The Rise of Co-Vocational Ministry: Rethinking the Role of Work in Church Planting
In the evolving landscape of church planting, a co-vocational approach to pastoring is gaining traction. Traditionally, the term bi-vocational described pastors who worked a job outside of the church out of necessity, often with the expectation that once the church could support a full-time salary, they would transition to full-time ministry. However, co-vocational ministry presents a different mindset, one that sees work outside the church as having intrinsic, sacred value and as a strategic choice rather than a temporary compromise.
Co-Vocational vs. Bi-Vocational: What’s the Difference?
The term co-vocational challenges the traditional bi-vocational framework in several key ways:
Sacred vs. Secular: Instead of seeing a job outside the church as merely secular, co-vocational pastors embrace their work as an extension of their ministry. They view their workplace as a mission field where they can provide value to others and demonstrate Christ’s love.
Choice vs. Obligation: Co-vocational pastors choose to continue working outside the church even if the church could afford to pay them full-time. This allows churches to be more financially generous in serving their communities rather than being burdened by high salary costs. It also allows the pastor to remain connected to relationships with people outside of the church through this job.
Long-Term vs. Temporary: Rather than seeing outside work as a short-term necessity, co-vocational pastors commit to it long-term, creating financial sustainability while building relational networks that extend beyond church walls. While they may reduce the hours of their work outside the church, they still remain committed to this work due to the missional benefits.
A Real-World Example: Shadowland Community Church
At Shadowland Community Church, co-vocational ministry is fully embraced. Among the four teaching pastors, only one is paid part-time, and that role is focused on mission mobilization rather than pastoral salary. The church operates with a vision to be generous with their funds for community impact and kingdom-building. This model allows for greater generosity and minimizes financial strain, which is crucial given that personnel and building costs typically consume up to 70% of a church’s budget.
A ‘New Normal’ for Churches?
This approach isn’t limited to independent church plants. After discussing alternative financial models with a Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Bishop, it became clear that co-vocational ministry is already the norm for most pastors in that denomination. The practice isn’t new—it has been the sustainable model for decades in one of the largest denominations in the U.S..
Multiple Streams of Provision
The financial sustainability of co-vocational ministry can be illustrated by a wisdom principle shared by Pastor Johnson Asare in Ghana:
“In the Garden of Eden, God provided multiple streams. Perhaps, this was to ensure that there was water even if one stream dried up. Pastors also need more than one income stream because you never know which one will dry up.”
Pastor Asare, a co-vocational leader, runs multiple businesses, including a hotel, a shea butter processing station, and a cashew farm. Remarkably, as a Christian leader in a Muslim-majority city, he funds his ministry largely through business transactions with Muslims who patronize his ventures. His model demonstrates that financial independence empowers church leaders to plant churches and serve their communities without relying solely on external donations.
The Growing Trend of Co-Vocational Ministry
According to Karl Vaters (Christianity Today, 2017), bi-vocational ministry increased by 32% from 2010 to 2015, and the trend is expected to continue. Many pastors are turning to co-vocational models for both financial and missional reasons:
Financial Stability: A steady outside income stream reduces financial stress on pastors and their families, particularly when the job provides health benefits and retirement options.
Sustainability in High-Cost Areas: In regions where housing and living expenses are high, outside employment helps pastors remain rooted in their communities without depending on church finances alone.
Missional connections: These jobs embed the pastor in the workplace such that they understand the marketplace (and can connect with those in their congregation better) and gives them authentic relationships with those outside the church. Dallas Willard called this the “Divine Conspiracy”, meaning that God sends pastors to the workplace for spiritual ministry. When people hire me to do engineering work on the weekends, they think they are hiring only an engineer. They don’t realize that I am a pastor, listening to minister to their souls. In the course of the work relationship, most of the time there are times of prayer, counsel, etc.
Open Networks: Ministry Beyond Church Walls
One of the most underrated benefits of co-vocational ministry is the expansion of relational networks. Since workplaces naturally facilitate connections and interactions, pastors engaged in the workforce have greater access to people who may never set foot in a church.
Additionally, working outside the church can provide credibility and relatability:
To Non-Christians: A co-vocational pastor may be more approachable than a traditional pastor. Some people are more comfortable talking to an engineer, teacher, or business owner than they would be with someone identified solely as a religious leader.
To Church Members: Pastors who work outside the church often better understand the daily struggles of their congregants. This builds trust and deepens empathy between the pastor and church members.
Practical Steps for Co-Vocational Ministry
If you are considering co-vocational pastoring, here are three key questions to explore:
1. What skills and gifts can be leveraged for outside work?
What abilities does the pastor/church planter have that could translate into a sustainable career? Service-oriented jobs tend to work well in co-vocational settings.
Can they start their own business, or would it be better to work for someone else?
2. Can this job be done with excellence?
A co-vocational pastor’s work should reflect Christian values such as honesty, generosity, and compassion.
Excelling in the workplace builds respect and influence among coworkers and clients.
3. Is there a leadership team to share church responsibilities?
A healthy co-vocational ministry requires a strong leadership team that shares the preaching, pastoral care, and administrative load.
Having a team approach prevents burnout and ensures continuity even when the pastor has a demanding season in their external job.
Final Thoughts: A Model for the Future
Co-vocational ministry is not a fallback plan—it’s a strategic, sustainable, and impactful way to lead. Whether for financial stability, relational outreach, or church generosity, this model reshapes the traditional understanding of pastoral work.
For pastors and church planters considering this path, the key takeaway is co-vocational ministry is a viable and empowering option. The question is not, “Should I be co-vocational?” but rather, “How can I integrate my work into my ministry in a way that is both sustainable and missionally effective?”
To learn more about options for church planters that promote both missional vibrancy and financial viability, see the following ebook that includes the information in this blog: Moon, W. Jay Missional Vibrancy and Financial Viability: Alternate Financial Models for Churches and Church Plants When Tithes and Offerings are Not Enough. 2021. Exponential e-book available at: https://exponential.org/resource-ebooks/missional-vibrancy/
About the Author: Dr. Jay Moon, PhD, MBA, P.E. is a storyteller, strategist, and scholar with a passion for bridging faith, work, and mission. With 13 years as a SIM missionary in Ghana among the Builsa people, he has firsthand experience in church planting, water development, evangelism, and discipleship. Now a Professor of Evangelism & Church Planting at Asbury Theological Seminary, he also leads the Office of Faith, Work, and Economics, equipping leaders to integrate faith in everyday life.
A prolific author, Jay has written six books—including Intercultural Discipleship and Effective Intercultural Evangelism—and edited seven more. A sought-after speaker on church planting, marketplace mission, and evangelism, he has served as president of APM and GCRN and is the incoming president of AETE and ASM.
Beyond academia, Jay thrives in hands-on creativity, from building treehouses and throwing axes to mentoring small business innovators—always looking for new ways to connect faith and action.