Although the differences between how we define a Covocational Pastor and a Bivocational Pastor may be slight, they are important differences to understand. According to the North American Mission Board (Send Network), these are their definitions for the two pastoral roles in the church. (Note that I have changed their label from “Church Planter” to “Pastor.”)
A Bivocational Pastor is one who works a second job to supplement the salary the church provides. Their hope is that the church will eventually be in a position to provide the financial support for the pastor to leave his second job to focus full-time on pastoring.
A Covocational Pastor is one whose primary vocation is in the marketplace and at the same time is called to pastor a church. A “covo” pastor is one who has a clear calling in the marketplace that he never intends to leave. He knows God has called him to be a teacher, mechanic, graphic designer or doctor and he desires to weave that calling into the plan to pastor a church.