Ok, I have been wrestiling with this question that Greg mentions in the description of this discussion. Is there vocational (professional) people in the five fold ministry? If so what is the biblical support for this that we use? Please help me to better understand this as I am lost in a sea of confusion on this one. In addition, I would ask if there is support for it the next question to ask is should a person accept it or does accepting it allow people to have power over the person ministering and cause the person ministering to see the people as dollar signs (no matter how hard they try not to)? Just some thoughts.
Of course the scripture used most often when vocational (professional) ministry is in focus is "the worker deserves his wages..." and "do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain" .." Do these apply to the the people in a five fold ministry team? Obviously it is quite biblical to take care of people who give time to the ministry--however as we look at the Church in Acts, "professional " did n't seem to be a characteristic of this kind of care. Paul was a tentmaker --but sometimes he didn't have to work. I think that describes it best. An Ephesians 4:12 ministry gives balance to any body of believers but an Eph. 4:12 team outside of the church system is a dream team. This kind of team would be so equipping others "full time" pay would not be necessary. I have been in paid ministry for along time. I didn't want to accept pay for the very reason Jeff said, I didn't want to see teens as dollar signs. As I moved into the system and lived in the system I was secure in the thought that I kept the pay separate from the people. Now that I have been released from a professional position and am working in the community with no title, no funding---I have found a refreshing freedom to operate on the Sprit's timing. I say all that to say--I think there is a place in the five fold ministry for helping and giving to those on the team, releasing them to spend more time in their ministry but I think it is important to stay away from the idea of professional. Professionalism just like security and comsumerism fight against being truly missional.
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