What suggestions do you have for identifying new directions for the development of faithful leadership for the mission of Christ?
 
 “I worshiped at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan from 2000 to 2002. As the Millennium arrived the church had about a dozen members in Sunday worship, a rundown building with a leaky roof and falling plaster, and almost no endowment. By any conventional standard of success, Jan Hus was ready to be closed, but look closer -- Jan Hus served over 5,000 people in the community every month. Think about that. A dozen disciples serving over 5,000 people. We have heard this story before, just not in this way. The lesson I draw from Jan Hus is that Jesus’ miracles of service aren’t just stories, but real- life models for how to do ministry today.” – Arthur Fullerton

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“I’ve been in ordained ministry for about eight years.  During that time, and before seminary, I experienced the challenges of trying to do ministry early in one’s career, with kids, without a paycheck, without benefits, on a shoestring budget, as well as interim and full time.  And what has struck me has been the refrain, “the future of the Church is in part time ministry.”  I believe this reality is accelerated by Coronatide (the season of Coronavirus).  

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I struggle with the name “Tentmaking,” because no one outside the Church gets the reference; most of the world understands this work as part of the "Gig Economy," though I remain uncomfortable diminishing this ministry model as a mere "gig," because it is a specific and particular call deserving of more intensive support. As far as I can see, the PCUSA has not fully embraced the reality of the Gig Economy as it impacts our part-time pastors, seminarians, ostensibly retired-but-still-working clergy, innumerable 1001 Worshiping leaders and so many more.  I see the most important development of faithful leadership for this time being a deliberate investment into supporting the reality of part-time ministers as  "Making Ministers" —folks intentionally called to making ministries of relationship building that cannot fully fiscally support them, and we wouldn’t want it to, because that would mess it up.  I would like to see more resources leveraged into developing means to provide Making Ministers with the support they cannot get from gigs—benefits, healthcare, vested in the pension plan—because with these supports, they can fulfill their calls with confidence, and find the other work that supports their ministry, rather than cram their call between other gigs."

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I remember the painful decision to look for yet another part-time job while a nursing mom and Young Adult Volunteer coordinator because I couldn’t get other gigs to cover health insurance.  The Church didn’t have a way to put all my salary into the one useful benefit needed at the time. If the future is indeed in part-time ministry, we need to find ways to offer the justice and dignity of fully vested benefits to even our lowest paid part time ministry workers.  I believe this will do more to free the Spirit and empower called people than any other new initiative.” – Marie Mainard O’Connell