Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Support independent, faith-based journalism. Donate
Search Search this site

Pastors as social entrepreneurs

OpinionZachary Bailes  |  January 22, 2015

Seldom do I meet a pastor who, when they find out I’m in fundraising, asks about raising money. Ironically, most seminaries don’t teach this elemental aspect of ministry—congregations are nonprofits; contributions are elemental to their growth. However, before congregations and pastors can start sending out requests for more funding, there’s a need to shift the way we view the church.

Many divinity or seminary graduates often pursue other opportunities other than the pastorate. Of the many reasons, a chief reason is the role played by the pastor. Pastors have become managers, overseeing programs and growth, maintaining the congregational status quo—and, in some cases, the societal status quo. If we’re going to shift the way we view the church, we’ve got to change the way we see the pastor. 

But first, a statistical interlude.

In 2013, the latest year for statistics on giving, overall giving increased 4.4% according to Giving USA. That statistic, however, might mislead some congregations. The same report details a continued decrease in giving to congregations. Simply put, congregants are giving less money to their churches, and more to specific, religiously-identified nonprofits.

Looking deeper still, Connected to Give: Faith Communities finds that of the 63% of Americans who give, 73% of those gifts support organizations with religious ties–either congregations or a religiously identified nonprofit. However, only 41% of those gifts support congregations. The remainder, 32%, support religiously identified nonprofits.

What do these numbers mean for congregations?

A fairly new, yet growing idea, is that of a social entrepreneur. Social entrepreneurship isn’t something “new,” but as a professional calling it has captured the imagination of many. Among those drawn toward this term? Millennials. Social entrepreneurs want to innovate solutions for social problems. The revenue they generate, isn’t given to shareholders. Revenue generated funds their efforts to create and sustain social value.

The Skoll World Forum defines social entrepreneurs as “society’s change agents, creators of innovations that disrupt the status quo and transform our world.” Isn’t that the Church’s mission? How many pastors can say they’re empowered to be “change agents?” How many pastors view their vocation as transforming the world? Judging by how many divinity or seminary graduates pursue positions outside the congregation, I would say few pastors would call themselves “social entrepreneurs.” 

Yet, isn’t this the kingdom of God? Has the church lost its ability to create a vision that reflects an institution as a hub of social innovation? Those who choose ‘non-traditional’ ministry careers choose them for the same reasons donors increase their donations to those organizations: the vision and identity held by the institutional church lacks the ability to innovate beyond the church calendar.

Research demonstrates that a plurality of giving supports congregations, yet that support continues to decrease. We need to reimagine the pastorate, and thereby reimagine the congregation. Is the church simply a place for worship? Or, is it also a hub of social innovation that seeks to innovate solutions for social problems? Will the church view itself as an economic driver within their communities? Congregations have the potential to innovate and transform their communities — and grow in the process. 

Admittedly, there’s more to the process than these few words. We need to start the conversation somewhere; that’s how innovation begins—within an idea. So, what’s your idea? What does your congregation have that can provide fresh streams of revenue? Maybe it’s the education building that was built in the 1950s, but now it doesn’t reach capacity on the one day of the week it’s used. What can that space do? What resources does your congregation have that can inspire transformation for your community and communicate the goodness of God? Innovation needs hope to succeed and grace when it fails—where else better for innovation than the church?


OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors.
Tags:church healthclergyministerpastorStewardshipGivingChurch Financemillennialtithefundraisingfundingsocial entrepreneur
Avatar
More by
Zachary Bailes
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Join Ryan Burge and Mark Wingfield for a free webinar on the ‘nones’

      News

    • When politics becomes religion

      Opinion

    • Here’s help for addressing mental health in marriage

      News

    • Why we must not turn away from the Derek Chauvin trial

      Opinion


    Curated

    • How ‘complementarianism’ – the belief that God assigned specific gender roles – became part of evangelical doctrine

      How ‘complementarianism’ – the belief that God assigned specific gender roles – became part of evangelical doctrine

      April 14, 2021
    • Can America’s ‘Civil Religion’ Still Unite The Country?

      Can America’s ‘Civil Religion’ Still Unite The Country?

      April 14, 2021
    • Fox stands behind Tucker Carlson after ADL urges his firing

      Fox stands behind Tucker Carlson after ADL urges his firing

      April 14, 2021
    • How a Georgia pastor practiced what he preached by accepting LGBTQ members into his Southern Baptist church

      How a Georgia pastor practiced what he preached by accepting LGBTQ members into his Southern Baptist church

      April 14, 2021
    Read Next:

    Ways of seeing racism

    OpinionDuke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Texas takes the spotlight as statehouses across the nation seek to restrict trans teens and voter access

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • Why we must not turn away from the Derek Chauvin trial

      OpinionFloyd Thompkins

    • Ways of seeing racism

      OpinionDuke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson

    • Here’s help for addressing mental health in marriage

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • America 2021: Got church and steeple but where are the people?

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Finding sabbath in a hammock

      OpinionPatrick Wilson

    • ‘Pandemic acknowledges no religious exemption,’ interfaith group warns state legislatures

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • When politics becomes religion

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Kieve senses a calling to new role helping churches prevent and respond to sexual abuse

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • ‘The Bible says’: Sermons then and now

      OpinionCarl Kell

    • Join Ryan Burge and Mark Wingfield for a free webinar on the ‘nones’

      NewsBNG staff

    • It’s up to the Senate now to fix our democracy

      OpinionElder Lee Harris

    • De La Torre calls for ‘badass believers’ to decolonize Christianity

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Here’s something to try on for size: Talk about things that are ‘more-than-human’

      OpinionCody J. Sanders

    • Another Friday night, another Supreme Court rapid ruling on churches and COVID

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Would Jesus wear $800 sandals?

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • Now Beth Moore is taking on patriarchy in the church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • When pastors change churches during a global pandemic, it takes creativity and perseverance

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Angry man with bulldozer severely damages Dellanna West O’Brien School in Liberia

      NewsGrace Thornton

    • Where is Mike Huckabee?

      OpinionRobert P. Sellers

    • American Christianity in China also imports gender bias and Calvinism

      AnalysisRick Pidcock

    • We cannot now close our border to those fleeing the horror we helped create

      OpinionChris Conley

    • That time I went to the school board meeting to speak against banning books

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Chip Gaines writes about building a network of support and not being constrained by conventional wisdom

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Here’s help for addressing mental health in marriage

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘Pandemic acknowledges no religious exemption,’ interfaith group warns state legislatures

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Kieve senses a calling to new role helping churches prevent and respond to sexual abuse

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Join Ryan Burge and Mark Wingfield for a free webinar on the ‘nones’

      NewsBNG staff

    • De La Torre calls for ‘badass believers’ to decolonize Christianity

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Another Friday night, another Supreme Court rapid ruling on churches and COVID

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Now Beth Moore is taking on patriarchy in the church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • When pastors change churches during a global pandemic, it takes creativity and perseverance

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Angry man with bulldozer severely damages Dellanna West O’Brien School in Liberia

      NewsGrace Thornton

    • Chip Gaines writes about building a network of support and not being constrained by conventional wisdom

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Months after two hurricanes, vaccinated volunteers finally heading to Lake Charles

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Contrary to what you’ve heard, study finds churches thrive with racial diversity

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • CBF Benefits Board names executive vice president and COO

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • In state legislatures, a push against trans teens, for churches as ‘essential’ and seeking to define ‘religious freedom’

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • What we missed most about in-person church, what’s coming back and what’s likely to change

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • If you want to help the poor, first understand their humanity

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Second Easter during pandemic brings greater sense of hope nationwide

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • In Tigray, Ethiopia, six months of pain, suffering and disaster

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Ryan Burge sifts the data to paint an evolving portrait of the ‘nones’

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Transitions for the week of 4-2-21

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • 25 faith-based schools named in LGBTQ discrimination case against Department of Education

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Less than half of Americans now claim a formal congregational membership

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Why we must not turn away from the Derek Chauvin trial

      OpinionFloyd Thompkins

    • Ways of seeing racism

      OpinionDuke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson

    • America 2021: Got church and steeple but where are the people?

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Finding sabbath in a hammock

      OpinionPatrick Wilson

    • When politics becomes religion

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • ‘The Bible says’: Sermons then and now

      OpinionCarl Kell

    • It’s up to the Senate now to fix our democracy

      OpinionElder Lee Harris

    • Here’s something to try on for size: Talk about things that are ‘more-than-human’

      OpinionCody J. Sanders

    • Would Jesus wear $800 sandals?

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • Where is Mike Huckabee?

      OpinionRobert P. Sellers

    • We cannot now close our border to those fleeing the horror we helped create

      OpinionChris Conley

    • That time I went to the school board meeting to speak against banning books

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • What I found hidden in my mother’s Bible after her death

      OpinionKim Brewer

    • Four ways to help others through grief and mourning amid social isolation

      OpinionJacob George

    • A few good men?: Promising Young Woman and the culture of abuse

      OpinionGreg Garrett, Senior Columnist

    • I knew the truth about women in the Bible, and I stayed silent

      OpinionBeth Allison Barr

    • How American exceptionalism is killing America

      OpinionRichard T. Hughes

    • The end of American exceptionalism

      OpinionSteve Sullivan

    • To live into Easter, we need to keep writing a new song

      OpinionLaura Mayo

    • How to find resilience for the long run of COVID, as we’re ‘almost there, but not quite yet’

      OpinionPaula Mangum Sheridan

    • George Floyd’s murder: Knowing what cannot be unseen

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • The habits of churches that need resurrection

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • Consider the trees: A Holy Week reflection on looking up

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • Baylor, Baptists and slavery: A way forward

      OpinionGreg Garrett, Senior Columnist

    • Admitting our part in ‘Good’ Friday

      OpinionSteve Sullivan

    • How ‘complementarianism’ – the belief that God assigned specific gender roles – became part of evangelical doctrine

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Can America’s ‘Civil Religion’ Still Unite The Country?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Fox stands behind Tucker Carlson after ADL urges his firing

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How a Georgia pastor practiced what he preached by accepting LGBTQ members into his Southern Baptist church

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Public policy leader Weston Ware dies at age 88

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Panel advances bill to let Arkansas teachers talk creationism

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Are LGBTQ students at Christian schools discriminated against? A lawsuit, scholarly studies say yes.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • A Georgia church, kicked out of the SBC for allowing gay members, wants to make sure ‘everybody’s welcome’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Faith leaders call for elimination of Senate filibuster

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Joe Biden is not planning to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Christian nationalism is a barrier to mass vaccination against COVID-19

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Celebrity lineup to read King’s anti-war speech on assassination anniversary

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Montana House backs bill on religious challenges to rules

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Georgia faith leaders to leave water bottles around Capitol in protest of new voter laws

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Vatican makes moral case for supporting people displaced by climate change

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Baylor partnership brings Baptist Standard archive online

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Survey: Most Americans know Biden is Catholic, far fewer know Harris’ religion

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Georgia’s new GOP election law draws criticism, lawsuits

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • At nationwide rallies, Christians stand up for Asian Americans

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Appellate court arguments set for Charleston church shooter

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Franklin Graham unfazed after evangelical base blasts him for encouraging vaccines

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Shooter at Kansas Jewish centers appeals death sentence

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Like Beth Moore, many women preachers have had to break free to follow God’s call

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Texas health care provider ordered to pay former employees for mandating prayer and religious discussions

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Many QAnon followers report having mental health diagnoses

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2021 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS