Ministry Makeover: Recovering a Theology for Bi-Vocational Service in the Church

Ministry Makeover examines the decline within the church especially the United Methodist Church (UMC) and some causes for this decline. It calls for a reforming of United Methodist structure and polity by drawing more attention to the value of the bi-vocational model of ministry and a re-visitation of the Wesleyan/United Brethren view and historical perspective. This book establishes a solid theological foundation upon which to build this shift and it goes a step beyond typical ecclesiology (the study of the church) to identify Trinitarian theology as the basis for the practice of the church. In turn this text reveals bi-vocational ministry and support of new congregations as not only a viable option but also arguably the model towards which the church is heading. These insights will transform the church and lead to more effective church ministry with respect to resources structure and reach in a post-Christendom world context. Picardo uses Embrace Church (Lexington KY) as a case study and incorporates his experiences into this text in order to show how these implications have played out in a true bi-vocational church-plant context. If there were ever an era in the history of the church where new wine needed to be poured into new wineskins we are living it today. And young passionate pastors like Rosario (Roz) Picardo are just the ones to lead the pouring. In Ministry Makeover Roz builds a compelling case as to why embracing bi-vocational and incarnational missionary methods to implement new congregations is the most viable way forward for reaching the least and the lost in a post-Christendom world. --from the foreword by Mike Slaughter A heart for ministry that goes much deeper than ones own chances for personal gain thats how my ministry experiences with Rosario Picardo would lead me to describe his commitment to the church of Christ. In his new book Ministry Makeover Picardo takes on some very difficult demographic realities our beloved church faces . . . sooner than later. How will churches continue given declining giving the general decline of the middle class and increasing educational debt for new pastors? His suggestion is realistic on the one hand yet will be disappointing to many on the other hand. He suggests we need to take a fresh look at the concept of bi-vocational ministry--tent making and pastoral leadership. Whether you end up agreeing with him or not hearing what he has to say is critically important! --Charles E. Gutenson author of Church Worth Getting Up For Rosario Roz Picardo was the founder of Embrace Church in Lexington KY and now serves as executive pastor of New Church Development for Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City OH.