How to Become a Pastor in 12 Simple Steps

In just four years, you too can qualify to wear a weird collar

One thing that was somewhat opaque at the start of my Seminary journey was the actual process of becoming a Pastor. I had a Pastor I looked up to explain it all to me before I even applied to anything, but a lot of people go in fairly blind. Besides, its hard to grasp the whole process until you’re actually in it, and even then, it can be hard to focus too far beyond the next step. I should also mention that this only applies to my experience within the ELCA. Other mainline protestant churches may have slightly different processes. Evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox institutions are likely to have dramatically different processes than this.

For the ELCA, this process is called the “Call Process” and is intended as a function of the Holy Spirit both calling the person into ministry and guiding the institution to properly prepare this person. This is why you have a candidacy committee and why you have to attend Seminary. I won’t be shy here about some of my criticisms of this process, even if I understand the logic of it. As a process overseen by people, it is imperfect, and sometimes I think theological cover is used to hide some of those imperfections. Let’s dive in.