What kind of education do you need to become an minister?

Answer 1

Different churches, denominations, and fellowships have different requirements for teaching Sunday School. Some require little more than membership, while others require being taught through a program offered by the denomination or church.

Answer 2

you don't technically need to go to college. But if you wanted to become one you would probably want to go to a seminary or get an undergrad in theology (gotta know about different religions if you want to be a good pastor). it is also common sense, in order to be a pastor you need to have a clear understanding of the gospel.

Answer 3

It's not a case of simply 'wanting to become a member of the clergy'- one has to feel called by God to that position. I cannot speak for the Roman Catholic Church, but as an Anglican who is currently training for priesthood, perhaps I can give you first hand experience. I had embryonic callings throughout my life from my teenage years, but it was only in my early 50s when I realised that I could not say 'no' to God any more. The first move was to chat to the diocesan vocations adviser who goes through your feelings, what others say about you and so on and decides if there is sufficient evidence to warrant further investigation. He or she will consider your calling and will then decide the best course of action and the level of education needed. Most clergy undergo a training course lasting several years and, although previous formal qualifications are not absolutely necessary you will still be expected to have a minimum educational standard necessary to embark on a rigorous and thorough grounding in theology to at least diploma lavel or, preferably, degree level. In my own case, I was already an honours graduate in chemistry and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry - equivalent to a second degree - and this was deemed more than adequate to start training. However, if you have no qualifications this will not disqualify you provided you convince the diocesan vocations advisor that you should be able to cope with the academic rigors of the theological training as well as the practical training. Formal assessment takes the form usually of many academic essays of 2000-3000 words each, plus dissertations and other exercises. I have started training only since September 2008 and since that time (it is now March 2009) I have already had to complete around 6 academic essays of several thousand words each, as formal assessments, in my 20-hour a week "part time" three year course. If the diocesan vocations advisor is convinced that you have a calling and should cope with the workload, you then go for interviews to the Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) who interviews you over several occasions. I believe I had around 5-6 hour-long interviews with him where we explored the calling and, then we prepared for something called the Bishop's Adviser (BA) interviews. Within these meetings the DDO also advises you on the forms you need to complete. The main one (like a CV), a resume including your life history, history of calling, journey of faith, your beliefs etc in my case was 14 pages long of close-typed 10pt Times New Roman. There were then two BA interviews of around 2 hours each, and they make the decision, after really putting you under the microscope, of whether or not to recommend to your bishop that he sponsor you for 'selection'. After the bishop's adviser interviews, if they decide it is a 'yes' then you have an interview with the bishop who will give the final 'yes' or 'no' for selection, based on your calling and personal qualities necessary for priesthood. You then go for a 'Bishop's Advisory Panel' (somrthing that used to be called a (Selection Conference')- a three day meeting where you will have interviews with three skilled and experienced advisers, you will do team exercise like giving a presentation on a topic, leading discussions, and writing pastoral letters. After the panel is finished, they will advise the bishop 'yes' or 'no' for selection as to whether or not to recommend you for training. The whole experience is draining, physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, but the whole panel is wrapped in prayer and you feel supported and encoursged to do well. You are not competing with the other 15 candidates or so at the panel, as it is to decide once and for all whether or not the bishop should agree you should be trained. In fact, at the panel, all could go through or none could go through - you are matched against criteria for ordination selection and not against each other as at a job interview. You tend to make strong bonds with the other candidates there - two ended up training at the same college as I am and we have become firm friends. As there is no competition, you enjoy the love and encouragement of the others The bishop then lets you know the outcome as soon as he knows (around a week or so after the Panel) , and, if yes, the DDO then arranges for training etc at the place of your choice. Full time training for those already graduates (in any subject) is 2 years, part-time is three years. If you are not a graduate, you may, at the DDO or bishop's discretion, be asked to do some access courses first. If training is completed satisfactorily, you are ordained deacon at the end of the training period. Training consists of both practical study and theological study. After this, there is a further year of training 'on the job' after which you are ordained priest and a further two or three years after this where you are deemed a 'training curate' after which you then move to your first parish as vicar. So, the short answer to your question is that it is not 'hard' nor does it need large numbers of qualifications to start to become a member of the clergy, but it can take a long time. From meeting the diocesan vocations adviser to when I started training took me a year, with three more before ordination to deacon - and a further year for ordination to priest. However, for some, the process from initial meetings to the start of training could take much longer.

Answer 4

Most American clergy are required to have a Masters in Divinity and must be recommended by a particular denomination.

Some religions or denominations do not require any formal training. For instance, primitive baptists do not require this.

Answer 5

Typically, the minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of theology or divinity. Many pastors - because of the counseling component - pursue a master's degree.

Answer 6

You don't need any education if thats your calling from GOD then go for it good luck!!