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Bi-Vocational Ministry

Bi-vocationalism is an economic tool in the Ministry of Reconciliation. The back-drop to the ministry has always been the poor and the needy, though others are also ministered to in the process. To minister consistently to the poor and needy, is nothing like targeting middle-class America. Why? Because the poor and the needy can’t afford to pay you for your services to them. In order to accomplish this, we must self-sacrificially put ourselves in a position to incarnately minister to them. Bi-vocationalism is the answer to this.

To be bi-vocational is to have two vocations. The first is the Ministry of Reconciliation which is made up of developing acts of kindness and articulating the truth. And the second is working with our hands to generate income to care for those around us, both our families and those in need, through developing acts of kindness. Bi-vocationalism is a readiness, a willingness and a commitment to stay put where God has assigned, no matter what the economic picture. It’s a readiness in the sense that the minister is trained to be able to function within the pressures of trying to carry out the ministry and generate income at the same time. It’s a willingness in the sense of the preparation of one’s attitude to give the gift of one’s life over a long-term to those who need them. And it’s a commitment based on the clarity of God assigning them to a specific people, region and task.

Bi-vocationalism is a model that anyone can follow, which can’t be said of the executive model of ministry. People working at home, in the workplace or at school can all adapt themselves to full-time ministry. Since we are all called to the Common Ministry, then we must have a model that can embrace any and all, bi-vocationalism can. There are other positive implications, such as providing a check and balance for the minister to guard against greed, or as Jesus said concerning whether one is a hireling or a shepherd? It gives freedom from church politics that are inarticulately based on finances. It gives the minister credibility in the work-a-day world. It also puts us in pace with everyone in the cycles of exhaustion. And very appropriately it gives us a place of self-sacrifice.

Having a part-time job is not necessarily being bi-vocational. There are those who grudgingly work on the side, hoping to put in their time so as to move up to a salaried position. Who speak of the days when they had to work to make ends meet. That isn’t bi-vocational. And there are those who are fully-supported, yet are bi-vocational. Why? Because they are ready, willing and able to remain where they’ve been assigned even if the economic climate changes. Training, perseverance and deliberate self-sacrifice are all part and parcel of the bi-vocational, a gift given with joy to those who need us.