Over the last few months, several of our podcasts have been about bivo/covocationality, side hustles for pastors, and so on. And more are on the way.

Why? Because the future of the church is bivocational. In this episode, Karl Vaters talks to Andrew Hamilton about the content from his book, The Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian World, including the theological foundation for bivocational ministry, how work isn’t a sinful result of the fall, but an element of God’s creative design for us, and the value of covocational ministry for the pastor, the church, and the community.

The second half of the conversation includes several very practical steps for any pastor who’s considering bivocationality, including:

• Having upfront conversations with your church leaders
• Deciding which tasks are essential for you to do
• Knowing which tasks others can be trained for and trusted with
• The non-optional tasks of leadership and communication
• Why Andrew tries to function at 70 percent of his ministry capacity

Links:

• Backyard Missionary
• The Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian World
• The Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Eight Options for Finding Bivocational Work, with Andrew Hamilton

Are you considering becoming a bivocational pastor? Karl Vaters talks to Andrew Hamilton about some practical work options that mesh well with a pastoral schedule and skillset, from the content from his book, The Future is Bivocational: Shaping Christian Leaders for a Post-Christian World, including:

1. Project/Contract Work
2. Laboring
3. Start a Small Business
4. The Church Starts a Business
5. Retrain/Upskill/Study
6. Low Demand Work
7. Volunteer
8. Consulting