| The spiritual needs of people continue to increase | | | | People practicing the Islamic faith attend worship |
| as economic, family, and larger world issues add | | | | at mosques. The leader of the Islamic service is |
| stress to their lives. Many churches, synagogues, | | | | called an imam. The imam performs many of the |
| and mosques are looking for dedicated leaders to | | | | same functions as a Christian worship leader or |
| help their congregations and develop their faith | | | | Jewish rabbi or cantor, and is considered the |
| and relationship with God. In fact, the U. S. Bureau | | | | spiritual and religious leader of that Muslim |
| of Labor Statistics says the number of jobs for | | | | community. So How do I go About Becoming a |
| clergy members will increase between 7 percent | | | | Clergy Member? |
| to 13 percent by the year 2018. Most people who | | | | The first thing you need to do, no matter what |
| are interested in a career as a clergy member | | | | faith you practice, is obtain an advanced degree in |
| feel God is calling them to this vocation. For | | | | theology, religious studies, or an area related to |
| others, it starts as a deep desire to help others. | | | | your chosen area of specialization. For example, if |
| However your interest started, there is no | | | | you are Christian and interested in becoming the |
| denying there is a need for you. | | | | music director of a church, you may need to |
| The Job Description | | | | obtain a master's degree in music. There are |
| A clergy member's job description is often long, | | | | many seminaries, Christian colleges and |
| detailed, and seemingly never-ending. Just as | | | | universities, and programs at traditional universities |
| people's needs and crises don't always occur | | | | where you can earn this degree. But before you |
| between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., a clergy | | | | apply to a school, you need to make sure the |
| member's job may start later in the day and | | | | degree you earn will be accepted by your church. |
| extend well into the evening hours and on | | | | Many churches have their own theological schools |
| weekends. Christian clergy are usually considered | | | | or seminaries, so be sure to ask a current clergy |
| the leaders, coordinators, or directors of a church. | | | | person which school will give you the degree and |
| They are responsible for the spiritual health and | | | | education accepted by your denomination. |
| growth of the church's members. They prepare | | | | If you are Jewish and interested in becoming a |
| and lead worship services, sermons or homilies, | | | | rabbi or cantor, you will need to attend a |
| and oversee all aspects of the church and its role | | | | seminary accepted by your particular movement, |
| in the community. Clergy members are also | | | | whether you are Orthodox, Reform, |
| expected to advise and council congregants, visit ill | | | | Conservative, or Reconstructionist. Discuss the |
| church members in the hospital, and perform | | | | educational requirements associated with this |
| basic religious rites such as baptism, marriage, | | | | career with a rabbi or cantor currently working. |
| burial services. Many Christian churches, especially | | | | To become an imam, you need to obtain a |
| larger churches, also hire associate or assistant | | | | master's degree in religious studies from an |
| pastors, youth pastors or leaders, music directors, | | | | accredited university. |
| and directors of Christian education. Some of | | | | Once you have earned your degree, the journey |
| these positions may not require formal theological | | | | is not over. Some faiths require that their clergy |
| education, although it will be preferred. | | | | members work as assistants or at smaller |
| Judaist clergy members are considered the | | | | churches, synagogues, or mosques before taking |
| leaders, coordinators, or directors of a synagogue. | | | | on a larger congregation. Rabbis and cantors may |
| They are responsible for the spiritual health and | | | | also be required to spend a minimum of one year |
| growth of the synagogue's members. They | | | | in Israel. At the end of the process you become |
| prepare and lead worship services, singing, | | | | ordained, although the clergy of some Christian |
| teaching, and oversee all aspects of the | | | | denominations do not become ordained until they |
| synagogue and its role in the community. Clergy | | | | have spent time working in a church. |
| members are also expected to advise and council | | | | The final step is to obtain a job. Christian |
| congregants. Some may be licensed social | | | | denominations usually have established systems |
| workers. However, those who do not have the | | | | for placing their clergy members in jobs. For |
| additional education in counseling are trained to | | | | example, if you are Methodist, graduated from a |
| know when to refer congregants to counseling | | | | Methodist seminary, and are in the process of |
| professionals. Clergy also visit ill congregants who | | | | becoming ordained in the Methodist church, local |
| are in the hospital, and perform basic Judaist | | | | officials will place you where there is a need. For |
| religious rites such as marriages and funerals. A | | | | non-denominational churches or others you may |
| big part of a clergy member's job is to organize | | | | need to conduct traditional job searches, using the |
| and lead the synagogue's B'nei Mitzvah program, a | | | | Internet (there are several Web sites for finding |
| program for children that prepares them to lead a | | | | clergy jobs), networking, and newspaper ads. |
| service when they are 13. There are two types | | | | The needs are great, so if you feel you are being |
| of clergy members in the Judaist faith, rabbis and | | | | called to pursue this career, the time is right to |
| cantors. | | | | begin the process. |