One of the challenges of being a “cage-free” minister is explaining what exactly I do all day - my wife often wonders this very thing!
I’m an ordained minister, but I don’t have a traditional full-time pastoral position. Instead, my work takes me into hospitals, congregations, nonprofit organizations, and conversations with church leaders across the country.
Some days I’m preparing a sermon or visiting a hospital patient. Other days I’m working on a grant proposal, interviewing someone for my podcast, or helping an organization think through its future.
And sometimes I’m doing several of those things in the same week.
While there isn’t really a typical day, I’ve developed something of a weekly rhythm that helps me manage my various responsibilities.
A week in the life…
Mondays generally begin with business accounting and outreach—following up with contacts, making connections, and keeping the administrative side of my work moving. In the afternoon, I turn my attention to my various book and writing projects.
Tuesdays are usually sermon-writing days, particularly when I’m scheduled to guest preach at a church.
Wednesdays are devoted primarily to one of the nonprofits I consult with, including meetings and working on various projects.
Thursdays tend to be a mixture of church responsibilities and additional nonprofit work, though I try to keep the afternoon relatively low-key because Thursday night is my hospital chaplaincy shift.
Depending on how the night goes, I may get a decent amount of sleep—or very little! So I also try to keep Friday mornings relatively open to allow for some recovery.
Fridays are otherwise podcast days. That’s when I schedule interviews, prepare upcoming episodes, and work on production for Future Christian.
Throughout the week, I also fit in in-person meetings with pastors, nonprofit leaders, and others I’m connecting with.
And, when I have free time, I’m often drafting a blog for Substack.
So while I don’t have a traditional full-time ministry position, I certainly don’t lack things to do!
Keeping all the plates spinning
One of the things I’ve learned is that time-blocking is essential to keeping me sane. With so many different responsibilities, it’s easy for one project to bleed into another, or for the most urgent thing to crowd out everything else.
Having particular days dedicated to certain kinds of work helps me stay focused and make progress.
I’ve also found tools like Trello helpful for managing my various tasks and projects. Perhaps the greatest benefit is simply being able to mentally let go of things, knowing they’re being held somewhere other than my brain!
Of course, things don’t always go according to schedule. Meetings get moved, unexpected needs arise, and some projects take longer than anticipated.
I’ve also learned that managing my schedule isn’t simply about maximizing productivity. It’s about recognizing my own limits and making space for rest, particularly when my chaplaincy work can be unpredictable.
Loren Richmond Jr. and Pastor Sierra Ward talk about how online formation has many similarities to in-person formation: start small, start with your own practices, and keep at it!
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Freedom to Explore!
One of the things I most enjoy about this arrangement is that I get to be semi-autonomous, with the freedom to explore the things I find interesting and worth thinking about.
Most jobs are primarily task-based—you’re paid to do X, Y, and Z. And while there’s certainly a place for that, my CliftonStrengths are such that I find that kind of work particularly draining.
Three of my top five strengths are Ideation, Learner, and Strategic, so having the time and flexibility to think, imagine, explore ideas, and make connections is energizing for me.
I also enjoy the opportunity to connect with and learn from a wide variety of people.
A few weeks ago, for example, I had coffee with a Foursquare pastor, lunch with a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod pastor, recorded a podcast interview with someone who has a Ph.D., participated in a training within my own Disciples of Christ denomination, and was a guest on another podcast talking about my book.
These are the kinds of conversations I love having, and I appreciate the freedom to move between different traditions, organizations, and perspectives.
Of course, there’s a downside to all this flexibility.
When you have the freedom to say yes to lots of things, you also have to learn when to say no.
I have to be constantly aware of what’s on my schedule and willing to remove commitments that aren’t worth the time involved or aren’t moving me toward my larger goals.
Otherwise, it’s easy to fill my calendar with interesting opportunities that leave little room for the work I actually want to accomplish (This could be a whole other blog post right here).
'We can start something new, but we need to stay connected'
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The Importance of Having an “Anchor”
For anyone considering this kind of ministry, one recommendation I’d make is to have some sort of “anchor” job.
For me, that’s currently my hospital chaplaincy work. It provides a consistent connection to an institution while allowing me the flexibility to pursue other projects and opportunities.
Ultimately, I’d actually like to have a more substantial institutional attachment.
I think, broadly speaking, people who are connected to established institutions tend to be more widely respected or validated than those working independently. Whether that’s fair or not is another question, but I think it’s a reality worth acknowledging.
At the same time, I wouldn’t want to give up the freedom that comes with being cage-free.
For instance, if I took on a lasting pastoral role at a church, I’d probably only want to commit around 20 hours a week. That would allow me to invest meaningfully in a congregation while continuing to write, podcast, consult, and explore other interests.
In other words, my ideal arrangement isn’t necessarily to be completely independent of institutions, but to have an institutional home that still allows me the freedom to explore.
Perhaps that’s what I’ve come to appreciate most about cage-free ministry. It isn’t simply about having multiple jobs or controlling my own schedule. It’s about creating space to pursue the work I find meaningful, learn from different people, and follow the questions that interest me.
And while this arrangement certainly isn’t for everyone, I’ve found that it offers a way to pursue my vocation that fits who I am and how I work.
Why this matters for Substack Seminary
One of the ideas behind Substack Seminary is that theological learning and ministerial formation don’t have to be confined to traditional institutions.
My experience as a cage-free minister has reinforced that conviction. Some of my most meaningful learning happens through conversations with people from different theological traditions, working alongside nonprofit leaders, interviewing guests for my podcast, and navigating the challenges of ministry in different settings.
None of this means that institutions are unnecessary.
In fact, as I’ve suggested, I value institutional connections and would welcome a more permanent one. But institutions don’t have to be the only places where learning, reflection, and formation happen.
Perhaps we need to think more creatively about how we organize ministry and how we continue learning throughout our vocations.
A few questions worth considering:
How might churches, seminaries, and pension funds better support ministers whose vocations extend beyond traditional full-time congregational roles?
What opportunities for theological learning and formation exist outside our established institutions, and how might we take those opportunities more seriously?
How can we cultivate meaningful institutional connections while also creating space for experimentation, curiosity, and learning across different contexts?
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