Reflection

I dare to say that the pastor’s profession will change, as will the appearance of today’s churches and free churches. It’s not going to happen overnight. Not everyone will live to see it either. Many pastors today are facing retirement.

• The model of traditional churches is facing extinction (but not the Christian community)
• The model of the free churches is under pressure (but not the personal faith reference)

Those who want to believe today do not need churches to do so. This is the reality that church dropouts, postevangelicals, and others demonstrate daily. You could also put it this way:

• Christians do not need churches (“institutions”)
• Pastors and ministers need a church (“institution”) to practice their current profession.

It is not difficult to assess what this development means for the profession of pastor or preacher today. However, the question is not only relevant for (prospective) theologians, but also for congregations. Communities would also do well to prepare for major changes. This presupposes maturity.

In short, if you don’t want to be blindsided by the changes, you would do well to think things through.

The pastor as entrepreneur

Gone are the days when you had a job for life. Further development is the keyword. Gone, too, are the days when just being an employee was enough. I myself have a theological education, but not only that. In the meantime, I have completed two apprenticeships and built up so much experience in about three to four other professional fields that I can bring professional results everywhere. I am not a specialist, but an experienced generalist. In the process, I learned that I am responsible for my own life and goals.

This experience fundamentally changed my view of “jobs.” I am convinced that every employee today must be his or her own entrepreneur. Thinking that is widespread today. However, the implementation is not trivial. It’s not easy for everyone, either. In terms of the upheavals in the Church, I think this is a normal change. In my company, I had to think and implement a realignment about every four years. If I realize such a need today, then I only think: Let’s go! I have learned to embrace change.

The most important question is: What will I live on in a month, in a year, in five years? I am often amazed at the matter-of-factness with which pastors and ministers accept sometimes very luxurious and often indexed salaries and benefits. As a self-employed person, I can hardly imagine that to this day. The reality in churches and free churches is this: Many pay for few. This will change in the foreseeable future (outlines of the development in Germany | Switzerland).

The self-evident nature of a profession is under pressure. The church of the future is likely to be more about vocation than profession. Some boldly imagine that today’s church may become a midwife to a future form of community. Everyone can help to achieve this today.

I imagine you are a full-blooded pastor or minister. Then you can expect the following to perform your job:

• The wing of your company is getting smaller. Your job is under pressure.
• Your target group is increasingly to be found outside this company.

It is high time to imagine something new. The selection of active pastors will perhaps be similar to the calling of Gideon’s men, by which Gideon was victorious over the Midianites (Ri 7). Courageously, you can stand up for what is essential. There is room for pioneering spirit again. That’s a good thing.

There is room for pioneering spirit again.

Deepening

Discuss:

“And the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that licketh of the water with his tongue, as a dog licketh, set him apart for himself; and also every one that lieth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of those who licked⟨ by bringing the water⟩ with their hand to their mouth ⟨was three hundred men; and all the rest of the people had sat down on their knees to drink water. Then the LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who have licked, I will save you and give Midian into your hand. But all the ⟨remaining⟩ people shall go, every man to his place.”
Judges 7:5-7