How Many Jobs is Too Many Jobs

Let me introduce myself

My name is Rachel and I’m a pastor. That’s a compact way to introduce myself, yet being a pastor takes up a lot of space. It has a special outfit, there was that whole ordination service, and folks tend to understand or assume it to be a defining character trait.

But that’s not the only role I have. I’m also a piano teacher. And a communication manager. And a spouse. And an aunt. And, and, and…

To be precise, I only officially work as a part-time pastor twenty hours a week. I’m what you could call bi-vocational. I actually prefer multi-vocational because it describes more accurately what I do. I’m not alone.

For me, these multiple roles are a choice. It’s not a quirk for me—it’s a personality trait. This is a significant part of why I want to create this space to chat. I’m a collector! I collect jobs, ideas, resources, and more. I’ve been seeking a space to talk about what it’s like to be multi-vocational. So often, even with the increasing population of multi-vocational clergy, we silo church spaces. Wouldn’t it be more interesting to have conversations about our full complex lives?

My name is Rachel and I’m a pastor—but I’m a piano teacher and community member and writer and spouse and collector, too.

I expect many of the people who will read this will be church folks. You’ll find ministry tips and insights. But, just like I’m not only a pastor, there are people who will find this interesting in and out of church spaces.

I’m glad you’re here.

Book I’m Reading

I read an awful lot and love to share recommendations. This week I read Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher. It’s a fantasy romance with creative world building (mysterious beheadings! a perfume maker! berserkers!) and I found it to be just the right level of complex. If you also enjoy fantasy but can’t always be bothered to use a glossary for new terms and places, this is for you.

What Life Looks Like

Meet Sally—my newest cat!