A Minister's Faithful Life

A Look at the Profession

Ministers, or pastors, act as the leaders of their congregations in Protestant churches. Leading an entire church -- even if it is a small congregation -- keeps ministers extremely busy. They must have a sermon prepared for Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night services, as well as lead discussions over Bible passages, prayers and worship songs at each service. Ministers also preside over rites of the church, such as baptism, communion and confirmation.

Outside of church services, ministers may be asked to officiate at weddings and funerals and provide spiritual guidance to members of the congregation who are in need of such services. Some ministers work directly with their congregation, while others must report to a hierarchy of bishops within a diocese.

Assessing the Required Skills

Most denominations hire ministers or pastors who have earned their bachelor's degrees from a seminary or divinity school; some can even require a master's degree. There are approximately 216 accredited Protestant denomination theological schools in North America. Each school can set up its program differently due to the variations in the denomination's doctrine. A minister's ordination comes upon graduation from seminary or divinity school and after the successful completion of a pastoral probationary period.

In addition to a formal theological education, ministers must possess certain other skills in order to effectively oversee a church. It is imperative that ministers feel a strong "calling" to the ministry of God as well as empathy for their fellow man. Ministers must be apt listeners and communicators; this way, they are able to apply Biblical teachings to the lives of the congregation and help parishioners through difficult times.

Financing a Life as a Minister

Though the salary of most ministers is often very modest, it usually includes housing and daily living expenses. In an article on education-online-search.com, the average annual salary for Protestant ministers was stated to be around $40,000. The top ten percent made $68,000, while the bottom ten percent made about $12,000. Average salary typically depends on congregation size, location, experience and wealth of the church.

Ministers who are paid meagerly often take on other secular jobs to earn additional income.

Looking Forward to the Future: Employment Figures and Career Advancement Opportunities

Employment opportunities tend to be greater for ministers who graduate from a theological school. The competition for ministry positions increases in more urban areas with larger congregations. The National Council of Churches (NCC) reports that there are over 100,000 congregations in North America and over 300,000 ministers, including those who do not serve a regular congregation.

Most ministers begin their ministry directly after graduation and work as pastors to small congregations or associate pastors to larger congregations. With time, such a person may become the pastor of a larger church. In other cases, ministers are called to perform God's will outside the walls of a typical church. As a result, additional employment opportunities can exist for ministers within areas such as the army, hospitals, correctional facilities, non-profit foundations and educational institutions.

Source: Become a Minister (2007). Retrieved January 8, 2008, from http://www.education-online-search.com/articles/careers/theology_careers/become_a_minister