The Art and Practice of Bivocational Ministry

The Art and Practice of Bivocational Ministry
Author: Dennis W. Bickers
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2013
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780834130951

"It's a balancing act. If you are a bivocational pastor, you are familiar with the stresses, complications, and unique hurdles that come with bivocational ministry. You have a special calling. In The Art and Practice of Bivocational Ministry, Dennis Bickers provides solid advice to help you succeed in your ministry while juggling a full-time job and a family at home. Along with his seasoned insights, you will find true-to-life case studies of challenges bivocational ministers face daily. More than just a guide, this book is a mentor in print and an invaluable resource for anyone balancing part-time ministry with a full-time job."

The Tentmaking Pastor

The Tentmaking Pastor
Author: Dennis W. Bickers
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2000-05-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441236686

Real-world guide to the challenges, rewards, and advantages of bivocational ministry. Excellent for individuals and churches exploring pastoring options.

Ministry Makeover

Ministry Makeover
Author: Rosario Picardo
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 98
Release: 2015-02-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1630878502

Ministry Makeover examines the decline within the church, especially the United Methodist Church (UMC), and some causes for this decline. It calls for a reforming of United Methodist structure and polity by drawing more attention to the value of the bi-vocational model of ministry and a re-visitation of the Wesleyan/United Brethren view and historical perspective. This book establishes a solid theological foundation upon which to build this shift and it goes a step beyond typical ecclesiology (the study of the church) to identify Trinitarian theology as the basis for the practice of the church. In turn, this text reveals bi-vocational ministry and support of new congregations as not only a viable option, but also arguably the model towards which the church is heading. These insights will transform the church and lead to more effective church ministry with respect to resources, structure, and reach in a post-Christendom world context. Picardo uses Embrace Church (Lexington, KY) as a case study, and incorporates his experiences into this text in order to show how these implications have played out in a true bi-vocational, church-plant context.

Bivocational

Bivocational
Author: Mark D. W. Edington
Publisher: Church Publishing, Inc.
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2018-04-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0819233862

Bivocational: Returning to the Roots of Ministry offers one answer to the pressing question of the future of congregational life in the mainline Protestant Church. The contention of the book is that the model of professional ministry we have received from the past century of congregational life is imposing unsustainable costs on most congregations and parishes. In consequence, these faith communities face stark choices for which there are no self-evident answers. Shall we close? Shall we merge with another congregation—a decision shaped by a primary value on maintaining a full-time professional in the role of ordained minister? Can we find someone who will do the job part-time? What will it mean for them—and for us? Bivocational explores the impact on the ministry, on congregations, and on denominational polities of encouraging a way forward—one in which bivocational ordained professionals, ministers working simultaneously in the church and in secular life, come to leadership positions in the church. It explores the different sorts of gifts and preparation such ordained ministers need, and how a bivocational ethos looks when it characterizes not only the ordained minister, but all ministers of the congregation—lay and ordained alike.

Tentmakers

Tentmakers
Author: James W. Watson
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 169
Release: 2022-09-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666739979

Tentmaking is a growing reality in Western society that necessitates more reflection and relevant response from pastoral and mission leaders. The need to consider bivocational or multivocational ministries is catalyzed by established congregations wrestling with decline in attendance, by new immigrant communities looking for sustainable ways to minister, and by misunderstanding or lack of information on the nature of this ministry approach. This need is also triggered by the urgency to address biblical, theological, and pragmatic issues of tentmaking that can forge a way forward for the Canadian church in the midst of an uncertain future. This volume seeks to forge a way forward as a result of the Canadian Multivocational Ministry Project (CMMP), a qualitative and community-based research project among tentmaking pastoral leaders across Canada. This research partnered with the Wellness Project @ Wycliffe, which uses online questionnaires to assess wellness in congregational ministry. The CMMP research report and the wellness findings form the basis of the multifaceted reflections in the book by Canadian scholars, researchers, and multivocational practitioners. This book offers an accurate pulse of the challenges, opportunities, and future of tentmaking in relation to Christianity and the church in these uncertain times.

The Bivocational Pastor

The Bivocational Pastor
Author: Dennis Bickers
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2004
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780834121300

Learn how to succeed in bivocational ministry.

Bivocational

Bivocational
Author: Mark D. W. Edington
Publisher: Church Publishing, Inc.
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2018-04-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0819233870

Bivocational: Returning to the Roots of Ministry offers one answer to the pressing question of the future of congregational life in the mainline Protestant Church. The contention of the book is that the model of professional ministry we have received from the past century of congregational life is imposing unsustainable costs on most congregations and parishes. In consequence, these faith communities face stark choices for which there are no self-evident answers. Shall we close? Shall we merge with another congregation—a decision shaped by a primary value on maintaining a full-time professional in the role of ordained minister? Can we find someone who will do the job part-time? What will it mean for them—and for us? Bivocational explores the impact on the ministry, on congregations, and on denominational polities of encouraging a way forward—one in which bivocational ordained professionals, ministers working simultaneously in the church and in secular life, come to leadership positions in the church. It explores the different sorts of gifts and preparation such ordained ministers need, and how a bivocational ethos looks when it characterizes not only the ordained minister, but all ministers of the congregation—lay and ordained alike.

Serving as a Bivocational Pastor

Serving as a Bivocational Pastor
Author: James W. Highland
Publisher:
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2013-02
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780979062551

This book is written to be helpful to ministers who are serving as a bivocational pastor or are considering that ministry role. This is not an exhausting study of the role, but a conversation with you about the key functions and challenges of the bivocational pastor. In my experiences of being a pastor, consultant, personal counselor and friend of pastors, I understand the delights and difficulties of ministry. In my current roles of bivocational pastor and fundraising among churches for a statewide ministry, I understand the challenges that bivocational pastors face and want to share with you a down to earth conversation from my experience and perspective.

Ethics for Christian Ministry

Ethics for Christian Ministry
Author: Joe E. Trull
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 421
Release: 2017-11-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493411519

This one-of-a-kind resource in professional ethics helps today's Christian leaders maintain a high moral character and lifestyle and sharpen their personal and professional decision-making skills. Two experienced teachers and pastors address both current and perennial ethical issues and offer guidance for developing a personal code of ethics to maintain integrity in the work of ministry. The authors address the nature of ethical decision making as well as practical areas where integrity can be compromised, including issues raised by the use of smartphones and social media. Appendixes include codes of ethics from various denominations.