A large part of a small church budget often goes to paying the pastor. Most small churches assume there’s only one “real” model of leadership - usually the one we’ve always known - and anything different feels like failure, pride, or danger. 

But there’s no single “biblical” or “more noble” model here. Healthy, vibrant churches exist in every structure: fully paid, bi-vocational, and completely volunteer-led.

This episode lifts the shame, clears out the judgment, and helps churches learn:

1. Why there isn’t one “right” model (and why that’s such good news)
2. How assumptions, pride, and tradition shape our views without us noticing
3. The strengths + limits of paid, bi-vocational, and volunteer pastor models
4. Why most tension around leadership positions come from unspoken expectations
5. How to discern whether it’s time to rethink your model when things feel stretched or scary

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