Bivocational Ministry

Definition

Bivocational ministry (Korean mokhoeja ijungjik, literally "dual employment of pastors") is the practice in which a minister, such as a pastor or evangelist, works outside the church to earn a living while continuing in church ministry. In Korean it is often shortened to ijungjik ("dual employment"). The issue is discussed chiefly in relation to pastors of financially dependent churches and church plants, who find it difficult to live on their stipend (the living allowance a church pays its ministers) alone. Related terms include "self-supporting ministry" (Korean jabiryang, literally "providing one's own provisions at one's own expense") and, in English-speaking contexts, "tentmaking ministry."

Biblical and Historical Background

Supporters of bivocational ministry point to the example of the apostle Paul. Paul preached the gospel in Corinth while working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), and he wrote that he labored night and day so as not to be a burden to the church (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Those who urge caution, by contrast, cite the verse "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14), as well as the passage in which the apostles resolved to give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). Paul himself explained that ministers have the right to receive support from the church, though he chose not to exercise that right (1 Corinthians 9).

From its early days, the Korean church emphasized self-support in keeping with the Nevius Mission Plan. During the church's period of growth, it was generally considered the norm for pastors to devote themselves exclusively to ministry.

Practice in the Korean Church

As the number of churches has grown while church membership has declined, an increasing number of pastors do not receive an adequate stipend. Many of them reportedly support themselves through work such as teaching at private academies, parcel delivery, or designated-driver services. As a result, bivocational ministry has been debated at the general assemblies of several denominations.

Denominational positions vary:

• The Korean Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap): During the 2010s, these denominations reportedly revised their regulations to permit bivocational ministry under certain conditions, primarily for pastors of financially dependent churches.
• The General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong) and others: These have reportedly maintained a position that, in principle, restricts pastors from holding concurrent employment.
• Baptist and independent churches: Because they emphasize the autonomy of the local congregation, the matter is often left to the judgment of individual churches rather than governed by uniform denominational rules.

Specific conditions and procedures for permission are determined by each denomination's church constitution and general assembly resolutions, and they have changed as new resolutions have been adopted.

Debate

Those in favor of permitting bivocational ministry argue the following:

• It offers a practical solution to the problem of livelihood.
• It reduces the financial burden on the church.
• It has missional significance, allowing pastors to understand firsthand, in the workplace, the lives of church members and neighbors.

Those who urge caution raise the following concerns:

• The time devoted to ministry, and the quality of that ministry, may decline.
• The sense of calling to the pastoral office may be weakened.
• Rather than placing the burden of pastors' livelihoods on individual ministers, the problem should be addressed through denominational support and the sharing of financial resources.

With the implementation of taxation of religious workers in 2018, how to report stipend income alongside income from other employment has also become a practical issue.