Nearly Half of U.S. Evangelical Pastors Are Bivocational, Lifeway Study Reveals
A new study conducted by Lifeway Research and reported by The Christian Post has unveiled a growing trend among American evangelical pastors: nearly half are bivocational, meaning they work additional jobs outside their pastoral responsibilities to support themselves and their families.
This rising phenomenon reflects broader financial, cultural, and ecclesiastical shifts within the American church landscape — and raises critical questions about the sustainability of full-time ministry in the current climate.
According to the Lifeway Research study, 45% of evangelical pastors are now working second jobs. This number is substantially higher than the national average across other Christian denominations. In contrast, only 32% of mainline Protestant pastors and 30% of historically Black Protestant pastors reported holding bivocational roles.
The survey, conducted earlier this year with data released in June 2025, focused on pastors of churches affiliated with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), ensuring that responses primarily reflected the theological convictions and practices of conservative Christian congregations. The results paint a sobering picture of economic and institutional pressures increasingly borne by spiritual leaders in the evangelical world.
Among those surveyed, the most commonly cited reason for bivocational work was church size and limited financial support. Many pastors lead congregations of fewer than 100 people, and in these smaller contexts, tithes and offerings often fail to generate sufficient income to provide for a full-time salary, housing allowance, and benefits package.
“Pastoring a church has never been about becoming wealthy,” said one pastor quoted in the report. “But when you’re working 50 hours a week shepherding God’s people and still can’t pay for groceries, you have to make difficult choices.”
The study also found that younger pastors — especially those under 45 — were more likely to hold additional jobs. This generational shift may be driven by rising costs of living, student loan debt from seminary education, and a lack of long-term job security in smaller churches. Pastors in rural and urban communities are also more likely to be bivocational than their suburban counterparts, due to broader economic disparities in those regions.
Interestingly, despite the financial strain, many pastors expressed a positive outlook about their dual roles. Some viewed their additional work as an opportunity to serve in the marketplace, build relationships with non-believers, and model biblical work ethic. Others saw it as a practical necessity that, while not ideal, keeps them from compromising their commitment to the gospel.
Yet the shift to bivocational ministry raises theological and pastoral concerns. Conservative leaders warn that the burden of dual employment can lead to burnout, limit time for sermon preparation, counseling, and discipleship, and contribute to the weakening of spiritual authority in the local church.
“Pastors are not called to be part-time shepherds,” said a Baptist elder in Oklahoma. “When churches treat pastors as side hustlers, we devalue the office and diminish the impact of their calling.”
The findings also highlight a growing disconnect between congregational expectations and financial support. Evangelical churches tend to hold high standards for pastoral leadership — expecting biblical preaching, community involvement, administrative oversight, and crisis counseling — yet often fall short in their willingness or ability to fully support their pastors. This mismatch reflects both economic realities and spiritual immaturity among some believers who neglect regular giving and stewardship.
Some churches have tried to adapt by restructuring their ministry models. Lay leadership, volunteer teams, and digital outreach have become more prominent, enabling pastors to delegate certain duties. But for many, the tension remains: how can a man serve as a full-time shepherd when the flock cannot feed him?
Critics of the current trend suggest that American evangelicalism has drifted from a biblical model of church support. “The laborer is worthy of his wages,” Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:18, underscoring the apostolic principle that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from it. That truth, say many conservative theologians, remains unchanged — even in a shifting economic landscape.
Some pastors have expressed concern that bivocationalism could subtly reshape the identity of the church itself. When pastors are forced into part-time ministry, discipleship often takes a backseat to survival. Without the consistent spiritual leadership of a fully engaged shepherd, churches risk becoming functionally secular — adopting business-like structures and consumer-oriented mindsets.
On the flip side, some within the conservative camp see a potential providential blessing. In an increasingly hostile culture, pastors who are rooted in their local communities through non-ministerial work may gain more credibility and access to those outside the faith. This “tentmaking” model — echoing the Apostle Paul’s own example — could become a missional strategy for the 21st-century church.
Still, the trend toward bivocationalism reveals deeper spiritual issues facing the modern church. A lack of sacrificial giving, misplaced priorities, and consumer-driven church cultures have contributed to this dynamic. Conservative Christian leaders argue that revival must begin with a renewed commitment to God’s design for the church — including the honoring of those who labor in preaching and teaching.
As one bivocational pastor put it, “The harvest is still plentiful, but the laborers are stretched thin. It’s time for the church to step up.”
The study closes with a challenge to congregations: to prayerfully consider the burden placed on their pastors, and to reevaluate their own role in sustaining the gospel ministry. While bivocationalism may be necessary in some contexts, it should never become the norm by default or complacency.
As America faces cultural decline, economic strain, and moral confusion, the strength of its pulpits matters more than ever. And unless the local church recommits itself to supporting its shepherds, the faithful may find fewer and fewer voices proclaiming truth in a time of growing darkness.