Employment vs. Calling

There is a principle in Congregational ministry which is little heard of and (often) little understood. "Employment" means to "entangle" someone, to "enfold" someone, and so on -- from the Latin "implicare". But the Congregational Church concept is completely the opposite. The principle is to set  a minister free -- from everything -- so as to minister -- to follow a calling. Here is a quote from a Congregational policy document in the UK:

"It should be noted that a church does not employ a minister. It releases him from the need of secular employment ... He is not a servant of the church but of the Lord."

POSTSCRIPT: If there are renovations, or medical expenses, studies, a handicapped child, furlough required ... you name it, it falls under this all-encompassing policy. I remember my first income tax return. I named my employer, the Church. My father said no, you don't have an employer. You are called to ministry. If a Congregational Church does speak of employing a minister, or paying him or her a salary, and so on, that is borrowed from business, it is not Church talk. See Evangelical & Congregational, page 21.