Letting Go of the Myth of the “Ideal Pastor”
This week at Ministry Forum, we’re diving into the evolving landscape of bivocational and part-time ministry. It’s a shift more and more congregations are navigating—sometimes out of necessity, but increasingly as a purposeful and Spirit-led choice. In our companion post, "When Ministry Isn’t Full-Time: A Conversation About Bivocational Leadership", we explored how bivocational ministry can offer surprising gifts of connection, spiritual depth, and missional creativity. Today, we continue that conversation by turning our focus to part-time congregational leadership through the lens of Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy by G. Jeffrey MacDonald.
Buy the Book
Listen to the Living Church Podcast Episode
Hear Jeff MacDonald on the Leading Ideas Talks Podcast
MacDonald’s book challenges the idea that “real” churches need full-time pastors. He draws from interviews with more than 20 thriving congregations who have made the transition to part-time leadership, demonstrating that these churches often become more vibrant, not less.
For decades, we’ve equated full-time clergy with health and legitimacy. But as MacDonald points out in the Leading Ideas podcast, the one-church, one-pastor model is a relatively recent invention. In contrast, the early church—and much of church history—has always relied on collaborative, community-driven leadership.
When MacDonald stepped into a quarter-time role at First Parish Church in Newbury, MA, it wasn’t just a staffing change—it was a cultural one. Formerly, the pastor had done nearly everything. In the new part-time model, lay leaders took initiative, rolled up their sleeves, and created ministries like a food pantry and a community garden. In his conversation on the Living Church Podcast, MacDonald describes this shift as a move from consumeristic church models to hands-on discipleship. Part-time ministry, rather than limiting a church, can empower it to discover hidden gifts and re-engage its mission.
Boundaries, Discernment, and the Freedom to Flourish
A common critique of part-time ministry is that “there’s no such thing”—that pastors inevitably end up working full-time hours for part-time pay. MacDonald gently but firmly pushes back, arguing that part-time ministry can work—if churches and pastors engage in mutual discernment, set clear expectations, and treat the model as a strategic shift rather than a reluctant fallback.
Boundaries are vital, he says, not just for pastors but for congregations. In freeing pastors from unrealistic expectations, churches also free themselves—to take ownership, build leadership capacity, and focus more sharply on what God is calling them to do now.
Let’s Reimagine What It Means to Be The Church
Part-Time is Plenty isn’t about abandoning pastoral care, rich worship, or community witness. It’s about redistributing them. It’s about recognizing that the Holy Spirit equips the whole body for ministry—not just the person in the pulpit.
This is a powerful word for congregations in transition. As MacDonald notes in his interviews and Christian Century article, many churches wait too long to make a change, hoping to stretch a full-time model until it simply breaks. But those who transition early—and prayerfully—often find renewed life, deeper discipleship, and a stronger sense of purpose.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
This is the conversation we’re having together this week at Ministry Forum. Part-time doesn’t have to mean diminished. It can mean focused, faithful, flexible—and full of possibility. What do you think? We want to hear your thoughts on this topic - leave us a comment below.
Read our companion post on bivocational leadership
Listen to Jeff MacDonald on Leading Ideas Talks
Explore more in Part-Time is Plenty
Hear the Living Church Podcast conversation