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With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, church leaders may wonder what their tradition teaches. Recently, I was asked about Methodist perspectives on war and peace. It’s all over the map. Methodists in the United States are as conflict averse as they are patriotic. This presents a conundrum when the nation is at war. Historically, … Read more

What qualities do successful bivocational congregations share? This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders and those that teach and support them. Contributors include bivocational pastors and other reflective practitioners … Read more

It’s not all the same story. Diverse narratives reveal the varied experiences of congregations and ministers in bivocational ministry. This is one of a series of posts about the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders and those that teach … Read more

How can multivocational ministers keep up when information needs are continually changing? This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders and those that teach and support them. Contributors include bivocational … Read more

Bivocational ministry often requires learning on the job. Through mentored practice, the congregation participates in the learning and growth, too. Ronald W. Baard, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, is Dean of the Maine School of Ministry and teaches at New York Theological Seminary. This is one of a series of video … Read more

How has bivocational ministry changed since the 1960s? How has ministry changed during this time? This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders and those that teach and support them. … Read more

Why are we not looking to Black bivocational ministers to inform our understanding about what it means to thrive in this context? This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders … Read more

Pastors rarely become bivocational in order to grow spiritually. Yet, they often find bivocationality an unexpected path of personal, spiritual growth. In Chapter 10, “Bivocational Ministry as a Path of Unexpected Spiritual Growth,” Ben Connelly shares results and insights from a survey he administered to bivocational ministers regarding their motives and outcomes related to ministry. Motives … Read more

How can seminaries respond to the reality of multivocational ministry? Learning about the multivocational plans of seminary students is a good place to begin. This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for … Read more

How can the incarnational church enable holistic mission in the community? What are the incarnational beneifts of bivocational ministry? This is one of a series of video posts from the authors of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (forthcoming April 2022). This book is an edited volume for church leaders and those that … Read more