Explore Ministry | Honest Questions & Clear Answers

Is there a difference between priest, minister, pastor and preacher?

Aren't all Christians ministers?

What do ministers do?

What is theological education?

What is ordination?

What if I want to be a minister but I don't know which church is right for me?

What if I don't agree with my church on some things?

What if there is a lot I don't understand about God and church or don't know about the Bible? What if I don't have a really close relationship with God?

How can I find out more about whether ministry is for me?

What types of interests do I need to be a minister?

Do I have to have a particular college major?

How much money do ministers make?


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	These titles all refer to the person in the role of professional church leader. Different denominations give preference to different titles depending on their history and theological understanding of the roles of church leadership. (We use "minister" on this site just to keep things simple.)


	Yes, by virtue of our baptisms, all Christians are ministers of the gospel. Yet certain people are called--by God and by God's people--to lead. Different churches have different requirements for preparation of those set apart for leadership. We use the shorthand of "minister" to refer to people who are called to the life and work of pastoral leadership.


	Ministers work in many contexts: congregations, hospitals, schools and colleges, counseling centers, non-profit agencies, denominational offices, missions' fields, and more. People who serve as ministers in congregations do what all leaders do: listen, reflect, serve, make decisions, plan for the future, build coalitions (and buildings), heal past hurts, hire and fire people, watch the budget, raise money. But they also teach, preach, pray, comfort the sick, scared, lonely; lead worship; marry people; conduct funerals; help with personal problems; participate in public life; read and think theologically; study the Bible; act for justice; and in all things witness to the love of God.

Theological education provides a broad base of knowledge for ministers. The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree curriculum includes Bible, theology, church history, ethics and practical skills for ministry such as preaching, pastoral care, and Christian education and, in some schools, Greek and/or Hebrew.

The Association of Theological Schools (www.ats.edu) is the most widely recognized accrediting agency for theological educational institutions. Schools may be divinity schools which are parts of universities or seminaries which are free-standing and usually associated with a particular denomination.


	Ordination is the name for the formal authorization of a person to be a minister. Different traditions have different requirements. In general, candidates for ordination need to hold an M.Div. degree and meet additional criteria established by a denominational committee. In one way or another, each candidate has to show that they have a clear, well-considered understanding of Christianity, genuine faithfulness, competence, and knowledge of scripture and of the church's organization and policy. To learn more about ordination in a particular denomination, visit www.thefund.org and link through to the website of the tradition about which you are curious.


	Pastoral leadership is fundamentally relational. You do have to be in a committed relationship with a body of people. Being in relationship requires compromise and growing into a fit. You probably won't ever find a church that is just like you want. Think about what parts of faith are at the core of your life. Do some investigating. Ask yourself how you expect to know when you have found the right one. Then try turning the question around: In which church's service can I best use my gifts? You may need to make the best choice you can, then jump in and start swimming!


	It's rare that even ordained ministers agree with everything in the denomination. But some issues are deal-breakers. You may not be able to stay in your denomination if you cannot reconcile yourself to living with certain beliefs. You may have to move to a different church. At the same time, remember that you and the church are both living organisms: change can happen. Theological education can help you develop the language and patterns of thought to engage in the process that may lead to change.


	Lots of people think ministers are just naturally more holy and know more about scripture and the church than a "normal" Christian. This is not true. Becoming a minister is a process of growing into knowledge, faith, and vocation.


	Try some things—academic courses, church-based service work mission trips, leading worship. Spend a few weeks following your minister around. Go to meetings of ministers in your community. Talk with people in your church about how they see your gifts. Take a course in theology. Pay attention to where and when you feel most alive. If you are in high school, visit www.thefund.org for High School Youth Programs that are about vocational exploration. Visit www.ptev.org to find colleges with special emphasis on exploring ministry.


	The best ministers are interested in lots of different things—movies, particle physics, labor disputes, conflict resolution, English poetry, politics, economics, history, organizational communications, human development-you name it. But they are always interested in serving God and how love, justice, and mercy can be made real through all of life.


	No, but it helps to learn to read, think, write, and speak well.


	Income varies greatly. Most full time congregational ministers are paid salaries analogous to those of school teachers and social workers. Large denominations have salary scales tied to years and type of service. Other congregations set the salary in keeping with their resources.