Comments on: Bi-Vocational Ministry & Support Raising http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocationalism-support-raising/ exploring the mystery of life and mission as one and the same Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:41:22 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jrrozko http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocationalism-support-raising/comment-page-1/#comment-5754 jrrozko Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:36:34 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1319#comment-5754 Thanks Jamie. I have been thinking about the Salvation Army and whether or not all this thinking applies and I'm not sure it's a great fit. Since the Salvation Army differentiates between its social service dimension and its church dimension, it creates a whole new playing field. Corps Officers are responsible for a much broader range of things that are typical church pastors. For that reason, this line of thinking regarding being bi-vocational, would need to be altered to fit that paradigm. Regardless, I still think all churches need to think strategically in term of creating participatory as opposed to comsumeristic environments, but between the Salvation Army's particular paradigm, and your Eastern German context, I wouldn't really be the one to ask. Thanks Jamie. I have been thinking about the Salvation Army and whether or not all this thinking applies and I'm not sure it's a great fit. Since the Salvation Army differentiates between its social service dimension and its church dimension, it creates a whole new playing field. Corps Officers are responsible for a much broader range of things that are typical church pastors. For that reason, this line of thinking regarding being bi-vocational, would need to be altered to fit that paradigm.

Regardless, I still think all churches need to think strategically in term of creating participatory as opposed to comsumeristic environments, but between the Salvation Army's particular paradigm, and your Eastern German context, I wouldn't really be the one to ask.

]]> By: jamie http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocationalism-support-raising/comment-page-1/#comment-5753 jamie Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:46:30 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1319#comment-5753 "a great way to free someone up to minister to those who have no concept of supporting pastors or those who, even if they “get it,” don’t have the means to do so anyway" amen. welcome to my world. "I still think church leaders working in the community where they minister while being supported by the church they serve is something great to aspire to." amen to that too. aspiring says it well. anyone got advice on how to do that in the above mentioned situation? let me in on your wisdom! "a great way to free someone up to minister to those who have no concept of supporting pastors or those who, even if they “get it,” don’t have the means to do so anyway"

amen. welcome to my world.

"I still think church leaders working in the community where they minister while being supported by the church they serve is something great to aspire to."

amen to that too. aspiring says it well.
anyone got advice on how to do that in the above mentioned situation? let me in on your wisdom!

]]> By: jrrozko http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocationalism-support-raising/comment-page-1/#comment-5752 jrrozko Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1319#comment-5752 Thanks Geoff. I wish I knew more (or anything really!) about the Didache - would love to get deeper into what precisely "providing for those who preach the gospel" meant back then. I am sure we have several lenses on when thinking about that that may or may not be helpful. We talked about that dynamic with Paul regarding the Corinthian church. Actually, while there is that reference in Acts 18 to Paul being a tent maker, there is another reference in 2 Cor. 11 where he talks about robbing other churches in order to serve them. The matter may be more complicated than it appears on the surface, but it seems like he was pointing out that others were funding his ministry when really they (they Corinthians) ought to have taken responsibility for it. If anything, this is perhaps a warning to those who raise support - "The generosity of others can easily be taken advantage of by the spiritually immature." Remind me to tell you about a more recent example of this exact scenario the next time I see you. Peace. Thanks Geoff. I wish I knew more (or anything really!) about the Didache – would love to get deeper into what precisely "providing for those who preach the gospel" meant back then. I am sure we have several lenses on when thinking about that that may or may not be helpful.

We talked about that dynamic with Paul regarding the Corinthian church. Actually, while there is that reference in Acts 18 to Paul being a tent maker, there is another reference in 2 Cor. 11 where he talks about robbing other churches in order to serve them. The matter may be more complicated than it appears on the surface, but it seems like he was pointing out that others were funding his ministry when really they (they Corinthians) ought to have taken responsibility for it. If anything, this is perhaps a warning to those who raise support – "The generosity of others can easily be taken advantage of by the spiritually immature."

Remind me to tell you about a more recent example of this exact scenario the next time I see you. Peace.

]]> By: geoff holslcaw http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2009/10/bi-vocationalism-support-raising/comment-page-1/#comment-5751 geoff holslcaw Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:44:24 +0000 http://lifeasmission.com/blog/?p=1319#comment-5751 hey JR, good thoughts. and certainly the early church agreed with you, in the Didache it talks about providing for those who preach the gospel. but as a counter to support raising, their is Paul who refused support even though as an apostle it was is right to be paid (1 Cor. 9), so that he could be a slave to all and follow his compulsion to preach. anyhow, just a thought. good stuff. hey JR,

good thoughts. and certainly the early church agreed with you, in the Didache it talks about providing for those who preach the gospel.

but as a counter to support raising, their is Paul who refused support even though as an apostle it was is right to be paid (1 Cor. 9), so that he could be a slave to all and follow his compulsion to preach.

anyhow, just a thought. good stuff.

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