What do you do when you Love the Good News but Hate the Ministry Grind? Fr. Cathie Caimano. Episode 30.

Episode Takeaways

The Institutional Church Model Is Breaking Down and That’s a Holy Opportunity - Mid-20th-century church structures are collapsing under their own weight: aging congregations, shrinking budgets, exhausted clergy, and dwindling attendance. However, rather than lamenting this shift, it presents a spiritual opportunity to rediscover authentic ministry beyond denominational constraints.

‘Cage-Free Ministry’ Means Redefining Both Calling and Compensation - Instead of full-time, part-time, or quarter-time positions that still demand total availability, she models task-based contracts and entrepreneurial ministry. Ministers should develop a clear “business model for calling,” knowing who they serve, what transformation they offer, and how that sustains them financially. Substack Seminary, she’s launching, helps pastors map this out across four stages: Get Unstuck, Build the Structure, Bring Church to People, and Collaborate through Technology.

The Future Church Is Agile, Networked, and Collaborative — Not Hierarchical - Imagine a future where ministry resembles an ecosystem more than an institution. Clergy and lay leaders become collaborators in networks of shared projects such as podcasts, retreats, digital gatherings, neighborhood worship, and spiritual direction, rather than employees of rigid systems.

You can find Cathie on Substack.

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