Career: Protestant Ministers
In 1517, in what is now Germany, Roman Catholic priest Martin Luther got so mad at what he saw as weaknesses in Catholicism that he nailed a list of complaints called the "95 Theses" onto a church door.
Luther didn't want to break away from Catholicism; he just wanted to improve it. But his action set off a chain of events that eventually led to a new form of Christianity called Protestantism. This belief system spread around the world and is still going strong today.
Protestant ministers are religious leaders who have been ordained (officially appointed) by the Protestant denomination (subgroup) to which they belong.
Did You Know?
- Women can become ministers in many Protestant denominations.
Are You Ready To...?
- Lead worship services
- Help others understand sacred texts
- Counsel church members on spiritual and practical problems
- Conduct baptisms, funerals, and other special ceremonies
It Helps to Be...
Open-minded and patient. Every church member has a different relationship to religion, and you'll want to support each person on his or her own spiritual path. Being organized, flexible, and idealistic will help you juggle many tasks while avoiding burnout.
Make High School Count
- Read the Bible and attend church services.
- Ask a minister for advice and information about entering the ministry.
- Volunteer at a church or another community organization.
- Sign up for classes in psychology and family and consumer sciences to develop your counseling skills.
- Take speech and participate in debate to get used to public speaking.
- Make the most of English and history to build solid writing skills and learn about the role of religion around the world and through the ages.
- Take a religion class if it's offered.
Did You Know?
- One of history's most famous activists, Martin Luther King Jr., was a Baptist minister.
Outlook
Government economists expect job growth for ordained religious leaders to be faster than the average for all careers through 2016.
Compensation
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average earnings of clergy in 2008 to be $45,440.
Salaries for Protestant ministers vary depending on where they work, which denomination they belong to, how many people attend their church, and how wealthy the church members are.
