CoVo May Offer a Solution to Church Leadership
Rick Hiemstra of the Evangelical Fellow of Canada estimates that half of the pastors of Canada’s 10,000 evangelical churches may retire in the next 10 years.[i]
Using what he calls “quick back of the napkin calculations” Hiemstra guesstimates that we will need 625 new pastors each year just to populate existing pulpits.
These are astounding numbers, made more astounding when contrasted with the limited number of students graduating from Canadian seminaries with pastoral degrees. Where will the leaders of the church in Canada come from?
We believe that the (not so) surprising answer may be that they are found in your own congregation. Across Canada and around the world God is placing His hand on (often) unlikely leaders and calling them into church leadership. This has always been God’s way. From the selection of David to the calling of Saul, the bible paints a picture of God’s provision, often through candidates we might miss.
Co-Vocational leaders often continue serving in paid or unpaid roles outside the church while contributing to the health of their congregation. They often train “on the job” and take theological and leadership classes while serving in their congregation. And they serve as part of a team that enables an Ephesians 4: 11-16 informed understanding of leadership.
Similarly, Co-Vocational Churches are a different breed of congregation. These congregations have addressed the deep-seated narratives and assumptions that lead to the expectation that church leaders are the ones responsible for ministry. Instead, they value shared leadership, team ministry, and leaders as equippers of the body to do the work of ministry.
Sadly, many churches wait “too long,” and end up unprepared to transition smoothly into this biblical and beneficial model. External coaching has been demonstrated to be invaluable.
We can help. Please reach out if we can assist in any way.