Churches Trained Bivocational Pastors in Summer 2026
Local associations addressed leadership shortages by preparing congregants for pastoral duties during a 2026 initiative.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Christianity
Live Poll
Should your local church prioritize training its own members to serve as ministers?
Throughout the summer of 2026, various Baptist associations implemented training programs to prepare bivocational pastors from within their own congregations. These initiatives aimed to fill leadership voids, as many churches currently operate without a primary pastor.
Why it matters
Many normative churches struggle to afford full-time staff, and potential bivocational candidates often prefer not to relocate. Training local leaders provides a sustainable pathway for these congregations to secure consistent pulpit supply.
The average age of current pastors is 54 and rising, while more than 10 percent of the 800 churches in the Illinois Baptist State Association currently lack a pastor. Meanwhile, Southern Baptist Convention seminaries continue to train 18,000 students annually.
The players
Jason Lowe
He is a staff member at the Kentucky Baptist Convention who has been involved in regional pastoral development initiatives.
Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church
This congregation based in Jacksonville, Illinois, hosted a preaching lab to equip members for local pastoral leadership.
Illinois Baptist State Association
This regional network represents over 800 churches and is actively addressing the current vacancy rates among its member congregations.
Three Forks Association
This Kentucky-based organization trained 135 local church leaders to serve as potential pastors and pulpit supply.
Harvest Church of Southern Illinois
Located in Anna, Illinois, this church serves as a key participant in regional associational efforts to identify and train new leaders.
The details
Local associations utilize roundtables and informal discipleship groups to teach essential sermon preparation and pastoral skills to members. At Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Illinois, over 20 men participated in a preaching lab, with six going on to deliver sermons in worship services.
Timeline
Summertime 2026: The Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church preaching lab occurred.
2023: Jason Lowe joined the Kentucky Baptist Convention staff.
Last month: An Associational Roundtable was held at the IBSA building in Springfield, Illinois.
Roadmap
The trend toward bivocational training directly responds to the aging pastoral workforce, which now averages 54 years old. This approach marks a departure from traditional reliance on seminary-trained, full-time clergy by utilizing internal congregational development.
Congregants may see more laypeople filling the pulpit during Sunday services as local churches prioritize internal leadership development. This shift could mean more opportunities for members to participate in discipleship and pastoral training programs within their own congregations.
The takeaway
Small congregations are successfully mitigating leadership gaps by investing in the potential of their own members. This model suggests that the future of many local churches lies in empowering local leaders who are already integrated into the community.
Further reading
For more information on religious leadership trends, visit the Christianity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Biblical Recorder.
Live Poll
Should your local church prioritize training its own members to serve as ministers?
