Now that you’re familiar with the general vocational ministry definition, you may wish to examine specific career options. Consider the following types of careers in church settings:
Becoming a pastor is one possible career goal for students who decide to pursue vocational ministry. The head pastor or lead pastor of the church is responsible for leading the congregation. They handle the following tasks:1
- Prepare sermons based in biblical teachings
- Deliver the sermon during worship services
- Interpret and teach biblical scripture
- Provide counsel to congregation members
Another important position within the church is that of the youth pastor. As the job title implies, the youth pastor is responsible for nurturing the spiritual development and faith formation of the congregation’s young members. In some churches, youth pastors oversee a broad age range of worshippers — from about 12 to as old as 30. Youth pastors provide spiritual support and counseling.1
If your God-given talents are musical in nature, then perhaps an ideal vocational ministry career for you could be to pursue a position as the music director. Music directors are responsible for planning and organizing worship arts services, which include music and other forms of media. They lead the choir and also typically handle some administrative duties related to worship arts services.1
When considering a career in vocational ministry, you may also wish to think about choices that lie outside of traditional church settings. For instance, perhaps you might wish to pursue a career as a chaplain. Chaplains serve God outside the church in places such as hospitals and other healthcare settings, as well as prisons, police departments and fire departments.1
Chaplains may perform a broad range of job duties, such as leading worship services and performing religious rites. A chaplain may offer guidance on spiritual issues, and they can create spiritual care plans for both patients and healthcare staff members. Chaplains may even implement and oversee spiritual education programs, and they can provide crisis intervention (e.g., for recently bereaved families).1
If you long to travel and see other parts of the world, you might want to consider doing mission work full-time. Missionaries typically travel to other countries to spread the word of God. They may also engage in projects designed to assist and empower the local community (e.g., build a clinic or a school). Missionaries are generally sponsored by their church or by various Christian organizations.2
