Bivocational Minister Description

BIVOCATIONAL PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Bivocational pastors differ from Vocational pastors only in their financial support.

Bivocational pastors have two or more sources of income to support their families.

income provided by the church
and
income from a source(s) other than the church.

Although the Bivocational pastor has two incomes, he is fully the pastor of the church and should not be considered “part-time”. He is to tend to all the pastoral duties of the church. Usually that would mean serving in a smaller church.

A generally accepted description of a "smaller church" would be 125 or less in Sunday School. The 2008 ACP information reported to Lifeway, showed that 81% of SBC churches reporting were 124 or less in Sunday School Attendance.

If the pastoral duties become more than a Bivocational pastor has time to handle, he should either agree to become fully supported by the church or be allowed to have other Bivocational ministers assist him in the pastoral duties of the Church. Time management is a major issue of the Bivocational Pastor's ministry role. A recent survey of Louisiana Baptist Bivocational Pastors revealed on average 119 hour work week of the pastors that participated including a 40 hour secular job schedule. That left 7 hours a day to eat, sleep, and family time. This survey was very simular to two other SBC State Convention surveys.

I like the comment below:

The Modern Tentmaker: The Challenges of a Bi-vocational Pastor
by: Joshua Simpson, a pastor and church planter with the Assemblies of God

"The other job is not the pastor's career, but a means to support his ministry. It is a way to ensure that his family is provided for and financially secure. It is not a distraction, but an opportunity to have other means of honest employment and also engage the culture in a way he wouldn't be able to from a church office. . . . . . . he just wants an income that will be able to provide for his family.

Pastors cannot help but preach! It is what God has called them to do whether they get pay and benefits or nothing at all. It is a "stewardship", a mandate given to them by God to fulfill at church and the secular workplace."

Licensed and Ordained SBC Pastors roles and responsibilities in the church may include, but are not limited to the following:

Purpose: Responsible to the church to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ Teach the biblical revelation Engage in pastoral care ministries Provide administrative leadership in all areas of church life Act as the chief administrator of the paid staff Provide leadership of the congregation into a deeper more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
Qualifications: Born again and have a personal testimony of his personal conversion and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Align with the Southern Baptist Doctrines of Faith (Baptist Faith and Message). Committed to integrity and accountability to those he serves. Biblical qualifications for an elder (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Have a clear and open calling to serve the Lord in Pastoral Ministry. A man who can rightly divide the Word of God, II Timothy 2:15 Theological perspective that is conservative, strongly grace-oriented and adherent to the inerrancy of the whole Word of God. Public speaking ability (effective communicator). Ability to submit to and implement policies decided by the Church Body. Strong leadership gift, skills and abilities.
Responsibilities: Be a "Servant Leader" Plan and conduct the worship services Prepare and deliver sermons Lead in observance of ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Develop a course of action that reaches out into the community. Lead the church in an effective program of witnessing to the lost Visit members and prospects. Visit the sick Moderate business meetings Spiritual and scriptural counseling Premarital counseling Officiate at weddings Officiate at funerals Lead in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the total church program. Work with deacons, church officers, and committees Ex officio member of all committees Train and lead the deacons in a program of family ministries. Cooperate with associational, state, and denominational leaders in matters of mutual interest and concern Help church members realize their spiritual gifts Should defend the Bible as being without error Support missions Lead and encourage local mission projects Lead in development of a church budget that reflects the vision of the church Oversee filling of the pulpit on any Sunday he is not present in order to ensure doctrinal consistency Serve as chief administrator of the paid church staff