Pastors Should Have a Plan B
I never really wanted to be a pastor.
This is not to suggest that I regret entering into ministry, only that this was never my plan even if it was His. In truth, for most of my life I really had no clue what I wanted to “be” or “do” in terms of a career—In many ways I feel like I’m still trying to figure that out. Perhaps that isn’t an unusual experience. When I finished high school, as most of my good friends went off to college, I stayed local to play soccer and remail close to my future bride. After a year of exploring careers through business classes, commuications classes, engineering classes, and who knows what else, I took my mismash of credits to a local private Christian college after a good friend encouraged me to come play soccer. I still hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do or whether this school would offer me any more clarity. In retrospect it was a rather expensive season of indecision.
Having had a solid experience in my youth group, a hot petri dish designed to cook up young pastors, the hailmary-like possibility of becoming a pastor floated in the background just out of sight. If it ever came forward, I would be in a place to pursue it. As I began classes at Northwest College (now University) and began to enterain the idea of being a pastor, I remember being told in no uncertain terms by my parentals that I should searioulsy consider getting a “real degree” (meaning not a pastoral one) because “anyone” could always choose to be a pastor and “anytime” (Sadly, there is a lot of truth in that statement). With that in mind, I still followed the regimented pathway of a Bible College Sophomore taking a series of Bible classes as a part of my studies. But, when it came time to officially declare my major, I had compiled an equal number of classes in both education and theology. For a brief moment I felt torn about whether to press forward as a preacher or at teacher. Perhaps guided by my parent’s admonition, I decided to get a real degree so that I could get a real job to support my real wife. This would prove to be a very important decision 20+ years later.
I graduatedNW College in December 1998 with a degree in Secondary Education (i.e. major in English and Bible) and began teaching high school the following school year. From my perspective, teaching high school was my plan A. I was trained for Plan A. I was good at Plan A. I enjoyed Plan A. I imagined retiring on Plan A. I spent seven years working my plan A before Jesus interrupted my plans—I felt compelled to be a pastor…a church planter even. In my view, this was a dramatically different Plan B. Over time I have learned that this is the very oppositive perspective of most pastors, especially those who, like John the Baptist, were convinced they were destined for ministry from the womb! In other words, a “real” pastor’s plan A is to be in full-time vocational ministry. Anything else, especially anything secular, is considered inferior, undesirable, or otherwise the less than glorious option than joining the \truth Plan A fraternity of the “anointed”.
I was a pastor and planter for 15+ years.
For the first 2 1/2 of those years, I was what is called bi-vocational. Simply defined, bi-vocational ministry refers to a situation where a minister or pastor works a second job outside of their church or ministry role to support themselves financially while still fulfilling their pastoral duties. The idea of being bi-vocational (or co-vocational) is not historically, or even biblically unusual. This wash chosen by as necessity (hard to be supported by a 10 person core group) and personal preference. The original vision for the church we planted was to remain bi-vocational indefinitely. Within a relatively short amount of time the church grew and the demands of leading a church overwhelmed me. Even some of my teaching responsibilities were mitigated through partial contract leaves, providing some margin, eventually I found working two jobs unsustainable and unwise. As my efforts to juggle began to fail, I decided I had to jettison something or risk becoming a bad husband, a bad father, a bad preacher, or a bad teacher. Considering I felt I had been “called” as a pastor, and I had no intention of divorcing my wife or abandoning my kids, teaching had to go. Right before beginning our 3rd year of ministry, the elders recommended resignation. I agreed. This remains one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. Full-time ministry never represented an escape from my role as a teacher or even some kind of wish-fulfllment—I felt I was simply being sacrificially obedient. This decision represented a prioritization of what God was calling me to devote the majority of my time and energy for a given season. I embraced what many would call “Plan A”, the best and most glorifying plan, the plan I was “made for.”
I preferred my original Plan A Plan B
I have always struggled with the idea of being in full-time vocational ministry. I felt weird being paid to be what seemed like a “professional” Christian. There are likely many reasons for this. But this is not to suggest that there is no biblical warrant for paying pastors, only that it is something that has always been philosophically difficult for me personally. Arguably, the role of a “lead pastor” is not explicitly mandated (that’s a blog for another day) but the NT seems to imply that ministers or servants of the gospel can and should be paid just as priests were supported by the people in the OT. FOr example, in 1Corinthians 9 (see also Acts 20) Paul provides some insight into the practical outworking of his ministry financially. In 1Corinthians 9.3-7, Paul defends his ministry against accusers, he explains not only that pastors (and their wives) have the right to be supported by the church financially: 1Cor. 9:3-7 This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
In defense of his integrity, Paul states that he chose not to make use of that right: 1Cor. 9:12,15-18 Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ…But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
The point is simply this, at different times in Paul’s ministry he worked (Acts 18.1-4) and at other times he was supported by the church. The different seasons were contextualized according to the needs of the church and his personal mission. In other words, the precedent is one that establishes principles that are fluid and not, necessarily, bound to a particular model all the time for everyone. Arguably, there are a lot of advantages to someone pastoring without being paid. This kind of approach blesses the church in that:
Bi-Vocational Ministry provides the opportunity to model Christlikeness to everyone, to disciple a few, and to witness to many
Bi-Vocational Ministry removes barriers and obstacles to the gospel derived from full dependence on the church
Bi-Vocational Ministry creates more opportunities for personal evangelism in the secular world
Bi-Vocational Ministry generates credibility for preaching as a result of living a life like the congregation
Bi-Vocational Ministry limits financial burden of the church and releases more funds to support other ministry
Bi-Vocational Ministry allows for better healthcare/retirement for family and lessens burden on church
Bi-Vocational Ministry lessens polarization around a pastor and increases motivation to equip others for ministry
Bi-Vocational Ministry helps a pastor plan with an understanding normal rhythms of life in the community
Bi-Vocational Ministry produces daily inspiration for sermons from the “working world”
All Pastors Should Have a Plan B
This is not a blog about pastors being Bi-Vocational. If you are going to become a pastor,however, I think you definitely should consider it from the beginning. Becoming bi-vocational during ministry can be a difficult shift for the pastor and for the church. As I have stated above, I think it is a healthy one. Choosing to be bi-vocational and develop another marketable skill before becoming a pastor will help the pastor feel an important sense of freedom, especially when he is done with ministry or ministry is done with him.
This is a blog about pastors thinking outside and beyond being a pastor. Regardless of your context, it is important that all pastors have a Plan B, meaning, they should know how to do something—that can pay the bills—as a career beyond or instead of pastoring. I am not merely suggesting that every pastor have a “side hustle” to supplement their income (though there nothing wrong with that). Pastors should develop and maintain a pathway, like an offramp, they can use to exit when necessary. Some might argue that this is some sort of expression of faithlessness. It has been my observation that too many pastors confused faithfulness for recklessness. And while there are a ton of transferable skills that a former pastor could apply to other careers, anyone who attempts to enter the workforce with 15 years of “pastor” on their resume, and nothing else, will find it extremely difficult to transition into anything else but another ministry.
Functioning without a viable Plan B doesn’t help anyone who wants to quit ministry (See Blog). I’ve met several pastors who have told me “If I had anything else to do, I’d leave my ministry today.” In other words, there are at least a few pastors who feel stuck vocationally in their “calling”; which is more than enough reason to have a plan B. This is not to be confused with a retirement plan; it is a resignation plan. Given that, statistically, the average tenure of a pastor in a local church ranges between 3 and 6 years, it is crucial for pastors to develop a "Plan B" long before they need it. Ministry is deeply rewarding, but it is also unpredictable—burnout, financial strain, church conflicts, or changing life circumstances can lead to an early transition out of full-time pastoral work.
Having a secondary skill or career path established before entering ministry ensures that pastors are not left scrambling for options when their time in the pulpit comes to an end. A well-thought-out Plan B is not an admission of doubt in one's calling; rather, it is a proactive approach to stewardship, stability, and long-term sustainability. Instead of being an emergency reaction, a secondary career should be a deliberate investment, allowing pastors to serve faithfully while remaining prepared for the inevitable transitions life brings. I know too many pastors who didn’t develop a Plan B before their Plan A came crashing down. And by crash I don’t mean some kind of moral failure; I simply mean the end of pastoring because you were fired or quit.
Sadly, too often which you are done at a church, the Church is often done with you. By the grace of God, my transition out of ministry was smooth and full of grace. God provided me a path back to my Plan B ( which was really my Plan A). It is possible, but admittedly rare, to transition out of a church with honor and love. But that is a story for another day…
