The Problem with Wearing Too Many Hats in Ministry

I used to hate when people knocked on my office door and asked for help with their computers.

Yes, I studied electronic media in college, but that didn’t make me IT support. Still, because I loved to explore and tinker, I had developed a knack for troubleshooting—from fixing computers to setting up livestreams. That curiosity added value to my ministry role, but it wasn’t exactly in the job description.

If you’ve been in pastoral ministry long enough, you know that there’s an unspoken addendum to every job description. Maybe it’s social media, fundraising, IT, or facility management. Maybe somewhere along the line you got a commercial driver’s license or learned to build websites through a free course online.

I call it the “internal side hustle”—but is it healthy?

IT'S HEALTHY WHEN YOU NEED TO:

TEMPORARILY FILL STAFFING GAPS

When a staff member leaves or your parish experiences sudden growth, someone has to step up. In these moments, it’s appropriate to assign responsibilities based on existing skills or logical overlaps (e.g., the children's minister temporarily covering youth ministry, or the business manager updating the website).
But this should be temporary—map out a clear timeline and revisit what’s truly essential.

STRETCH YOUR MIND

When I hit writer’s block or feel stuck, I switch gears. Sometimes I work on a puzzle, try a new recipe, or dive into a subject that fascinates me. It might seem like procrastination, but it gives my brain the refresh it needs.

Great leaders need a sandbox.
And sometimes that sandbox is a side project. If you lead a team, giving someone a new task outside their norm can reveal hidden talents—just make sure you debrief and evaluate the experience with them.

IT'S UNHEALTHY WHEN YOU ARE:

SUPPLEMENTING INCOME

When you’re working multiple jobs within the parish one role will suffer. I knew it was time to let go of live streaming when the parish activities could resume. While I was fairly compensated for both, the stress of changing between was too much.

Too many ministry leaders are forced into juggling jobs—not because they want to, but because they have to.

If you’re a pastor or parish manager with employees who wear multiple hats to save the parish a few bucks, know that it's not sustainable. Work with your finance council to increase giving so you can pay fair salaries to people focused in their work.

ESCAPING YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Some staff take on additional roles in the parish simply to avoid the work they were hired to do. Even if their side projects are helpful, they’re a drain on parish resources if their core responsibilities are neglected.

The solution? Regular reviews and clear expectations. Make sure each person knows what success looks like in their primary role.

COVERING FOR SYSTEMIC DYSFUNCTION

Sometimes people step outside their job description to compensate for a poorly performing coworker or broken system. But instead of confronting the issue, we pretend it’s fine.

This leads to resentment, burnout, and a toxic culture.

Yes, generalists have value in ministry—and learning new skills can grow your capacity. But when everyone does everything, burnout is inevitable.

We need to bring back the specialists.

Even if they’re volunteers, assigning people to one focused area of ministry leads to deeper commitment, better results, and a healthier team culture.

So what’s the next step?

• Pastors and parish leaders: Take a step back. Reevaluate your budget, structure, and real staffing needs.

• Parish employees: Ask yourself if you’re in the right role, at the right place, with the right focus.

• Ministry teams: If your staff feels like a band of generalists—don’t panic. That’s common in transition seasons. But it shouldn’t be permanent.

The goal isn’t to do everything forever. The goal is to build something sustainable.