Clergy

Career summary

Depending on the religious denomination they serve, clergy may be called rabbis, imams, pastors, ministers, reverends, or priests.

#From 8436 Clergy. Nothing else carried over.

# review 3/25/19 lh

Most clergy in the United States are Protestant ministers, Jewish rabbis, or Roman Catholic priests. There are many other religious organizations with spiritual teachers and leaders.

Clergy give sermons as well as religious instruction. They study and interpret religious texts and doctrines. They also conduct:

• Weddings
• Baptisms
• Funerals

They may write articles for publication in church newsletters. Many clergy counsel individuals and groups.

Clergy take part in community or recreational activities sponsored by their place of worship. They also talk to people who are curious about faith. They may train other church and youth leaders.

The size of the religious organization or congregation affects the duties of the clergy. In large congregations, clergy members have more administrative duties. They meet with committees, officers, and staff. In smaller congregations, clergy may spend more time with the members of the congregations. Sometimes they coordinate community efforts to help others during times of emergency or great need.

Some clergy tend to the personal and religious needs of people who are sick, have disabilities, or are in prison. Other clergy teach in:

• High schools
• Seminaries
• Universities

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Addictions Counselors
• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Education Administrators
• Instructional Coordinators
• Mental Health Counselors
• Psychologists
• School Counselors
• Social and Community Service Managers
• Social Workers
• Sociologists

Military careers

• Chaplains
• Religious Program Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to clergy.

• Prepare and give sermons and other talks.
• Perform weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
• Visit the sick and those who do not leave their homes. Help the poor.
• Listen and talk to people who seek guidance. May give counseling.
• Participate in educational and recreational activities sponsored by their place of worship.
• Explain their religion's ideas to those who want more information.
• Manage various committees and the upkeep of their church or building.
• Write articles for publication.
• Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
• Study and interpret religious laws and doctrines.
• Often try to expand membership in their congregation.
• May perform administrative duties, such as supervising staff and ordering supplies.

Common work activities

Clergy perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Assist and care for others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Think creatively
• Use computers
• Teach others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Perform for or work with the public
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Develop and build teams
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Develop goals and strategies
• Coach others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Schedule work and activities
• Perform administrative tasks
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Process information
• Analyze data or information

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, clergy:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. Clergy work closely with the people in their congregation.
• Regularly speak in front of large groups, such as when leading religious services.
• Use a variety of methods to communicate with others. They meet with people in-person and write e-mails, letters, and memos on a daily basis. They also talk with others on the telephone.
• Often work as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the work done by junior clergy.
• Sometimes are exposed to conflict situations while counseling people. Individuals may become unpleasant or upset.

Physical work conditions

• Most often work indoors. However, they occasionally work outdoors, such as when leading funeral services or weddings.
• Sometimes wear a uniform.
• May travel to a congregant's home in a car, truck, or van.
• May share an office with other staff.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work. Miscommunication can seriously affect the daily lives of congregants.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact congregants. They make nearly all their decisions without consulting others first.
• Are usually able to set their tasks and goals for the day without consulting others.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis, such as when preparing sermons.

Hours/travel

• May work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Are frequently asked to provide comfort to someone on short notice.
• May work more than 40 hours per week.

Physical demands

Clergy frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for clergy to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for clergy to be able to:

• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Skills and abilities

Clergy need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Ministry
• Pastoral Studies and Counseling
• Rabbinical and Talmudic Studies
• Theology and Pre-Theology
• Youth Ministry

Other programs of study to consider

• Biblical Studies
• Christian Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Missions and Missionary Studies
• Philosophy
• Religious Education
• Religious Studies
• Social Work

Training

To work as a member of the clergy, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree in religious training; and
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Religious groups differ, so anyone wishing to become a member of the clergy should talk to religious leaders about how to prepare for this field.

Many Protestant ministers have a bachelor's degree in ministry, religious studies, or biblical studies. You can also attend a theology school to earn a master's of divinity or theology. In these programs, you study the Bible, pastoral care, and ethics. You can be ordained after completing a program of study. Some denominations only require a high school diploma to be ordained. Men and women can be ordained as Protestant ministers.

To become a rabbi, you must complete a program at a seminary. Each branch of Judaism has different requirements for entry into a seminary. In a seminary you earn a master's or doctoral degree in Hebrew letters. You study the Bible, the Torah, Hebrew, and Jewish history. It can take up to five years to complete a program. Men and women can be ordained as rabbis.

It usually takes about eight years to prepare to become a Catholic priest. Most priests begin by earning a bachelor's degree. Some students begin training for the priesthood while still in high school. Others begin later at a Catholic college or a seminary. You study Latin, philosophy, church history, and prayer. You should also learn Spanish. Most priests earn a master's degree in divinity or theology. At this time, only men can be ordained as priests.

Work experience

Many training programs for clergy include some form of community service. This often includes the opportunity to work in other countries.

On-the-job training

Clergy receive training after they are called or hired. This training may be more about learning the organizational structure of the congregation rather than learning how to be a rabbi, for example. In some cases, however, clergy may be brought on at a junior level and may advance once the senior clergyperson retires or moves to another congregation. Training may last up to one year.

Military training

The military does not provide initial training in this field. However, the military can provide work experience to chaplains who have a master's degree in theology.

Some branches of the military provide training to religious program specialists. These workers assist chaplains. Training for specialists last seven to eight weeks and you do not need a degree to enter this military occupation.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Comparative Religion
• Eastern Religions
• Life Skills
• Psychology
• Public Speaking
• Western Religions

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Hiring practices for clergy vary greatly. Some religious groups require their leaders to have a degree in theology. Other groups do not require formal training.

Employers generally look for clergy who listen to the needs of others. Clergy should be able to work under pressure and be able to make difficult decisions. Employers also look for people who can lead by example.

Elders in charge of placement usually wait for an opening within their geographical region. They help select a clergy member from their area who is experienced and prepared to move elsewhere, usually to a larger congregation. Religious officials look for someone who has strong leadership ability and concern for their congregation.

Tips

An internship is beneficial and is required in some cases. Volunteer work and involvement with the religious group of your choice is helpful. Knowledge of basic office software and e-mail applications is also helpful. Talk with clergy to learn more about what they do.

Costs to workers

Clergy who join a professional association may have to pay annual dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Clergy 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by area of the country and the worker's level of experience. The denomination, size, and wealth of the congregation also affect wages. For some clergy, their pay equals the average wage of the congregation or the community. Thus, those who serve larger, wealthier congregations may earn higher wages. Clergy who have low salaries often earn extra income from jobs outside the church. Some clergy earn extra income from gifts or fees for leading religious ceremonies.

Diocesan priests get living allowances, health insurance, and a retirement plan. If they teach or do extra work, they get a partial salary. Priests take a vow of poverty and give any personal earnings to the order. Due to the vow of poverty, these priests do not have to pay federal income tax.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

#Between 2014 and 2024, it is estimated that there will be 55 openings annually due to new positions and 98 openings annually from workers leaving this career.

#Updated outlook 06.16 sd

In Washington, the outlook depends on replacement of those clergy now serving existing congregations or working in other religious institutions, such as private schools and colleges. Growth of religious institutions and services, and expansion of the cleric's role in related social service, welfare, and other community activities, will also affect job opportunities. Some opportunities will arise in areas such as working with youth in family relations, welfare, correctional institutions, and in the armed services.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Religious organizations
• Hospitals

National outlook

Demand varies for clergy based on the different religious groups. The number of jobs for rabbis should grow because the number of Jewish congregations is increasing. Competition for Protestant ministers will be strong. This is due to few new churches being created and there being a high number of qualified people for jobs. In contrast, there is a shortage of Catholic priests. Opportunities should be best in smaller, rural communities.

Many job openings will occur each year as clergy leave this occupation.

Other resources

American Academy of Religion 
825 Houston Mill Road NE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30329
404.727.3049

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy 
112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.838.9808

American Correctional Chaplains Association 
PO Box 85840
Seattle, WA 98145-1840
206.985.0577

Ask A Missionary 

National Council of Churches 
110 Maryland Avenue NE, Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
202.544.2350

Religious Education Association 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Virtual Religion Index (Rutgers University) 

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Clergy (21-2011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Clergy Member (120.107-010) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Minister

Holland occupational clusters

• Social/Artistic/Enterprising
• Social/Enterprising/Artistic

COPSystem

• Service Professional