Your Career in the Clergy

YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS ARE A TIME for questioning, for seeking answers and explanations about the mysteries of life you had not noticed before or took for granted when you were younger. You want to know where you stand in your family, among your peers, in the world, and in the universe. Perhaps you feel that you are meant to do something special, something that will make the world a better place. Most of the people who enter the clergy have an experience like this, a feeling that they are being called to serve others through their religion. There are several different ways to enter the clergy, depending on the religion and denomination within that religion. The most important thing you can do now is to discuss this feeling with your parents and with the spiritual leader of your congregation, if your family belongs to one. If they do not, you can still seek one out. Most clergy welcome people who express an interest in serving. The process of discovering if this is the right path for you should still be something your family is engaged in with you. You will find that having their support will make a difference as your faith in your decision is tested. This will also be a time for reading as much as you can about the world's great religions and the notable religious figures that have influenced the history of mankind over the centuries. It is worth noting that this is a time of change for religion in the US. The big denominations are facing the same skeptical questioning as big government, big corporations, and other parts of the so-called "establishment." Many people are looking for alternatives in religion. Smaller non-denominational churches are increasing in number. If you are feeling the call but not comfortable with the response you are finding in the established churches, you may want to examine the alternatives.