How to become A Clergy Person

• Priest
• Minister
• Pastor
• Rabbi
• Imam
• Pujari
• Chaplain
• Granthi
• Deacon
• Preacher

What do Clergy persons do?

A Clergy Person would typically need to:

• Pray and promote spirituality; organize and lead religious services; read from the sacred text to their congregations
• Provide counseling to groups and individuals regarding their spiritual, personal, and emotional needs; refer people to community support services, psychologists, and doctors when necessary
• Respond to requests for assistance during emergencies or crises; visit people in hospitals, homes, and other settings to provide comfort and support
• Train leaders of religious institutions, community, and youth groups; administer holy ordinances or rites; conduct special ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and confirmations
• Guide and instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith; devise ways to expand the congregation
• Collaborate with committees and individuals to address the financial and administrative issues of their congregation
• Organize and engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, and recreational activities sponsored by or related to their religion
• Participate in fundraising activities to support congregation activities and facilities; plan and lead religious education programs for their congregations
• Perform administrative duties such as overseeing building management, ordering supplies, contracting for services and repairs, and supervising the work of staff members and volunteers
• Study and interpret religious laws, doctrines, and traditions; share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching

Usually, Clergy Persons spend the day on the premises of their religious institution, preparing sermons, religious studies, taking care of the paperwork, meeting with members, etc. Even without too much structured supervision, clergy have an enormous number of unacknowledged and unofficial supervisors, namely the congregation.

Hospital clergy and military clergy have full-time jobs, and such people have very different lives from those of clergy who serve in congregations.

Although the focus should always be on the message, proper presentation helps get it across. In general, religious attire draws the attention of the audience and instills confidence. Grooming and dress influence how Clergy Persons and others act and invite feelings of respect, reverence, and discipleship.

Many Clergy Persons work extremely hard, putting in 10 to 12 hours a day. They typically work on weekdays as well as weekends.

Clergy in the country have a different pattern of work than their urban counterparts. Those in the less prosperous sections of the city have a different schedule than those in the wealthier neighborhoods.

You should first feel a deep calling to the profession, which often manifests as a profound spiritual revelation. For some, this happens in childhood or adolescence, while others receive a calling later in adulthood. From that point, you can pursue formal training in a college, university, or seminary. Each religion may have its unique guidelines and thus may recommend specific schools or degrees. Some Clergy Persons eschew membership to any particular denomination and work with non-denominational congregations.

Clergy persons are generally employed by: 

• Religious Organizations
• Hospitals
• Home Health Care Services
• State Government
• The Armed Forces
• Nursing Care Facilities

Professional associations and organizations are a vital resource for Clergy Persons interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more will bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Stress leading to burnout, which results in anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion
• High demand on time; lack of privacy; criticism from members of the congregation
• Stresses inherent in crisis work; personal and organizational financial strain

Most Clergy Persons hold more than five years of professional experience in their area of religious interest. While you study for your undergraduate degree, you should remain active with a church. If there are religious organizations on campus, seek out leadership roles. During summer breaks, look for volunteer opportunities where you can take an active part in helping others.

Requirements to become a member of the clergy depend on the religious organization. Most Clergy Persons become ordained by attending seminary, which is a school that specializes in the teachings of the religious institution that founded it. They also take vows and complete rites that are specific to the sect or religion. Completion of these requirements will allow the religious institution to grant official recognition to the candidate.

Most Clergy Persons earn bachelor's or master's degrees in theology, psychology, counseling, mental health, or religious studies as part of the ordination process. Some religious organizations require potential Clergy Persons to receive a PhD, MD, or JD (Juris Doctor - a law degree), while some choose people who have received a calling in life to join the clergy.

Aspiring Clergy Persons should speak to a representative of the organization they would like to serve in to find out how to become a cleric. Many Clergy Persons speak more than one language, either to read the sacred texts in classical languages or to reach out to other communities and countries.

There are no government certification or licensure requirements for clergy. However, some denominations refer to their religious ordination as certification or licensure. To be certified or licensed by a religious institution, you must meet its educational and experience requirements.

There is no one way in which a member of the clergy can move up the career ladder. For the majority, the profession is a calling that manages to satisfy them on many levels. For others, increasing congregational size or moving to a more elite district or position where the remuneration is higher is the end goal.

Others may wish to switch fields and enter an area of community service that is not limited to a particular religious affiliation. As you deepen your spiritual knowledge and wisdom, you will further enrich your career in ways not accounted for by traditional economic models.

It might not always involve monetary compensation, but then a spiritual leader’s real goal goes beyond finances. The options are endless when the bottom line is the commitment of service to humanity.

Individuals with a genuine desire to serve and to spread spirituality will have the best job prospects.

Clergy Persons are lifelong learners. Their calling requires it, and their hearts desire it. However, their busy schedules and periodic sabbaticals sometimes make continuing education feel impossible.

Extensive knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture, prove advantageous.

Also essential is the knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Knowledge of the procedures inherent in career counseling & guidance and the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, will make for a more constructive relationship with the congregation.

Clergy Persons wishing to continue professional development should participate in an on-going study of relevant sacred texts, learn or improve in a language, or attend theology conferences. They should also join or create a scholarly society and do independent research.

Generally Speaking

Religion is essential to humanity at large. A Clergy Person is an ordained member of a religious order who conducts religious worship, performs spiritual functions associated with religious faith, and aids in the congregation’s spiritual well-being. More Specifically Some priests are scholars or teachers. Others may become missionaries and offer religious and social assistance to people throughout the world. Chaplains provide spiritual guidance in hospitals, armed services, and schools. Each religion has specific processes and requirements for ordaining or appointing members of the clergy.

Terms & Conditions

Only men can serve as Muslim imams, and only unmarried men may serve as priests in most Catholicism sects. Only men can serve as Hindu priests, while their marital status is not an issue. Buddhist monks need to be celibate to qualify for monkhood. Anglican priests can be women, and married men may serve as Anglican or Eastern Orthodox priests.

Location Dictates Scope of Duties

If you are located in the inner city, you must spend an enormous amount of time to deal with the poor, the homeless, and people with particular issues, including mental challenges and addiction, and those who are immigrants or belong to visible minorities. Clergy Persons who work in neighborhoods with a high average education and income will have many people who can work on committees, initiate projects, and carry out delegated tasks.

There the clergy is much more of a team leader and coordinator. Neighborhoods with low incomes and education, on the other hand, may have very willing congregation members. Yet, they will need assistance from the clergy in taking on tasks that require organization and leadership.

Rural areas usually reflect the seasonal cycles of farming. Church members may not be able to show up for anything much at the church during seedtime and harvest. Therefore, when they are out in the fields, there is less for the clergy to do other than visit the sick. Serious medical treatments would happen in the big hospitals of far-away cities, and clergy sometimes spend an entire day on the road driving to and from a single hospital visit.

A Handy Tip

Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as millions of dollars of scholarships go unused every year due to a lack of applicants.

Tonsure, the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility, is followed by Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu Clergy Persons.

If you can better lead more people to a sense of ease and comfort in their spiritual lives, you will have achieved success.

The clergy needs to be in close touch with the laity’s ordinary life, living ordinary men’s lives, sharing their difficulties, and understanding their trials by comparable personal experiences.