What Should a Church Pay a Bivocational Pastor?
Guidelines for Part Time Baptist Pastor Pay
Mar 13, 2009
Serving as a pastor is challenging. Serving as a bivocational pastor is even more challenging.
A bivocational pastor is literally burning the candle at both ends. Not only is he shepherding a church as a pastor, he is also working a regular job. And then there are his family obligations on top of that. Obviously, determing the appropriate level of compensation for a bivocational pastor is an important matter for consideration.
Appropriate Baptist Pastor Pay
The Apostle Paul writes, "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,' and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.'” (1 Timothy 5:17-18)
Taking the phrase, "laborer is worthy of his wages" from Jesus' teaching in the Gospel of Luke (see Luke 10:7), Paul makes clear that those doing the Lord's work are worthy of getting paid.
Crown Financial Ministries seconds Paul's exhortation, saying, "The Word of God is specific when it says that laborers are worthy of their hire. This means that churches should give the maximum amount of support to their pastors, without jeopardizing the overall financial stability of the church."
What about Part Time Pastor Pay?
While most bivocational pastors understandably have the goal of becoming full-time pastors, many churches are simply not in a position to offer full-time pay and benefits.
During the period in which a church is unable to support a full time pastor, the example of Paul seems to provide guidance. Paul took up tent-making to help make a living, while he worked to plant and grow the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3).
However, Paul's tent-making was temporary. Writing for MissionLeader.com, Jeff Gilbertson explains: "[We] need to grasp the fact that Paul, as far as we can discern from the [New Testament], only served as a tentmaker while 'on-the-road,' church planting with an apostolic team."
As the New Testament churches grew, they were able to take on the responsibility of providing for their pastors as well as helping to support the work of missionaries (I Corinthians 9:1-15 and 16:2; II Corinthians 9).
Based on Paul's example then, it would seem that the only reason for a church to have a part time pastor is that it can't afford to make that pastor full time. Such a church should be committed to growing, so that it can bring its pastor to full time status.
Unfortunately, many churches remain small....deliberately. While demographics and other circumstances sometimes restrict a church's growth, the biblical model is that churches always grew. Indeed, the Great Commission, if carried out effectively, will result in church growth. In other words, a bivocational pastor shouldn't remain a bivocational pastor forever.
Making the Bivocational Pastor Experience Work
While bivocational status is not ideal for most pastors, a church and part time pastor can make it work, if both parties are committed to love and effective communication.
As with any arrangement, communication is crucial. This is certainly the case with bivocational ministers, who need to know whether their churches are on the same page in terms of growth goals and full time salary goals. If the bivocational pastor wants to become full-time, but the church wishes to remain small, this is a potential point of conflict.
A church must prayerfully consider its situation and goals, before calling a bivocational pastor, and it must clearly communicate its goals, values, and perspectives to any minister it considers. Likewise, a prospective part time pastor should be equally committed to clear, open, and honest communication.
