Part-time pastors balance day jobs, flocks

By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Staff photo by Jeff Pouland enlarge When not leading his congregation at the Vineyard Church of Waterville, the Rev. Marc Pitman works as the director of the Inland Foundation, the fundraising arm of Inland Hospital and Lakewood Continuing Care Center, also in Waterville.

Part-time pastors who also have full-time jobs certainly don't minister for the money.

They refer to their pastoring as a life's calling, something they feel drawn to do. And something in which they find immense fulfillment.

Marc. A. Pitman serves as the full-time director of the Inland Foundation, the fundraising arm of Inland Hospital and Lakewood Continuing Care Center in Waterville, and as pastor of the Vineyard Church of Waterville

Pitman, 34, said he believes that, in a sense, Christians minister in whatever job they have.

"I believe we're all in full-time Christian service, whether running a business or raising a family," he said.

His job as a minister, while considered a part-time, unpaid position, really is full-time, he said.

But instead of burning out from the work, he is energized by it.

"Doing this is a lot -- it is a big chunk to chew -- but it is not incredibly abnormal," Pitman says. "I love it. I can't believe that I get to do it."

Having an employer that is supportive of his ministry also helps, he said.

"There's a wonderful can-do attitude here and I love that," he said of Inland. "I can't think of a better place to work."

Pitman said he and his wife, Emily, with whom he has three children, maintain open communication, which is very important.

"We really see ourselves as doing this together," he said.

William Imes, president of Bangor Theological Seminary, said many small churches cannot afford to pay pastors much -- the reason why many are part-time positions.

"There's going to be an increasing need for bi-vocational ministers," he said. "If I could wave a wand and generate more people who would like to pursue this, that is the track we're on."

Many people go into the ministry planning to continue working in their full-time jobs and serving church congregations part-time, he said.

The seminary has several courses on ministering in small churches, and discussions are held in many classes about how to set healthy boundaries when holding a full-time job, he said.

Imes said those who seek to be part-time pastors hold a variety of full-time jobs.

"We have doctors, we have nurses, we have teachers, and social workers -- all different sorts of folks," he said.

Jon Olson, pastor of the North Wayne Baptist Church says, "It's really rewarding and I'm really blessed, being able to do it."

For 25 years Olson has worked as executive director of the Maine Farm Bureau. He said ministering in a small, rural church works well with his Farm Bureau job, since he deals with rural people in each.

"It's really my expertise," he said.

Olson and others who work full-time and serve churches part-time refer to their dual duties as "bi-vocational ministering."

And it's not uncommon in Maine, especially rural areas where many churches are small.

Olson, of Mount Vernon, makes the grand sum of $100 a week for his part-time pastoral duties.

He also has a family -- a wife and two college-age sons.

His church, built in 1851 and located on Lovejoy Pond in North Wayne, has only about 20 members, which makes for a very intimate atmosphere.

"We know each other," he said. "It's a large family and if somebody is not there, we all know why. As pastor of a small congregation, people really allow you to be part of their lives -- marriages for example. The true blessing is when somebody is dying and a family member invites you to be part of that process. It's just really, really a wonderful experience. It's very difficult, of course."

Jeff Scott, 52, of Readfield and formerly of Starks, has been a part-time pastor since 1994. He also works full time in his home inspection business.

He is pastor at both the West Mills Community Church and Church of Christ Starks Presbyterian, which recently merged and will be re-named United in Christ Presbyterian Church. He also directs Camp at the Eastward, a youth camp in Starks.

"I'm kind of tri-vocational," he said. "I enjoy outdoor youth ministry."

Scott and his wife have six children. He is considered a "tentmaking pastor," a term referring back to the apostle Paul, who made tents for a living in early church cities.

Scott's church, with 25 to 30 members, is part of the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers.

"It certainly lends itself to up-close and personal ministering," he said.

His church is part of a cooperative parish of nine churches, which provides a lot of support and allows more work to be done, he said.

Scott says he understands there can be burnout in bi-vocational ministering if one is not careful.

"It's just as easy getting burned out in the ministry, period," he said. "Some people are in tentmaking so they don't get burned out. People who choose to do this do it because it is healthy and it's a different model of ministering that works."

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com