Is Full-time Ministry the Problem?

Recently I’ve been seeing a series of posts about what they see are the problems with full-time ministry. Part of his emphasis is the importance of pastors building alternative streams of income so they are not sole dependent on a fixed ministry income. Is this an overall bad thing? No! I agree that for some it can be important to have alternative sources of income, especially in contexts where a single church is not able to provide fully for a pastor and their family. And I do also see a trend where in certain contexts, more pastors will need to be more dual-income just as Paul was with his tent making.

That being said, I do not take this reality as a wholesale rejection of full-time pastoral ministry. To be honest, much of this brother’s concern is not with the idea of a pastor being full-time as it is with the culture of many churches that has been developed over the last 50 years. Many of the issues this brother highlights are because in many cases the role of pastor has stepped outside of the primary role of shepherd, and turned more into a spiritualized charismatic CEO of industry.

In my seminary studies one thing has become clear in regards to the role of a pastor. The needs of the human soul have not changed since the founding of the Church, and will not change. Sure, the specific challenges and circumstances we has humanity face may look different, but the core needs of our souls are still the same. Because of this, the core role of a pastor has not changed either. But in the broader evangelical non-denominational culture, we have forced a shift on pastors. Instead of being the shepherd who lives and grows with the flock, the pastor has become more of a business boss who is more involved in keeping sure programs are running effectively.

As Richard Baxter says in his classic work The Reformed Pastor, “To be a bishop, or pastor, is not to be set up as an idol for the people to bow to, or as idle ‘slow bellies,’ to live to our fleshly delight and ease; but it is to be the guide of sinners to heaven.” The primary role and goal of a pastor is to shepherd and love those in the church to follow Christ. This does not mean we do the work of the Holy Spirit (because we would muck it all up). But the pastor is to be the encourager and one who through experience and knowledge, help set up a framework on how the Gospel instructs our lives.

This is a stark departure from the role of pastor as it has been know. Now, there is nothing wrong with church programs and the like. They are apart of how many conduct church, and need to be managed. However, the role of pastor has morphed into the manager of these programs, rather than being the shepherd of the people of the flock. I agree with many of the surface criticisms that have been presented. They are problems that need to be addressed. But I do not think the blanket solution for this is getting rid of full-time ministry altogether.

Instead, we need to look hard and long at the roles of our pastors. Are they engaged in the building of the believer, focused on the health and faith of those in the flock. Or, are they simply managing programs? If it is the latter, then something needs to change.

Put simply and finally. The issue is not with full-time pastoring as a whole. This has been the norm for all of Christendom, and I believe in various ways will continue to be. We need men & women who are dedicated to not just the study of the Word and functioning of the church, but also dedicated and focused on the growth of the believers in their context. Can and should pastors also work other jobs. If there is the need or calling, then yes! God utilizes believers in so many different ways. For some it may be a bi-vocational role where they work both in and outside the Church for need of income and/or ministry opportunity. And, there are those that God calls to be dedicated full-time to pastoral ministry, as there is great benefit there as well.

But let us be sure to diagnose the problem correctly. Not with the role itself, but instead the unhealthy culture of what the role is supposed to be that has become so prevalent in the last several generations.