Calling and the Right to Decent Work: The Position of Church Workers from the Perspectives of Labour Law and the Theology of Work

Church ministry is commonly understood as a spiritual calling, yet its organization also involves assigned duties, income, supervision, and occupational risks. Problems arise when vocational language is used to disregard ministers’ material rights or when all ministry is classified as employment without examining the actual relationship. This article develops a framework for understanding church workers’ position through normative legal research, constructive theological inquiry, and an integrative review. The legal analysis focuses on Indonesian labour law and is limited to provisions in force as of 31 December 2025. The analysis distinguishes calling, ecclesial office, employment, and voluntary service, connecting the examination of work, remuneration, and direction with theological accounts of dignity and communal responsibility. Three propositions emerge. Spiritual ministry does not automatically exclude an employment relationship. Understanding work as calling requires attention to livelihood, rest, social protection, and the freedom to raise concerns. Protection should be differentiated according to actual status and functions, while distinguishing legal duties from ecclesial ethical commitments. The article proposes evidence-based status assessment, clear ministry agreements, workload review, and accessible dispute procedures. It concludes that calling and decent work are compatible when ecclesial distinctiveness is accompanied by accountability for the conditions under which people serve. The proposed framework requires further contextual and empirical evaluation.