The Tentmaker's Toolbox: Caring for Bivocational Leaders
By John Brummitt
Do a Google search, and you quickly learn “tentmaker” doesn’t mean today what it did in the first-century days of the Apostle Paul. Today, a “tentmaker” is a person employed in a job, either part-time or full-time, to supplement his income while also serving a church. You are more likely to hear these pastors described as “bivocational.”
Paul was a tentmaker…literally. Paul was likely trained in the tentmaking trade from his youth. And a call to the ministry did not mean he forgot his training. Instead of abandoning his profession, he wove (literally and figuratively) his skills into what he was called to do. Tentmaking became part of his ministry. His ministry was his primary focus, but his trade was how he fed and clothed himself.
While he probably wasn’t the owner/operator of a traveling tent shop, Paul made tents or was at least skilled in the trade, as described in Acts 18. As a skilled laborer, he worked wherever he went to help make ends meet and to fund his ministry. Paul used these skills to fulfill the opportunities to which God had called him. His trade became a tool in his ministry.
These days, a secular job sometimes takes center stage for the bivocational pastor, reducing the ministry to “a side gig.” The reality of providing for a family puts stress on this careful balance of livelihood and ministry. Providing for our families is an important and God-given priority, and churches have a responsibility to make sure the pastor’s needs are met.
How do tentmakers balance ministry responsibilities while also taking care of family? It’s hard! Often, bivocational pastors are less likely to relocate for a ministry opportunity beyond the area where their “permanent” job is located. So, how does a church identify and appeal to this pastor? Here are three “tools” for your “tentmaker’s toolbox.”
Help him find a job. When a church calls the pastor, it should provide outside employment opportunities to help him make the move. Often, a church focuses solely on the pastoral aspect, overlooking the employment side. As a church, consider what it would take for a pastor to come and lead your church. If the cost of living in your area is greater than what your church can afford, what options will allow a pastor to come to your church? Will you and other members of your church lay the groundwork for his outside employment?
Some vocations translate easily into different areas of the country; others do not. Churches and pastors can take advantage of the uptick in remote work, which opens opportunities beyond the immediate area. Also, help the pastor make important personal connections with business leaders in the area. As a congregation, meet to brainstorm about local businesses and business owners seeking a trustworthy employee. Perhaps greet your new pastor with several job opportunities that match his natural skill and training.
Finances are a big deciding factor when it comes to the ministry. While finances should never be the main thing, paying the bills is a big responsibility. Caring for our pastors and looking for opportunities to help them make ends meet — to feed their families and themselves — opens new possibilities for churches to connect with the pastor God has for them.
Be realistic. For a bivocational pastor to be successful, the church must ensure the pastor has sufficient time for his work as a tentmaker. It is essential to set realistic goals regarding scheduling and responsibilities. Pastors are not superhuman. We cannot expect them to always be everywhere. If he works a secular job during the week, be realistic. If you are tired from your own job by Wednesday night, the chances of your pastor being tired are also high. Agreeing upon realistic expectations and job responsibilities will improve the relationship between the church and the pastor.
If scheduling is unrealistic, burnout is likely. Many bivocational pastors have short tenures because they simply cannot work two full-time jobs. As a congregation, help your pastor carry the load. Make sure he isn’t overloading his plate. Adjust the congregational mindset to become more involved in the work of ministry and not rely solely on the pastor. Not only will this strengthen the church, but it will also allow your pastor to balance his own schedule.
Support his family. Family time is a struggle for anyone who works two jobs for any length of time. After all, each day only has 24 hours! So, prioritize family time for your pastor. Care for him in a way that allows him to care for his family. If you can’t provide financially, find other ways to support him. Check in on him weekly or monthly to ensure he has quality family time with his wife and kids. Watch the kids to create occasional date nights for him and his wife. Volunteer to make the necessary hospital and homebound visits, and get involved in outreach. Help him carry out the hard work of ministry and thereby provide him some space for his personal life.
Paul was single, so balancing ministry and family time was not in the equation for his ministry. While he did have sons in the faith, it wasn’t the same as meeting the needs of his family. Caring for the pastor’s family will go a long way in keeping his ministry and spiritual health strong for years to come. In addition, supporting your pastor’s family helps keep the minister’s children from becoming bitter toward the church.
Working with a tentmaker pastor could be the best thing for your local congregation. It takes a special calling to be bivocational, but when lay leaders and the congregation share the load of ministry, this approach can be sustainable. Paul had a team of helpers with him every step of the way. Good lay leaders can provide a massive boost by supporting and watching out for these hardworking shepherds God has provided.
About the Writer: John Brummitt became director of Richland Ave Financial in January 2016. He graduated in 2011 with an MBA from Tennessee Tech University.
