Business Enterprise and Ministry

I’m wrestling with some different ideas for business ventures and thinking about how they mix with my role as a pastor.

First, a couple of things you should know. Over the past 5 years or so, I’ve become convinced that I want to be engaged in “bi-vocational” ministry. One reason is that this approach to ministry frees the church to extend ministry, rather than putting so much toward a full-time salary. Another reason is that it fits my entrepreneurial personality. And a third reason is that it ensures I won’t become cloistered “inside the walls” of the church, becoming irrelevant to people outside the walls.

So, with those things established, let me try to make sense of my struggle. I don’t want to own a business that creates a perception of a conflict of interest with the church. I’m hyper-sensitive to this, because I think many people have been burned by church/finances and pastors/money. I’m considering a business that would rent building space from our church. It’s great for the church because it helps pay the mortgage and it would work well for the business because it is the right kind of space.

Does this set me and/or the church up for problems?

A business run by the pastor of the church will, for many I’m afraid, be “connected” with the church itself (I don’t think this is true or should be that way, but I think many wouldn’t consider the church and the business separate entities). My dealings as the business owner will reflect on the church. And in business, you can’t make everyone happy all the time, so … Do you see my issue?

What do you think? Where are the potential landmines? Is there a way to make it happen?

Related posts:

1. Churches and Debt
2. Authenticity and Hypocrisy from the “Pulpit”
3. Prayer for Holy Rebels … [Do I Really Want to Do This?]