Recently I was talking to a retired pastor about what advice he would give to a person considering a call to the ministry. His response was that he would advise a person considering a call to also identify another employable skill that he would prepare for. I first thought he was saying that in case it didn’t work out, you would have an alternative. But when I pressed him he had a different idea in mind. As he looked at the number of small churches that exist, he thoght that many potential clergy were going to have to consider a form of tent-making ministry again.
As I thought about it, I recalled the success that many presbyteries are having with Certified Lay Pastors serving these small churches. A number of these CLPs do this on a part time basis while also holding another job. What he was suggesting is that there is also a place for the fully theologically trained pastor who might see this dual involvment in the work place and the church to be a special type of calling. Small churches have some distinct qualities that can not be replicated in the mega churches. Is it possible that we need to revisit the sense of call with respect to these small churches?
