We Continue to Think Through our Options...

In early January, when I first made it known that I wanted to quit my job, we were thinking along the following lines:

1. Move to Evansville or Cincinnati

2. Take some time off from full-time ministry

3. Go back to school and get a masters of some kind

4. Gradually begin looking for a pastoral position where I can focus on preaching, teaching, writing, podcasting, counseling and the like.

It has only been a month, but since then, Hannah and I have covered a lot of ground. We’ve spent hours talking together and with others. We’ve made many phone calls and spent hours researching online. We have checked into school options for our children in both Cincy and Evansville. We even visited Cincinnati a couple weeks ago and toured Mars Hill Academy.

But have we made any progress? Yes… and no.

As I’ve reflected on my desires for my work as a pastor, it has gradually dawned on me that the work I feel called to do is, in most cases, the work of a lead pastor. This may seem obvious to you, dear reader, but I had to get there.

Hannah and I are both open to taking a position at a church somewhere. This is not something I would have anticipated back in December - or even in January. Really, I’m amazed at the changes happening in both of us as we go through this process. I believe that our decision to leave my position at Trinity was motivated by faith and hope, and I think the process itself is yielding the fruit of increased faith and courage.

Of course, it’s no small thing to take a church. That would be an “all-in” proposition. The church would need to pay me enough for me to support my growing family.

The alternative is to step away from ministry and find work that will pay the bills. I have made progress in my thinking about what type of work to pursue: I have done computer programming in the past, and so it only makes sense that I would pursue programming work now. I was hesitant to consider computer programming when we started this process, and, upon reflection, the reason why surprised me: I really enjoy it! I’m scared that if I get a job programming, I may not want to return to the ministry.

There are many obvious benefits to programming: it has a high upper ceiling for income, it can be remote, and it is something that I may be able to do part-time in the future when I begin to move back into ministry work. And I think it’s fun! But there are downsides. It will require some tough slogging to get myself to where I can be a productive programmer - which is to say, worth paying. I’m not starting from scratch, but it has been 20 years since I’ve worked in this area. There’s going to be a learning curve.

And where does that leave a masters program? If I get full-time work as a pastor without it, then I would see it as unnecessary. I’m incurably curious, and I’m a voracious reader. I am committed to learning and growing as a pastor in any case.

If I step away from ministry and develop software for a time, then a masters may be more appealing. Many pulpit committees seem to prefer a man with an MDiv, so it might help me land a job in the future.

Please pray for us!