Christian Jobs and Careers

Have you been considering applying your personal faith to your career?  Perhaps you would like to take the next step in your Christian career by pursuing a higher degree.  There are many opportunities in Christian jobs if you have the right education.

Career Paths and Required Education

Minister

Ministers can work in many settings, including hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations, but the most recognized career path is the leader of a congregation.  Ministers are in charge of day-to-day operations of a church including managing staff, implementing the budget, attending conferences, etc.  They also lead their members to make strategic decisions such as capital fund raising and creating new ministries.  Most importantly, ministers provide spiritual leadership and comfort to their congregants and the community.

Educational requirements typically include:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Master of divinity from an accredited seminary

Be sure to check with your denomination to see if there are additional work or education requirements before you can be called as a minister.

Pastoral Counseling

Pastoral counseling combines traditional psychological counseling with a spiritual and religious emphasis.  Pastoral counselors often work in conjunction with a congregation to provide services for premarital counseling, divorce adjustment, or grief counseling, among other areas.

The American Association of Pastoral Counselors describes the typical educational requirements as:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• 3-Year professional degree from a seminary
• Specialized masters or doctoral degree in the mental health field

These educational requirements also include clinical training, professional license exams and professional certification.

Administrator

There are many career opportunities available for church and nonprofit administrators.  An administrator can provide invaluable leadership and advice for the church or nonprofit regarding operations, budget, legal, tax, finance or facilities management.  They can also play a role in financial accounting, property supervision, wills and bequests development, personnel supervision, stewardship development, volunteer training and development, and more.

Although there are few formal education requirements to be a church or nonprofit administrator, a bachelor’s degree is preferred.  A background in business can also be helpful, particularly in operations, accounting or management.  There are also certification programs, such as one offered by the National Association of Church Business Administration, that can enhance your chance at a job.

Faculty Member/Teacher

There are countless prospects for Christian jobs in teaching.  You can be a faculty member at a Christian college or university, or you can teach religious studies at an institution that is not faith-based.  There are thousands of primary and secondary teaching positions available at Christian schools across the country.  Seminaries also need professors.  Depending on your level of education and specialization, the opportunities for jobs and advancement are broad.

Educational requirements for faculty members at a college or university, Christian or otherwise, include:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• PhD in your area of specialty

At some vocational or community colleges, a master’s degree plus relevant work experience can be sufficient.  Some Christian colleges or universities may also prefer a master’s or PhD in Divinity or other Christian Ministry areas.

To become an elementary or high school teacher, you will typically need:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university (preferred)

You will also need teaching certification from your state, which may include additional classes, student teaching, and testing.  Contact your state’s board for teacher certification to find out specific requirements.