present “full-time” ministry because, as they often put it, “I would get a secular job, but I don’t have any marketable skills!” Most of these men would even be willing to flip burgers at McDonalds or sell shoes at JCPenny, but they know it wouldn’t pay the bills or provide the medical benefits to which they have become accustomed in their present ministry position.
So, what can such men do? Is it possible to break loose from a settled pastorate or staff position and make the leap into church planting? Well, I believe it’s becoming more of a possibility every day, due to the explosion of chaplaincy positions throughout the United States. It’s absolutely amazing to see the proliferation of organizations that specialize in placing seminary-trained chaplains into high-profile corporations that welcome the advantages of having someone oversee the spiritual welfare of their employees.
When I recently realized this trend through surfing the net, I felt compelled to set up two Squidoo websites—The Chaplaincy Job Network and Bivocational Ministry: The Art of Tentmaking—to preserve my research and make it available to others. There are well over 500 vacancies right now, with openings in nearly every state, ranging from hospital chaplaincy to similar roles in the military, corporations, and hospice organizations.
So, why not invest that MDiv in a “day job” where you can help other people and actively share your faith? Imagine getting paid by a blue chip firm to circulate among their employees, building relationships and talking about Jesus and helping them through the daily stresses of life. In the process, you may receive a competitive salary and benefit package that will enable you to pursue your church planting dream with wild abandon!
Bill,
I’m glad to see other people having these same discussions. Since I’m in a seminary environment, it is difficult to discuss leadership without the pay issues being raised. Why? Because most people came to seminary with the idea that they would earn their living from a church organization. When you suggest other types of leadership (i.e. non-paid), the discussion is usually ended with a statement such as, “But, that’s how I’m going to earn my living.”
So, I’m glad that you and others are discussing this issue. I’m not sure that I’m excited about the prospect of seminary graduates running out to become chaplains. I’d prefer we look for employment in the retail, service, or education sector of the secular market. That way – even if we have to start at an entry level position – we begin to build skill sets that are more marketable than an MDiv.
-Alan
Thanks for the word of encouragement, Alan.
When we buy into the whole “ministry as a career” idea, complete with a pension plan, we often exchange job security for integrity and become people-pleasers in the process. It has lots of other implications as well.
But if you’re fifteen years into the traditional pastoral ministry scene—complete with a Bible college undergrad degree and the prestigous MDiv (or even better, a DMin/PhD) with virtually no marketable skills, then what do you do if you feel God is leading you to become a church planter? That’s who this post is really aimed at: the guy with three children approaching their teens, a wife who either cannot or does not want to work outside the home, and all he’s got is ministerial degrees behind his name. I say, put those degrees to work in a chaplaincy role!
Not everyone is young enough to start at the bottom and work their way up the secular career ladder like most seminary grads. But like you said, not many of them are really going to do that anyway. They already have their sights set on the pastoral ministry meal ticket.
I am in the process of leaving full-time paid vocational ministry – not because I’ve been pushed out, or burned out, but because I want to. My Reformed theology has finally caught up with me, and, married with a fairly radical ecclesiology, has led to this decision.
I have no other professional training to fall back on. I have been asking two questions: How can I put bread on the table for my family next year, and beyond that, what things has God put into me as a person that might correspond to a job/career of some sort? I still anticipate being involved in teaching and leading, but this will take a radical new shape for us.
There was a deliberate decision to not use my theological training to get a job. This is just a personal decision, not a moral judgement on others, but I wanted to get totally outside the bubble, and outside of how many people view the ordained (priests).
Moving into next year, I never expected to be able to do anything other than shift dirt or lay bricks. But my wife and I were told that, despite my lack of any other training and limited experience, there was so much that could be done with who I am as a person, and what ministry has taught me. I was stunned. And as it happens, I’m now expecting to begin work with a horticultural company as an account manager – which involves very little admin, but lots of work with clients, asking questions, listening well, and ascertaining needs.
And I’m excited. The Lord is good.
Adriaan,
I’ve been wondering about your situation. I am glad to hear that you are moving in a direction that will give you greater liberty. I pray that God will bless you in huge ways and that he will give you significant opportunity to serve according to your freedom. You’ve been a blessing to me.
Bill – stimulating post, as usual. Your blog continues to draw me in day after day. I know I don’t comment much, but your zeal continues to impress me. This conversation with brothers and sisters who love the Scriptures and the Reformed faith and who long for greater richness continues to feed and encourage me. Thank you.
Rob – thanks for the note. I was thinking of you this morning (Sydney time) when I wrote it. The Lord has brought us into the most amazing conversation over the last year or so. I’ve had some good dialogue with Mark Strom in NZ, who kindly shared some of his friends in Sydney with me. Getting to know them has been life-changing – literally.
He and Rikk Watts are probably still the guys who’ve pushed me hardest in terms of biblical theology and ecclesiology / missiology. Several essays from Gordon Fee’s “Listening to the Spirit in the Text” were also very helpful. A lot of time in the NT has also helped!
Cara and I watched our way through Strom’s Wineskin Talks DVD’s on “Text, Soul and Culture”. Amazing. A lovely complement to his book ‘Reframing Paul’. So worth the money! You see him do the hard work in the biblical text in ‘Reframing Paul’, and then you see him apply that to life in the DVD’s. Fabulous.
I do hope you and Bill and others get a chance to interact with his stuff one day. Here’s a link to some (poor audio quality) talks he did at Westminster Theol Seminary earlier this year (scroll down for links):
http://connversation.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/an-evening-with-mark-strom-at-wts/#more-74
Bless you, brothers! Semper Reformanda!