I think there are some real advantages to it but I also see some real disadvantages to it as well. Same goes will full-time paid by the church pastors. There are disadvantages (a few which you outline) and there are some major advantages as well.

I think, like many things, its very contextual and depends on the church community and its surrounding culture…

“Bivocational is also good because let’s be honest…most full-time ministry workers are so consumed by ministry and the culture of ministry, they rarely engage and interface with the larger world. It’s a double edge sword because while ministry workers are regularly calling the church to love their neighbors and engage the culture and the world, they’re rarely doing [or able] to do the very thing they are preaching. And consequently, many ministry leaders grow to be monolingual. They can only speak one language – the language of the church. And in the long run, there will be a disconnect and it’ll become a detriment to the missional purpose of the body of Christ. All ministry leaders need to be bilingual and multicultural as we engage, exegete, and communicate with the larger culture and context. Beware of the bubble of the Christian sub-culture [think Truman Show here]. I attempt to maintain some balance through my work with our non-profit/non-religious neighborhood Q Cafe, the humanitarian organization, and just being part of the neighborhood where we live. I love being a pastor but there’s also something about being functional and conversational – while being missional and spiritual.”