AssUMe

As one who is a student (and on occasion, teacher) of Leadership, I am constantly alert to what dangers lurk on the path of leadership.  One of the most dread-some spots on the path is the quicksand of assumption. You take a step assuming you are on solid ground, instead you sink.
Then the more you struggle to make your assumptions work, the deeper you sink.
You are helpless to extricate yourself from the quagmire until someone comes along who recognizes the assumption error you have stepped into.

Tim Nations has done us a favor and identified 7 frequent types of assumption.
I resonated with these, perhaps because I have oft been guilty of confidently stepping into them only to find myself sinking in my own ignorance. Here are the 7 assumptions he identifies.

Assumption 1 – Anchoring: Our first ideas are our best ideas.

Assumption 2 – Framing: The options within our field of view are the only ones we need to consider.

Assumption 3 – Confirmation Bias: Seeking information that supports our decisions while ignoring data that challenges them.

Assumption 4 – Insider Bias: Others understand the issue the way that I do.

Assumption 5 – Gambler’s Fallacy: Past events will influence future outcomes.

Assumption 6 – Overconfidence: Thinking we know more about how the future will turn out than we really do.

Assumption 7 – Commitment Escalation: Pouring more effort and resources into our decisions will increase our chances of success.

2 HAT Ministry

I am seeking to awaken the churches I oversee in our Free Methodist conference to the beauty and future of Bi-Vocational ministry, My belief is we will need to embrace and even pursue this model more and more as the urban realities push into the church. Tent-making is making a comeback. 

April 30, 2015

Multiple Hats: 5 Advantages of Bi-Vocational Pastors

By Scott Attebery

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Jeff wears multiple hats. He pastors a church and works full-time in the medical field. After a long night shift, Jeff and I at a local coffee shop. Although I knew he must have been exhausted, the topic of local church ministry brought about an energy and passion in his voice.

In the midst of talking about current trends in ministry and the needs of churches, Jeff made an interesting comment that caught my attention. He said that he preferred bi-vocational ministry because of all of its advantages.

He went on to explain that even though many full-time pastors have given him the “bi-vocational pastoring is second-rate vibe,” he sees things differently.

The advantages to bi-vocational pastoring that he shared with me excited my heart and caused me to wonder if God might be preparing to raise up a new generation of pastors from men who already have careers in progress.

For years, older pastors have worried that there may not be a shortage of new pastors to carry on the ministry. However, taking bi-vocational pastoring into consideration immediately multiplies the pool of candidates. And, once you read about these advantages, I think you’ll see them as “first class” candidates! Here are some advantages of bi-vocational pastoring to consider:

1) Trust: Congregations naturally trust the motivation of men who are willing to work another job for theprivilege of pastoring.

2) Stewardship: Smaller churches do not have to bear the financial burden of a full-time salary. For this reason, many church planting efforts begin with bi-vocational pastors stepping out on faith.

3) Teamwork: Church members are more apt to pitch in and volunteer when they know the pastor works a full time job outside of the church just like they do and still finds time to minister.

4) Relevance: A pastor who works outside of the church is less likely to lose touch with what happens outside of the “ministry bubble.” Even more, a secular vocation can aid in relating better to lost people as well as his congregation.

5) Sanity: Jeff said his full-time job actually helps him keep his sanity. In fact, he said, “I don’t know how full time pastors deal with all of the pressures of the ministry without some sort of escape.” I’m sure there are plenty of full-time pastors who can’t imagine how a bi-vocational pastor deals with his busy schedule. It just goes to show that God creates different men for different kinds of ministry.

My heart was touched by Jeff’s passion for bi-vocational ministry. It caused me to think that God might be raising up a new wave of these “tent-making” pastors to lead a revival in small churches across our nation. Wouldn’t that be glorious!

So no, these men are not “second rate” pastors. They are brave, courageous, hardworking, giants of the faith. My hat (singular) goes off to them.