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Religious Workers are those who are dedicated in their beliefs of service to a supreme being and to their fellow human beings, particularly in the areas of religious education and social services. Religious Workers may work in any occupational field, such as health, agriculture, and education, or they may work exclusively in church activities.

JOB DUTIES

Religious Workers may:

Prepare and train other adults for leadership roles

Teach and counsel

Visit in homes or institutions

Assist clergy members in planning and preparing worship services, religious programs, and other activities

Share in decision making in the congregation or community

Plan and work at medical, educational, agricultural, and social activities

Organize charitable and public service volunteer programs

Ask for funds to continue charitable activities

Perform administrative duties for clergy members such as scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, maintaining files, and handling finances

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Religious Workers may specialize in these areas:

120.107-010 RELIGIOUS WORKERS may work in any occupational field, such as health, agriculture, and education, or they may work exclusively in church activities.

129.107-026 PASTORAL ASSISTANTS aid ordained clergy in conducting worship services and in providing spiritual guidance to congregation members. They also plan and arrange educational, social, and recreational programs for the congregation.

129.107-022 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DIRECTORS plan, organize, and direct church school programs designed to promote religious education among their organization's membership. They are primarily concerned with book and reference material selection, curriculum development, and leadership training. Also, they may visit congregation members in their homes to get their support and participation.

129.107-018 DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES direct and coordinate the activities of various denominational groups to promote interfaith under-standing while meeting the religious needs of students. They interpret the policies of universities to community religious workers and meet with administrative officials concerning suggestions and requests for religious activities.

There are many other Religious Workers whose titles and/or duties vary according to their particular church, denomination, or religious affiliation. These may include such titles as sister/brother, prior, postulant, officers of the church army or salvation army, and missionary. (Some missionaries are ordained clergy members. (See MOIScript #184). Other common titles include church youth worker, parish education worker, church senior citizen coordinator, and church camp recreation director.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Working conditions depend entirely on the type of duties in which the Religious Worker is engaged. Some Workers are directly under the supervision of the clergy, governing board, or more experienced Religious Workers, while others may receive little or no supervision. Most work as members of a team or religious community. The work may be local, regional, national, or international. Religious Workers usually work indoors in temples, synagogues, or churches, and in hospitals, schools, or religious organization buildings. However, Missionaries working in remote areas or overseas may spend considerable time outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Most Religious Workers work hours comparable to those of other workers in other fields but usually work until immediate needs are met. For many Religious Workers standard working hours are nearly unheard of. Some are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Some Religious Workers, such as missionaries, may travel from town to town on a daily or weekly basis. Others may have assignments for a particular area lasting two years or more and may then have their assignment extended for that area or be reassigned to another area.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities which involve helping others

• Working with patience and perseverance

• Activities which involve direct contact with people

You Should Be Able To:

• Cope with loneliness/difficulty/sometimes danger, if a missionary

• Plan/direct/coordinate an entire activity or the activities of others

• Deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions

• Use reason and logic

• Understand the meanings and relationships of words

• Make decisions based on personal judgment

• Communicate well with many kinds of people

• Act in a manner that will inspire confidence and trust

• Influence peoples opinions, attitudes, judgments about ideas or things

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

If the church's budget is to be increased by 2% and last year's budget was $10,000, what will this years budget be?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

May need to read and understand terminology from ancient texts or scriptures: "Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, 'Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon'".

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to write reports explaining to the members of your religious group where the budget money is being spent.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be able to decide the best way to spend the budget money, which would give the members of your religious group the most possible benefits.

Religious Workers may be required to meet qualifications beyond being dedicated. Religious Education Directors, for example, are generally required to have at least a Bachelor's degree. Some are also required to complete graduate programs in religious education or related areas. Missionaries are frequently required to have practical work experience in such areas as medicine, education, or agricultural science. Those assigned to a foreign country must have a working knowledge of that country's language, lifestyles, traditions, and customs.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: A Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond High School) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) or a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or A Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

154 RELIGION & THEOLOGY

Programs in Religion and Theology provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to assist others with their religious needs. Programs are related to the beliefs and practices of a religious faith or denomination and differ in length depending upon the faith the student chooses to study. Individuals who teach Religion and Theology at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses within programs will vary but may include:

   Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military web site at http://www.myfuture.com

RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS

The military has personnel from many religions and faiths. The military provides chaplains and religious program specialists to help meet the spiritual needs of its personnel. Religious program specialists assist chaplains with religious services, religious education programs, and related administrative duties.

What They Do

Religious program specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assist chaplains in planning a preparing religious programs activities

• Assist chaplains in conducting religious services

• Prepare religious, educational, and devotional materials

• Organize charitable and public service volunteer programs

• Maintain relations with religious communities and public service organizations

• Perform administrative duties for chaplains, such as scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, maintaining files, and handling finances

Physical Demands

The ability to speak clearly and distinctly is required to enter this occupation.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include English, public speaking, accounting, and typing. Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in religious guidance

• Sensitivity to the needs of others

• Knowledge of various religious customs and beliefs

• Ability to express idea clearly and concisely

• Interest in administrative work

Work Environment

Religious program specialists in the military usually work indoors. They also serve aboard ships or with land and air units in the field.

Training Provided

Job training consists of 7 to 8 weeks of classroom instruction. Course content typically includes:

• Principles of religious support programs

• Guidance and counseling techniques

• Leadership skills

• Office procedures

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian religious program specialists help mange churches and religious schools. Their duties are similar to those performed by military religious program specialists, including planning religious programs and preparing religious educational materials. They are also called directors of religious activities.

Opportunities

The services have about 1,300 religious program specialists. On average, they need about 80 new specialists each year. After job training, religious program specialists help chaplains and supervisors with administrative matters. With experience, they gain more responsibility for organizing activities and working in the local community. In time, they may supervise other specialists.

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Volunteer work for a church, mission, or religious organization and summer work at religious camps or retreats are good experience. Postsecondary programs in religion and theology may offer opportunities for experience. Opportunities are available in military service also. Teaching religious classes is another method of exploration.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Religious Worker employer

internships

volunteer work with a Religious Worker employer

community service work with an agency

Methods of entering religious work are varied. Each denomination and religious institution has its own requirements for employment. You should discuss your interest with a member of the clergy, other Religious Workers, or your school placement counselor. Assistance may be obtained from national, state, and local religious organizations. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:    

Michigan Talent Bank

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Classifieds Employment  

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM

You should also enter you electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Religious Workers vary depending on the type of work performed, the employer, the geographic location, and in some cases, upon the personal needs of the individual Worker.

Nationally (1998), Religious Workers earned average annual salaries ranging from the U.S. minimum wage ($10,712 to over $70,00 per year) or more based on the size and affluence of the institution they serve and their responsibilities. The median annual salary was $26,468 (1998). Directors of church relations employed by colleges and universities had a median annual salary of $44,090 in the 1998-99 school year.

In the North Central region, which includes Michigan, various types of religious workers earned the following salaries in 1999 (including housing and utilities):

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally in 1996, about 85,100 persons were working as Religious Workers. Employment of Religious Workers is expected to grow about as much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 20065. All worked in the service industry, mostly for religious organizations. Others worked for hospitals, doctors, educational facilities, and in many other institutions that offer human services.

The demand for Religious Workers ranges from denominations which have more than enough to others which have a shortage. Demand may also be affected by the state of the economy. Institutions employing Religious Workers depend on money given by their supporters. Therefore, during economic recessions funds may be limited and the demand for Religious Workers will go down, but the need for their services will not decrease. Most religious communities will continue to promote religious vocations and will actively recruit new members.

There are approximately 5,850 Religious Workers employed in Michigan. Most of these workers were directors of religious activities or directors of religious educational programs. Most of these Workers were employed in urban areas and large cities. More than half worked in the Detroit area. All worked in the service industry, mostly for religious organizations.

Employment of Religious Workers in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 200 annual openings is expected, with 80 due to growth and 120 due to the replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings may occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Employment opportunities for Religious Workers in Michigan vary depending on the particular denomination. Some denominations have a limited number of paid positions while others have many. The number of paid positions depends on the contribution level and the amount of money set aside for religious work. Most positions are in or near large metropolitan areas where the need is most frequent.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.