Hybrid Ministry Model

These are challenging times for congregations. Fewer people are attending church, giving has declined, and our populations are aging. Many communities that once supported full-time ministry are discovering that their needs (and their resources!) look different now. And yet, the longing for connection, spiritual depth, steady leadership, and for a community grounded in shared values is as strong as ever.

Come, dream a dream with me as we imagine together what sustainable part-time ministry that meets the moment could look like.

Why this model?

Not only are these are challenging times for congregations, ministry itself has changed dramatically. It wasn't that long ago when ministers were primarily responsible for preaching and pastoral care. Now we're expected to handle leadership development, organizational systems, faith formation, administration, staff supervision, social justice coordination, governance, strategic planning, technology, communications... and more.

Truly, that scope doesn't even fit into one full-time job anymore, much less a part-time one!

"The point is not to 'do everything.' The point is to strengthen the parts of your congregational life that will ripple outward and help the whole community thrive."

Traditional part-time ministry has often meant trying to do this impossible full-time job at part-time pay - stretching a minister too thin across all areas of congregational life. That's not sustainable for anyone.

This model offers a different approach: strategic, focused partnership instead of trying to cover everything at reduced capacity.

Instead of scattering limited hours across the entire map of congregational life, we choose one or two areas where concentrated, collaborative work can make a real difference. This might mean building stronger governance, or deepening worship and lay leadership, or strengthening pastoral care systems. It might mean clarifying roles, renewing mission, or stabilizing communication and decision-making. Combined with robust worship leadership, pastoral care coordination, and ongoing remote support, this creates ministry that's both deep and sustainable.

The point is not to “do everything.” The point is to strengthen the parts of your congregational life that will ripple outward and help the whole community thrive.

This approach honors the limits of part-time ministry rather than pretending they don’t exist. And in doing so, it allows the work we do take on together to be meaningful, grounded, and sustainable.

Why me? Why now?

After a successful settled ministry, Congregational Life staff work with the UUA, and five years of intensive, post-pandemic interim work with two congregations, I've learned a lot about what supports congregations and ministers and what burns them out. I’ve seen the impact that clear boundaries, thoughtful systems, and strong lay leadership can have in a ministerial relationship. I’ve also seen how much energy is wasted when we try to do things simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.”

At the same time, I am at a time when my own life is shifting. I am completing an interim ministry, my kids are grown and out of the house. And I'm converting a camper van to travel in and live out of. This is a moment when I can try something audacious: bringing intensive, focused ministry to smaller congregations anywhere in the country, building partnerships that strengthen rather than strain.

I deeply love our UU congregations. I love their quirks and questions, their longing for meaning, their courage in times of change. I know how to help a community navigate a transition with integrity and kindness. And I believe that this hybrid approach is one of the most sustainable paths forward for our congregations that cannot sustain full-time ministry.

What do we focus on?

In this model, part-time ministry doesn’t mean trying to “cover everything.” It means choosing what will matter most for your congregation right now. For 1/4 time ministry, we choose one primary area. For 1/2 ministry (the maximum I offer) we choose two. Together, we identify where intensive work will strengthen your congregation in lasting ways.

These focus areas might look something like:

Governance & Board Development - Right-sizing your governance, understanding fiduciary responsibility, how to make healthy decisions, the importance of clear roles and boundaries

Worship Development - Building your lay worship capacity, training worship associates, deepening Sunday services

Leadership Development - Cultivating new leaders, building your leadership bench, spiritual practice of service

Systems & Organizational Health - Size transitions, restructuring committees, clarifying communication

Pastoral Care Coordination - Building lay pastoral care teams and systems that sustain the whole community

Social Justice Structure - Helping your congregation develop strategic justice work rooted in your values

Stewardship & Financial Health - Generosity culture, diversifying revenue, sound financial practices

Strategic Planning - Values clarification, vision development, realistic goal-setting

What this requires: Each focus area needs a minimum of 6 volunteers willing to commit to working intensively in that area during the year. We're not just talking about it - we're doing the work together.

How we choose: In the contracting process for the first year, we'll negotiate focus areas before I arrive and write them into our ministerial agreement. This ensures we're aligned from the start about what we're working on together. In subsequent years, we'll evaluate annually: do we continue deepening in these areas, or shift to new ones? And the ministerial agreement will be updated accordingly.

Plus worship ministry: In addition to focus area work, I typically provide worship leadership both remotely and in-person:

1/2 time: Up to 18 services annually
1/4 time: Up to 9 services annually

Could we skip worship to concentrate entirely on focus areas? Yes, if you have strong lay worship and want my time focused on systems work, governance, or other ministry areas - that's fine. We're still building real ministerial partnership.

Could we skip focus areas to get more preaching? No. Without the focused ministry work, our relationship becomes pulpit supply rather than a true partnership. The combination of worship plus strategic capacity-building is what makes this model transformative rather than transactional.

How does it work?

Hybrid ministry has two essential components: in-person residencies and remote ministry between those residencies.

In-Person Residencies:

Residencies are the relational center of this model. They last between two and four weeks and happen once or twice a year. During these weeks, I usually work double-time (ie, 1/2 time ministry would see me working full-time during these weeks, 1/4 time ministry would see me working 1/2 time during these weeks).

These are immersive periods of preaching, meeting with leadership, getting to know your people and your culture, facilitating retreats, training teams, and offering the kind of pastoral presence that simply works better in person.

Over time, these residencies become touchstones when the congregation realigns, reconnects, and takes a deep breath together.

Remote Ministry:
Between residencies, the remainder of our work happens remotely via Zoom, phone, and email. There are several ways to structure this, and we decide together what rhythm best fits your congregation. Some communities prefer a steady, weekly cadence. Others thrive with a “pulse” model - a week of heavier work followed by a week with little or none. Some prefer deep-focus cycles, especially if we are doing strategic work.

No matter the rhythm, what’s crucial is clarity: you will always know when I am available, what hours are designated for ministry, and what to do when I am not on duty. Our boundaries will be clear from the start, which allows the relationship to remain healthy.

What are the requirements?

Hybrid ministry can be transformative, but it is not right for every community. It works well when a congregation already has (or is ready to develop) strong lay leadership, reliable hybrid worship technology, and a willingness to embrace shared ministry. It does not work in a context where the minister is expected to be the primary do-er of everything, or where emotional dependency on the minister runs high.

We will also want to be direct and honest about boundaries. There will be weeks when I am not available, and there will be times when pastoral emergencies are held by your lay pastoral care team until we can connect. Most crises do not require immediate in-person presence; they require a caring community supported by good systems. I can help you build that.

We'll also commit to evaluating our partnership every year. We will ask what is working, what needs adjusting, and whether the focus areas still make sense. This level of ongoing clarity is what makes hybrid ministry not just possible, but sustainable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where did this model come from?

This approach was inspired by innovative part-time ministry models being pioneered by my UU colleagues. I've adapted these concepts to fit my strengths in systems thinking, governance, organizational development, and worship leadership - creating something that's both grounded in emerging best practices and uniquely suited to how I work best.

What about memorial services?
Memorial services are one of the most important pastoral moments in congregational life, so it is good to be intentional about how this looks in a hybrid ministry. We have several options that can be decided on a case-by-case basis:

Option 1: If a death occurs during or near a residency, I'm there to provide that ministry just as any minister would.

Option 2: If a death occurs between residencies, we have a few approaches depending on the situation.

I can provide support remotely (meeting with family via Zoom, preparing materials for a lay-led or hybrid service).
Or we can schedule a memorial service for when I return.
Or, if the congregation has put funds into my professional expenses for such situations, I can fly back to lead the service.

Option 3: For anticipated deaths (hospice situations), we can plan ahead together. The key is having these conversations early so everyone knows what to expect and no one is caught off guard in a moment of grief.

We'll figure out together what serves the family and congregation best and write these options and expectations into our ministerial agreement.

What about other pastoral emergencies?

Most pastoral emergencies do not require immediate physical presence; they require compassion, steadiness, and clarity. I am available by phone, email, and Zoom for support and guidance, and we'll utilize (or build!) your lay pastoral care team so that the congregation can respond in those first, crucial moments. When an in-person response is truly needed, we will determine together the best way to make that happen.

Do we need special technology to make hybrid ministry work?

You don’t need a high-end setup - just something reliable. Most congregations developed some hybrid capacity during the pandemic, and I can help you use what you already have in thoughtful, accessible ways. I’m not a tech installer, but I can help troubleshoot, offer suggestions, and support your volunteers in feeling confident with the tools you use.

What if we've never done hybrid worship before?

If you don't yet have the ability to stream or host services online, then we’ll need to talk about whether this model is right for you. Hybrid ministry assumes at least basic online infrastructure. Some congregations choose to build that capacity first, and then begin the ministerial relationship once it is stable and dependable.

Are you really committed if you live in a van?

Absolutely. My little home-on-wheels isn’t about lack of commitment. Instead, it’s about flexibility. It allows me to come to you for residencies without asking you to cover relocation costs - these funds can instead be put into a professional expenses fund that can cover non-van housing for residencies or for emergency visits. Think of it as a way of bringing my whole self to you, without burdening your budget.

How will we feel connected to you when you’re not physically here?
The pandemic proved that relationship doesn’t depend on weekly proximity; it depends on intention, consistency, and care. Between residencies, we will meet regularly for the work we’ve committed to. I’ll be in conversation with your leadership. You’ll have clear ways to reach out when things come up. And when I return for in-person residency time, we’ll deepen what we’ve been building. Over time, the rhythm becomes familiar and grounding.

Do you attend every meeting?
No. Part-time ministry requires a great deal of clarity around our boundaries. Together, we’ll determine which meetings I need to attend regularly and which are held by your leadership. I’m here to support your systems, not to sit in every room.

How do we know if this model is right for us?

Every congregation is different, with its own history, hopes, and fears. If you're wondering whether hybrid ministry might work for you, here are the questions I encourage you to ask yourselves:

Are we ready to work collaboratively rather than dependently?
Are we willing to experiment with a rhythm that is new to us?
Do we have (or can we build) a strong base of lay leaders?
Does the idea of focused, transformative work appeal to us more than a scattered list of expectations?
Are we open to a ministry that is grounded and relational, even if it doesn’t look like the model we grew up with?

If so, let’s explore what we might build together.