Co-Vocational Ministry in Canada: A Passion, an Enduring Challenge, and a Call for Action
In the beginning of February 2025, Co-Vocational Canada, a ministry of Briercrest Seminary, brought together twenty-three denominational leaders, co-vocational practitioners, and academic leaders to answer questions about credentialing, education, and the well-being of co-vocational pastors.
The symposium asked questions such as “Are you seeing any trends with co-vocational ministry in your denomination or network?,” “How are you supporting those in your movement who work co-vocationally (e.g. financially, educationally, well-being)?,” and “What are the needs (or what are the characteristics) of congregations that are led by co-vocational pastors?”
The emerging data revealed both a passion for co-vocational ministry in the Canadian context but also the manifold challenges that co-vocational pastors continue to face across denominations and networks.
First Things First: Defining Co-Vocationality
You might be asking, what do you mean by “co-vocationality”?
Although different definitions may be found across the literature (e.g., bi-vocationality, multi-vocationality, dual vocation, shared time ministry), we have chosen to use “co-vocational” as an umbrella term to reflect the lived experience of a pastor who is appointed to serve in a local church while also working in outside employment.
And why would someone choose to work co-vocationally?
Co-Vocationality: A Choice and a Passion
Although the financial need is certainly a common reason why churches and denominations assign pastors to work co-vocationally, especially among smaller churches, many participants in the symposium observed how (increasingly) common it is in their networks for pastors to work co-vocationally out of a personal choice.
Reasons for work as a co-vocational pastor included, for example, personal satisfaction, to build relationships with the community, and even for a greater sense of autonomy. Some participants also observed that the work they do outside of church is actually perceived by them as a ministry – an understanding captured by Co-Vocational Canada’s motto, “Many jobs, one calling.”
Some participants discussed being able to observe an increase in the appreciation and care given to the co-vocational pastor. Nevertheless, the reality is that most co-vocational ministers, regardless of whether they are co-vocational by choice or necessity, face long-lasting challenges in the Canadian context which must not be ignored.
Misconceptions and Misunderstandings
One of the most frequent challenges discussed by participants had to do with the stigma surrounding co-vocationality. It sounds as though congregations and denominations often perceive co-vocational ministry as being “less than” the work of the uni-vocational pastor. As a participant put it, “Congregational cultures sometimes reject the idea because it feels like this is indicative of failure.”
In a similar vein, a dominant point of discussion during the symposium was the unrealistic expectations placed on the co-vocational pastor who, although being paid part-time, is expected to fulfill a full-time role at the church, such as by attending meetings, visiting, and being available at all times. As a participant noted, “they want the full time, but they can’t pay full time, but they’re still looking for full time… they can’t shift their head. That leadership model is still ingrained and embedded.”
A Sacrificial Life
Despite being a choice and passion for the majority of participants, being a co-vocational pastor has been a great challenge for many, especially as it relates to time and money. It can be incredibly difficult for a pastor to manage competing priorities, multiple demands, different bosses, and conflicting schedules from both workplaces.
One participant exemplified: “when you’re away at one job and you don’t get home until 2:00 Sunday morning and still to preach it at 10:30 a.m., it’s not good for either. It’s just difficult. At the same time, I know clearly that God called me to both.”
Several participants in the symposium also observed how co-vocationality has been particularly difficult for pastors with young children. As one participant observed, co-vocational work may lead the minister not only to exhaustion but also to not have time for the family and not being able to fulfill one’s calling duties as a parent.
The challenges noted above, however, are not new in our context. So what can we learn from such discussion?
Need of a Culture Shift
The first step in addressing such concerns is what participants framed as the need of a culture shift. It was observed how important it is for congregations and denominations to rearticulate their vision based on a clear understanding of what co-vocationality is and what it is expected to achieve.
As a participant argued, “We have to articulate the vision and then help them to understand, give them the tools, [and] equip them. It’s a big process but I think that’s, hopefully, part of the journey we’re on now.”
One way of doing that, participants observed, is by asking “what is considered a healthy church”? By reframing the healthy matrix churches and denominations could then help rearticulate understandings and expectations surrounding the ministerial work.
Need to Clarify the Job Description
Participants emphasized the need to clarify what the co-vocational pastor’s job description is. A very common point mentioned in the discussions was the need to recognize that the pastor cannot (and should not) do everything alone. A healthy co-vocational ministry, the observed, requires intentionally training laity as leaders who could assist the pastor in various ways – even preaching.
It is also necessary that roles and duties are clarified and discussed from the outset in a way that ensures the pastor has the appropriate support, time, and compensation to fulfill his/her job. Failing to do so has been sustaining a “consistently unhealthy” atmosphere for co-vocational pastors who are left feeling overwhelmed and burned out.
Conclusion
The challenges surrounding co-vocationality are not new in our context. Nonetheless, discussions about this approach to ministry are also not as disseminated as they should or could be. Although re-framing and re-creating co-vocational ministry is a long journey, much can be learned and improved by fostering transparent and honest conversations within and across churches, denominations, and networks and creating further opportunities to amplify and bring together the voices of those who have been weaving together multiple threads of ministry.
Dr. Rebeca Heringer
Co-Vocational Canada Researcher, Briercrest College and Seminary
