Earlier this week I shared some Labor Day Reflections. In the days since writing that post, I’ve done some additional reflecting on my own experience of work with a focus on my work since 1996.
Over the last 25 years, I’ve worked for 15 different employers in 25 different positions (excluding short-term work as coach or consultant,). I’ve often changed roles once joining an organization, achieving four titles once, three titles twice, and two titles twice. And, I’ve often worked for multiple employers concurrently.
To more easily explain the work I’ve done, I’ve organized the 25 job titles into three categories: church – congregational ministry, faith-based non-profit organizations, and all others (a category that ranges from government to higher education to healthcare – both for profit and non-profit – to the world of sport).
Church – Congregational Ministry
- Interim/Transitional Senior Pastor
- Interim/Transitional Pastor
- Temporary/Supply Pastor
- Associate Pastor
- Youth Pastor
- Youth Director
- Director of Education
- Director of Adult Education
- Director of Ministry with Children and Families
- Director of Information Technology
- Guest Experience Consultant
Faith-Based Non-Profit Organizations
- Executive Director
- Associate Executive Director
- Director of Social Enterprise
- Social Enterprise Consultant
- Social Enterprise Coach
- Director of Clinic Operations
All Others
- Refugee Caseworker
- Regional Quality Assurance Analyst
- Texas Works Supervisor
- Director of Educational Products
- National Director of Learning
- National Manager of Learning
- Instructional Technologist/Instructional Designer
- Soccer Referee
My Story – So Far
25 years ago I was a full-time refugee caseworker and a full-time undergraduate student working toward a bachelor’s degree in ministry. A few years and a few promotions later, I left that employer to become a full-time seminary student. At the time, I thought I was preparing for four or five decades of uninterrupted pastoral ministry in local congregations.
While in seminary I served in a part-time youth director position that also included the opportunity to learn and lead all aspects of parish ministry. A few weeks before graduating, I started my first pastoral position as the associate pastor of an historic congregation hoping to redevelop.
From 2000 – 2010, I served five congregations affiliated with three Mainline Protestant denominations: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lutheran (ELCA), and Presbyterian (PCUSA), and I completed my Doctor of Ministry degree.
In 2011, just a decade after graduating from seminary, everything began to shift. My work world diversified in 2011 when my primary employment shifted to higher education.
For the next four years, my primary work was at a university. A few months into my time in higher education, I re-entered the world of congregational ministry serving my sixth congregation and first affiliated with a fourth Mainline Protestant denomination: United Church of Christ. I later added another concurrent role when I began serving my seventh congregation and second affiliated with the United Church of Christ as their 2/3 time Interim/Transitional Senior Pastor. Toward the end of this four year stretch I realized it was not sustainable to work 40 hours a week in my administrative position at the university, 10 as an adjunct professor, 15 in my part-time permanent parish role, and 25 in interim ministry.
In 2015, I stepped away from my full-time university role to accept a role with my eighth congregation, third affiliated with the United Church of Christ, and first full-time role as a solo Interim/Transitional Pastor while continuing my work as an adjunct professor and also continuing to serve in the other part-time ongoing ministry role. Ten months later I concluded both ministry roles, continued to teach as an online adjunct professor, and entered a new work world: healthcare. And, I returned to school for a Master of Business Administration degree.
From 2017 to present I have primarily worked for faith-based non-profit organizations, serving two organizations that are supported by a large number of nearby congregations. I also returned to parish ministry serving my ninth congregation and my first in the role of temporary/supply pastor. And, I concluded my work as an adjunct professor in 2018. I also deepened my involvement in healthcare by leading clinic operations for a faith-based non-profit and by leading the educational products team of a national medical association. And, I returned to school completing a fellowship in social enterprise.
From 2011-2021 I never served congregation as my sole employment, and I have not held a position in a local congregation since 2018 when I completed my role as a temporary/supply pastor.
So What?
Ministry has changed dramatically over the last 25 years. When I was completing my core educational preparation for ministry I had no idea how the world would change; how American religious belief, behavior, and belonging would shift; or how a global pandemic would impact congregational ministry. I also had no real awareness of the diverse opportunities for doing ministry in roles outside of a congregational setting.
My purpose has not changed; I remain committed to follow the Way of Jesus and to making the world a better place for all people and for all of creation. What my ministry looks like has evolved, and will continue to evolve.
As I begin the next 25 years, I know better than to assume what positions I may hold or what organizations I may serve.
