Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 33

Five Cautions about Church Budgets for the Next Twelve Months

The call from the pastor was not that unusual. 

Indeed, it was a part of a pattern we’ve observed at Church Answers. 

“Hey Thom,” the pastor asked, “Are you seeing anything about church giving declining? We thought it was a temporary pause at our church, but giving is consistently down about five percent.” 

While we don’t have sufficient data to declare a definitive trend, we see reasons to urge church leaders to exercise caution before planning major budget increases in the months ahead. Here are five of those reasons: 

Economic uncertainty. Since the economic experts are not in agreement about the future of the economy, I certainly am not smart enough to make predictions. At the very least, the future state of the economy is uncertain. As a key indicator, inflation, though it has lowered from its peak, is still at a rate that could hold back economic growth. Declining attendance. There is a direct correlation between attendance and giving. Church attendance is significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels . If the trend continues, giving will follow suit.  Disappearing liquidity. In order to counter the severe financial effects of the pandemic, the government injected a lot of liquidity through payments to individuals and businesses. These subsidies are nearly exhausted, and the disposable income of church members has correspondingly diminished.  Polarization in churches. Church unity is one of the most important factors in the health of a church. And we know for certain that unity affects the giving of a church. A unified church is a church with a purpose. And a church with a purpose attracts greater generosity. Regrettably, many churches are experiencing internal division, which discourages generosity.  Facility surprises. Many churches have deferred maintenance issues, and many church leaders are surprised when the church is hit with a major facility cost. Numbers of congregations are in older buildings. Unfortunately, most of those congregations have not kept up with the maintenance needs of the facilities. The expense for major capital needs such as new roofs or HVAC systems is typically higher than expected. One former member of a church recently told me his church had to close its doors because they did not have the funds to make basic upgrades and repairs. 

One action a church can take right now is to prepare a contingency budget. For example, consider asking, “What changes would we make if we knew church giving would come in at five percent under the budgeted receipts?” Thinking through these scenarios in advance will help to ensure preparedness. 

What are you seeing in your church’s giving levels? We would love to hear from you.

 

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Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize

Over 80% of churchgoers predict a promising future for their churches. Is this figure what you would expect? Until I saw the research, I would not have guessed optimism was so high among churchgoers.

Where did this statistic originate? The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) conducted a national survey in August 2022 of almost 6,000 adults in the United States. They reported several findings, but the optimistic figure stood out to me.

45% of churchgoers are very optimistic about the future of their church.37% of churchgoers are somewhat optimistic about the future of their church.12% of churchgoers are somewhat pessimistic about the future of their church.4% of churchgoers are very pessimistic about the future of their church.2% did not provide an answer.

Amazingly, 82% of congregants have an optimistic perspective about their churches, while only 16% have a pessimistic outlook.

In addition to this optimism, 9 out of 10 churchgoers affirmed the following two statements.

“In conversations with my friends, I am proud to say that I am associated with my church.”“I am generally satisfied with the current leadership of my church.”

So, most churchgoers are optimistic about the future of their churches. They are proud to be associated with their churches. And they are generally satisfied with church leadership.

Is there a disconnect between church leadership and congregants? Are pastors inclined to be more negative? Solving problems is an essential leadership task, so church leaders are naturally more aware of challenges and shortcomings. Maybe the average congregant is blissfully unaware. But I think something more is happening. 

The positive view of a specific local church can be detached from an overall negative view of churches. There are many reasons to be concerned about the health of churches in North America. The overall picture does not look good. I believe churchgoers are aware of these problems, at least in part. But they remain hopeful about the local church to which they belong. The lesson here is simple. Progress can be made at your church. Complaining about every other church is not likely to help.

The loss of the periphery strengthened the core. Many churches lost people on the periphery over the last three years. Attendance figures dropped, and pastors worked to regain those who faded away. Most did not return. In response, those who stayed—the core—strengthened. I am not surprised a survey of the faithful produced positive results.

The preference is rising for smaller churches closer to home. Before the pandemic, only 10% of churchgoers were willing to drive more than thirty minutes to church. These drive times are likely shorter now. The reach of regional churches is beginning to pull back. People are considering smaller neighborhood churches in their communities. Smaller churches tend to be smaller targets for criticism. The largest churches tend to draw the most negative attention (whether deserved or not). As the megachurch movement begins to fade, so does some of the negativity.

The competition for attendance growth is diminishing. Average weekly worship attendance is still the metric of success and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. Churches should grow, but the pressure to be bigger and better than everyone else is fading. Thankfully, the stigma of being a smaller church is not nearly as intense as in the past. 

Optimism is a leading indicator of resilience. Therefore, be hopeful about the future of your church.

The Hope Initiative is a simple, reproducible, 30-day outreach strategy that helps turn a church outward and renew a leader’s hope. Church Answers spent a year developing this resource, and our testing has shown this strategy to be effective. We would love for you to join The Hope Initiative.

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This Book Changed My Life 10 Years Ago

It was ten years ago that I did something I had never done before. I turned a short blog post into a book. Much to my joy and surprise, the book became one of the bestsellers in its genre. It stayed at number one on the bestselling list for quite a while. 

Now, nearly two million book sales later, I look back and thank God for what He did. The little book was called I Am a Church Member. It continues to be widely used today. I have been blessed to hear from thousands of church leaders and church members that this book has changed their lives. I know it has changed mine.

The short blog post that became the impetus for the book had the same title. Today, on the 10th anniversary of the release of I Am a Church Member, I thank God for His blessings and for taking that book to move churches toward greater health and church members toward greater commitment. 

Here is the original blog post that began it all:

I am a church member.

I will seek to be a source of unity in the church. I know there are no perfect pastors, staff, or other church members. But neither am I. I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. One of the greatest contributions I can make is to do all I can in God’s power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.

I am a church member.  

I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. That is self-serving. I am in this church to serve others and to serve Christ. My Savior went to a cross for me. I can deal with any inconveniences and matters that are just not my preference or style.  

I am a church member.

I will pray for my pastor every day. His work is never-ending. His days are filled with constant demands for his time; with the need to prepare sermons; with those who are rejoicing in births; with those who are traveling through the valley of the shadow of death; with critics; with the hurts and hopes of others; and with the need to be a husband and a father. My pastor cannot serve our church in his own power. I will pray for God’s strength for him and his family every day.  

I am a church member.  

I like the metaphor of membership. It’s not membership as in a civic organization or a country club. It’s the kind of membership given to us in 1 Corinthians 12: “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part  of it” (I Corinthians 12:27). Because I am a member of the body of Christ, I must be a functioning member, whether I am an “eye,” an “ear,” or a “hand.” As a functioning member, I will give. I will serve. I will minister. I will evangelize. I will study. I will seek to be a blessing to others. I will remember that “if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” (1 Corinthians 12:26).  

I am a church member.  

I will lead my family to be good members of this church as well. We will pray together for our church. We will worship together in our church. We will serve together in our church. And we will ask Christ to help us fall deeper in love with this church, because He gave His life for her.  

I am a church member.  

This membership is a gift. When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ. I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized. And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church. I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others, and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.  

I am a church member.  

And I thank God that I am.

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The Top Ten Next Steps for New Church Members

Congratulations! You joined a church. Now what? While every church has a different procedure for church membership, there are some simple things you can do to honor God in your decision. These items apply to everyone.

First, read your Bible every day. A national research study revealed something remarkable. The number one way people grow spiritually is daily Bible reading, but only 35 percent of active churchgoers study their Bibles at least once a week. Ask anyone if they want to be healthier spiritually, and the likely answer is “yes.” This study proves reading your Bible is the best path to spiritual maturity. So the best next step is to open your Bible daily and read God’s Word.

Second, be active in weekly worship attendance. Another recent study showed that during the pandemic of 2020, the only group who improved in mental health were those who attended church weekly. While church attendance will not solve all your problems, the regular pattern and rhythm of being with the fellowship of the saints are good for your heart, mind, and soul.

Third, follow your church leadership. Most pastors and church leaders choose a life of sacrifice to serve others. They want to serve you! Blind loyalty is dangerous; only Jesus deserves unfettered commitment. But you should start with a posture of trust with your leadership.

Fourth, Encourage people around you. Encouragement is one of the most powerful and contagious forces in the church. The problem is discouragement is an even more powerful and infectious force. When you are an encourager, you can change the mood of just about everyone around you.  

Fifth, invite others to church. Believers have the responsibility to invite others into the body of Christ. But this responsibility is a joy. Seeing others light up as they find community is exciting and fulfilling.

Sixth, share Jesus with people in your life. Inviting other people to church shows you love the body of Christ. But you should also show your love of Jesus by sharing Him with others. I realize sharing your faith—often called evangelism—is a struggle for many believers. But it doesn’t have to be. Live out your joy in Christ, and others will ask you about it. When they do, tell them about your salvation experience.

Seventh, join a group. Your church will get bigger by getting smaller. People will stay and grow in a church if they are part of a group. It is hard to connect personally with others in a worship gathering. When you are involved in a small group, you build relationships in a way that is not possible through the worship experience.

Eighth, pray every day for the ministries of your church and your church leaders. A few church members often remind me about their daily prayers. One of the most encouraging things people say to me is, “I’m praying for you every day.” I’ll never forget one church member showing me his prayer journal. He made entries daily. My name was listed in every entry.

Ninth, start giving regularly. This commitment need not be controversial. If you believe in the mission of your church, then you should give to it. Weekly or monthly giving is one of the best ways to invest in eternity. Frankly, you don’t give to your church. You give to God through your church. God does not need your money, but He does want your heart. Matthew’s gospel makes it clear: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Where your money goes is where your heart goes.

Tenth, volunteer in a needed area of the church. Ask your church leaders about an area of need. Even if this area is not your preference or expertise, God will honor your desire to fill in a gap.

Church membership is an essential part of following Christ. Enjoy the fellowship of believers at your church. Commit to God’s mission with them. With your church, be an active agent for good in your community.

Pastors and church leaders, do you need help with your church membership class? Now you can get everything you need to lead with The Complete Membership Class Toolkit.

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4 Reasons Why It Matters that Church Leaders are Praying Leaders

I am convinced that prayer is the most difficult spiritual discipline to develop—even for church leaders. Prayer assumes that we live in dependence on God, and I fear many of us are less dependent than we might admit. Prayer is our recourse for a problem more than an expression of a relationship with God.

It really does matter, though, that church leaders are praying leaders. In my Church Answers/Tyndale book, The Potential and Power of Prayer, I list reasons why it matters. Here are my thoughts:¹

1. Praying leaders are best at casting a vision for prayer. We will be much more effective at casting a vision for prayer if we ourselves are praying with passion and persistence. Those we guide will be much more likely to follow our lead if they see not only our vision, but also our zeal for God and our desire to talk with Him. They will want what we have.

2. Leaders who pray can—and will—call others to pray with integrity. Leaders who pray well will not hesitate to call others to prayer. Because they practice what they preach, no one can accuse them of hypocrisy. They look forward to teaching texts that deal with prayer. They love telling stories of answered prayer in their lives. They also delight when church members ask them to pray because the members know they really do pray.

3. Leaders who pray often model and teach prayer by their own heartfelt, humble public prayers. Those who pray consistently in private will find public prayer that much easier. They love to talk to God, and the setting almost doesn’t matter. When they pray aloud, people listen. A sense of holiness and intimacy hangs in the air. Like eavesdroppers on a cherished spiritual moment between God and one of his children, we listen and learn.

4. Praying leaders show the work of God in their lives as He conforms them to His image. Jesus prayed in such a way that others wanted Him to teach them how to pray. He taught His disciples about prayer, and He took them away from the crowds to pray. Our role model for leading others, Jesus led from His knees—and we imitate Him when we do the same as God conforms us to His image. Our commitment to prayer is evidence that we are growing in the right direction under God’s grace. 

If you’re a church leader who wants to pray more, our Church Answers team hopes this resource will be helpful to you.

¹Chuck Lawless, The Potential and Power of Prayer: How to Unleash the Praying Church (Church Answers Resources) (pp. 93-95). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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Comparing Your Church’s Current Data to 2019

There is always a danger in basing an article on numbers. They can seem to be ultimate or penultimate goals when they should be neither.

Numbers, however, like a thermometer, can be a rough gauge of our current health. In that regard, looking at churches’ data can be a good exercise. Though the data is not determinative, it can be an indicator of health or the lack of health.

The largest group of data we have is from the Southern Baptist Convention (the survey instrument they use is called the “Annual Church Profile” or ACP). While that denomination may or may not be a good representation of your affiliation, it can at least give you a rough idea of national averages as a point of comparison. 

Using 2019 as a Base  

It can be instructive to use 2019 as a base since that year was the last pre-pandemic year. We really can’t use 2020 as a base, because most churches were closed during the year. And it can disguise the reality of the decline if we use either 2021 or 2022 as the base since most churches still had low attendance resulting from the pandemic.

The obvious bias of our numbers is that they represent one denominational group. The strength of using these numbers is that you have the data on over 40,000 churches.

How Are the Churches Doing Since 2019?

We chose to look at three key data points for these churches: worship attendance, small group attendance, and baptisms. The latter category, baptisms, go by other names depending on the group: conversions, professions of faith, and others. Worship attendance represents every person attending, including children. The worship averages should be non-duplicating, meaning it only counts each person one time. Small groups go by a variety of names like Sunday school, community groups, home groups, life groups, cell groups, and, of course, small groups.                                                                                      

How Is Your Church Doing Since 2019?

I would encourage you to do a similar exercise for your church. Use 2019 as a base, and compare it to either 2022 numbers or your current numbers in 2023. 

Again, this exercise is not one that lifts up numbers as the most important indicator of church health. But, at the very least, the numbers can give you a rough idea how your church is doing since the pandemic.

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There are No Solo Heroes in the Kingdom of God

When Lily came on one of our wilderness trips, she had been feeling isolated in her life of faith for a long time. She had been raised in a Christian community that cared more about performance as a Christian than her relationship with God. Scripture was quoted at her instead of read with her, and she often felt lectured by her leaders. Lily had followed God’s leading to come on a wilderness course so she could “figure out how to get her life together.”

One afternoon on the expedition, while struggling to climb a rocky slope, she slipped and scraped her leg. As she sat down to deal with her wound and her fear, another student came and sat with her. Another grabbed her pack to carry it up the slope in addition to their own. It was the first time Lily had found herself surrounded by others in her struggle. Previously, she had to face things alone, but this time someone else came alongside her to help and encourage her. That moment— that first taste of belonging—transformed her life.

None of us are meant to travel our journey alone.

Foundationally, discipleship is a community endeavor. You cannot disciple yourself. Literally, it takes two people! We are meant to come alongside others, and we are meant to accept help and let others lead us. Interdependence is fundamental to the life of faith. When an ordinary person answers the call to the adventure of discipleship, they discover people who are on the same journey (friends, allies, mentors) and connect with them.

There are no solo heroes in the Kingdom of God.

Often, we think of disciplemaking as some form of school or ministry preparation, recalling Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, or pastors who have discipled us. But when we reflect, we can usually think of others who have shaped our understanding of God or who modeled what it means to be a Christian in practical ways. I think of the elderly woman across the street who hosted a half-day VBS at her house for the neighborhood kids when I was growing up. She would quiz me about Bible stories while I ate her chocolate chip cookies. Or there’s the friend of mine who worked at the post office and always thought of himself as a missionary in his workplace. He was known for bringing people joy.

God intended all of us to be disciplemakers. We don’t have to make it complicated.

Spiritual transformation is challenging, but it is not complex. There is a King and his Kingdom, and we are created to fellowship there as brothers and sisters. We are students, apprentices, and practitioners of the ways of Jesus. We are obedient to what God is saying, and we respond with faith. We do all this with the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10; John 14:26; John 16:13). The process of transformation happens through learning and unlearning, relationship, and imitation, which is why we need others.

As disciplemakers, we walk in close relationship with those we disciple, but our relationship is not just a friendship. A guide can enjoy the company of those they are leading, but they must be more than friends. They also have to help equip others. As disciplemakers, we have a simple, God-given agenda—transformation. We hope, pray, contend, intercede, and intentionally guide the disciple to be more like Jesus. Formation, as evidenced by transformation, is the purpose of discipleship.

As a disciplemaker we must explore two questions:

How do formation and transformation happen in ourselves? How can we encourage these things in others?

Relationships are the key to authentic discipleship.

No longer are we disconnected strangers living in different houses. Instead, we are connected sojourners on an epic expedition together. It makes all the difference in the world. People grow in their relationship with God by observing and learning from those around them—those who are further on in their journey. We are increasingly transformed by being together.

Jessie Cruickshank holds a M.Ed. from Harvard in Mind, Brain, and Education. She is an ordained minister and a nationally recognized expert in disciplemaking and the neuroscience of transformation. She has spent two decades applying neuroeducation research to discipleship, ministry training, experiential education, and organization development. Jessie is respected globally as a missiological thought-leader and a church and denominational consultant and is the founder of Who-ology. Jessie lives and adventures with her family in Colorado.

 

This article is taken from Ordinary Discipleship: How God Wires Us for the Adventure of Transformation by Jessie Cruickshank ©2023. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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How to Check Back into Your Church Job If You Have Been Checked Out for a While

Tens of millions quit their jobs during the Great Resignation. Beginning in March 2021, most areas of the economy experienced a mass of people leaving their current places of employment and seeking other jobs and careers. Over two years, a large portion of workers considered career changes and geographic relocations. The hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors were hit especially hard.

Pastors and paid church staff were not immune from this phenomenon. As a result, a Great Reshuffling also occurred in religious institutions. Many staff moved to other congregations or reconfigured roles at their current churches.

The Great Reshuffling is ending. While quit rates are still historically high, they are falling. A recession later this year could quickly pull us back to normal levels.

As pastors and church leaders considered a move, they entered a holding pattern. When an airplane is waiting to land, the pilot will make a circular path in designated airspace until a runway is available. The plane is still moving. The pilot is still working. But a holding pattern is a short-term (and necessary) maneuver used while waiting.

Many planes have now landed. Pastors and church leaders still in holding patterns are making decisions and will land shortly.

What if you decide to stay at your current church?

I recently spoke with a pastor who has been in a holding pattern for two years. He applied for two other positions and was a finalist for both, but did not ultimately land the role. After much prayer and advice from his mentors, he believes God is telling him to stay. Though the holding pattern was longer than desired, the process helped solidify his calling.

“The last two years, I have intentionally not made big leadership decisions,” he told me. “Now it’s time to re-engage with a vision for the church.”

While he was not wholly checked out, the holding pattern affected how he led. I imagine some have checked out more than others during the last couple of years. Given what has occurred globally, I can understand why. Regardless of where you are on this scale, how can you check back into your role if you’ve decided to stay?

Gather energy from the tasks you enjoy. Leading while in a holding pattern can be exhausting. You expend energy on working at your current church and looking for a potential future church. Check back into your church by doing the tasks you enjoy for a few weeks. You will gather energy for the more challenging stuff that will inevitably come.

Rebuild your support network with informal meetings. Likely few, if any, congregants knew the details about your holding pattern. But more people than you realize probably felt it. As a result, your key supporters may feel a slight distance from you, even if you worked hard to stay connected. Check back into your church by rebuilding support among the core of the congregation. These meetings should be informal—lunches, impromptu talks, fun outings, and dinners in your home.

Focus on solving simple leadership problems that have much visibility. As you check back into your church, go after some low-hanging fruit. Repaint the hallway that looks terrible. Order the new chairs for adult classrooms. Replace the fading projection system. Solving simple, visible problems will help build momentum for tackling more complex issues in the coming months.

Assure the church with your actions and do not make public statements about your decision to stay. You may be tempted to vocalize your decision to stay. No public comments are necessary. Indeed, they are unwise. While your core leaders may have felt your holding pattern, many in the congregation are likely unaware of your inner struggle. Do the actions of commitment without making dramatic statements about your re-engagement. I can understand the desire to say, “I’m back!” But most congregants never knew you were gone.

Dig deeper into local friendships. People start to withdraw from friendships when they believe a move is coming. It’s a natural part of making a transition. Check back into your church by digging deeper into your best friendships.

The Great Reshuffling is slowing. If you have decided to land the plane at your current church and not a new church, now is the time to check back in.

 

At Church Answers Central , we cover a variety of topics and answer these kinds of questions every day. Church Answers Central is the world’s largest online community for practical ministry support. Get 24/7 answers to your church questions. Join a vibrant community of nearly 2,000 church leaders in a safe environment. Connect with top church health experts like Thom Rainer, Chuck Lawless, Sam Rainer, and others like you. Become a member today !

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Six Common Patterns in Toxic Churches That Fire Pastors

The title of this article might engender some visceral reactions. I get it. It is not a pleasant subject. For church members who have observed it taking place, it is a painful situation. For those pastors who have been fired, it is traumatic. It is traumatic for the pastor’s family as well.

Please read the title carefully. It is about toxic churches that fire pastors. Not all churches are toxic. There are occasions when the dismissal is warranted. This article is about dysfunctional churches firing pastors. 

I was prompted to write this article on such a sensitive subject after seeing an increase in the number of these dismissals. I wanted church members to understand what is taking place. And I am praying that some church members will speak up when these injustices take place. 

For certain, not all dismissals are alike. But when the toxic church dismisses a pastor, it is common for these six patterns to emerge.

1. There is a power and control issue behind the dismissal. Typically, the pastor has not bowed to the demands and preferences of a power group in the church. That power group is often serving on the specific boards or committees that can initiate a firing. At the very least, they have profound influences on those boards and committees.

2. Reasons for the firing are often not given to the congregation. While it might not be appropriate to give the details of the reasons behind the firing, there is rarely an occasion where silence is acceptable. For example, if the pastor has an affair with a church member, it is not always best to provide the sordid details since family members, including children, are innocent victims. But if the pastor had a moral failure, the church at least needs to know that general rationale for the dismissal.

3. The pastor is given a severance package in return for his silence. Don’t judge a pastor too harshly for this decision. It is not just about the money. Often, pastors don’t want their families exposed to a church fight that will not likely change the results. That issue leads to the next point. 

4. The pastor’s family is at least implicitly threatened if the pastor does not leave quietly. In several situations of which I have personal awareness, representatives of the power group let the pastor know that they “know things” about the pastor’s family, things that will be exposed if the pastor does not walk away quietly. Most pastors know that the “things” are lies, but they do not want to put their families through the false accusations. 

5. The power group demands that the pastor exit quickly. Many of the pastors do not get to say goodbye to the congregation. Those that do have that opportunity are warned sternly to say nothing negative. On some occasions, the pastors are escorted to their offices to get their belongings and leave. The emotional and psychological consequences on the pastors of such unjust actions can be massive. 

6. Most church members will not question or get involved in this injustice. They don’t want to rock the boat. They fear the power group. Their disposition is one of fear or avoidance. Often, the fired pastor is hurt more by the silence of the majority rather than the evil of the power group. But it is a sin to be silent when God has called us to speak. 

I pray that these travesties will diminish, but I see no sign that these injustices are declining. Pray for your pastor. Encourage your pastor. 

And have the courage to speak when injustices take place.

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The Disappearance of the 30-Something and 40-Something Pastor (Here’s Why)

We’re all getting older. Almost every demographic in the United States is having fewer children. Population growth is slowing, and immigration rates are not fast enough to keep up with the aging nation.

In 1970, the median age was 28. Half the population was older than 28, and half the population was younger than 28. This midpoint is now approaching 40. So we’ve shifted from a younger nation to a middle-aged nation.

The economic implications of this shift are enormous but beyond the scope of this brief article. However, what is of note to the church is the aging of pastors, which has occurred at an even faster rate.

We are witnessing the disappearance of the 30-something and 40-something pastor.

The age of a pastor has increased significantly. Now, there is nothing wrong with an older pastor. Pastors with decades of experience typically have the wisdom and perspective needed within an established church. The issue is not one of age. It’s the lack of younger pastors available to replace them that is the problem.

A typical pastor today is approaching retirement age. Frankly, there are not enough younger pastors to replace a large group of retiring Baby Boomer pastors.

The perspective of some churches with older, retiring pastors is exacerbating the problem. Once they begin to search for a pastor, they will look for an idealized version of a 30-something Baby Boomer pastor from a bygone era. Obviously, this pastor does not exist. The few candidates available will look and lead very differently. As a result, churches will struggle to fill positions as willing candidates get frustrated with search teams.

Bi-vocational models and co-vocational models are becoming more popular.

Not only is the median age of a pastor increasing, but the median size of a church is also decreasing. The response to this phenomenon is an increase in the number of pastors and staff who will not receive full-time compensation. A bi-vocational pastor serves at a church that cannot afford a full-time position. Co-vocational pastors serve churches in a mutually agreeable arrangement in which their positions are not full-time, even though funds are available.

What are the opportunities for bi-vocational and co-vocational positions?

A marketplace job puts you in the middle of culture on a regular basis.Bi-vocational and co-vocational church staff are less likely to get missionally stale in a holy huddle.The budgets of smaller churches are healthier with these positions.Work-from-home opportunities are making bi-vocational and co-vocational positions more attainable. Many pastors can now move to the communities where their churches are located.Both bi-vocational and co-vocational positions allow churches to expand staff when they don’t have the resources to pay full-time.Bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors have the potential to lead differently because their livelihoods are not completely dependent on their church pay.Both bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors have more transferable skills in the marketplace.

Pastors are getting older, and this trend will likely continue in the near term. However, there are opportunities for churches. The future can be bright with bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors.

 

For more information about the most recent research and current church trends, check out our resource Big Storms and Blue Oceans, which includes both an e-book and video content. 

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