What’s the difference between ministry and a job when your income comes from a church but you’re not a pastor? What is your vocation and calling?
In this week’s podcast episode, church musician Crawford Wiley and I discuss how our personal identities align with our ministry in the church. Neither of us is a pastor, but we both feel a deep sense of fulfillment in our ministries through the churches we work for. We also care about having healthy boundaries so that we don’t burn out.
What does church ministry mean to you? And is “job versus ministry” a fair question?
Some ways of thinking about church employment are:
Job, which often implies a singular source of income and a negative “it’s just a job” connotation
Career, which often implies a longterm plan and potentially a source of longterm satisfaction
Vocation, with the sense of “this is God’s calling for you,” and something you can’t “clock out” from
Ministry, including being a “pastoral musician,” implies caregiving and helping other people (you can’t minister just by yourself!)
Enjoying this podcast episode? Click here to find other Music and the Church episodes, or subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.
On Healthy Boundaries in Church Ministry
Fact: as much time as you give, that’s how much time the church will take. Not because the church is bad, but because there are endless ways to serve. If you alway and only give, you will burn out. So, you have to find healthy boundaries and ways to replenish your soul and body.
On Why We’re Here
Through all the heartache that ministry brings, remember that we get to see Christ in the people we minister to. Through all the heartache, the sadness, the continual encounters with death and dying, keep your eyes on Christ.
This Week’s Podcast Guest: Crawford Wiley
Crawford Wiley is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Longtime listeners will know Crawford as the co-host of the first season of Music and the Church. It is a delight having him back on the show as conversation buddy!
Share This Podcast
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with your friends who love all things church related—it’s the best way for them to find the show!
