Outreach Minister Job Description
An outreach minister is a type of pastor who is responsible for reaching people who are not currently members of a Christian church. He will have some duties within the church like any other minister, but will also work under the supervision of a head pastor to organize events that will "reach out" to non-members in the community.
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Job Duties
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Outreach ministers have a number of responsibilities that are unique to their particular job role in comparison to other pastoral staff. Outreach ministers organize evangelistic events with the intention to connect the message of the gospel with people outside of the church in a way that is relevant to someone who is not aligned with a church body. Community outreach events that an outreach minister may coordinate include free car washes, food drives, movie nights, recreational sports leagues or holiday events. Outreach ministers work with all age groups. They may also coordinate teams of volunteers to visit people in their homes who have visited the church and express interest in knowing more.
Work Environment
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Outreach ministers work in a church environment, which means they often have nontraditional work hours in order to cater to the needs of church members and the community. These hours include evenings and weekends. While they may primarily work in an office setting, outreach ministers are also found at community events, such as town hall and school board meetings, conferences and special events. Outreach ministers must be able to lead others and work on a team with other pastors, church staff and ministry volunteers.
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Education
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Most outreach ministers have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to ministry, such as biblical studies or counseling. Many churches require any outreach ministry candidate also have a Master’s of Arts or Master’s of Divinity degree. Smaller churches or churches in rural settings may be willing to hire an outreach minister without formal education who demonstrates a gift for outreach ministry.
Advancement
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Many outreach ministers are promoted to a position as a head pastor of a church after several years of experience. Outreach ministers who pursue a post-graduate degree, such as Doctor of Ministry or PhD, can move on to academic positions with a university or seminary setting. Others choose to pursue administrative positions in their denominational institutions. Some outreach ministers with successful ministries may launch independent careers as conference speakers and authors, teaching other pastors and churches how to have fruitful outreach ministries.
Salary and Career Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics report from May of 2009 said the average salary for members of the clergy, which includes outreach ministers, was $46,960. This figure is dependent upon size and location of the church, denominational contributions or limitations, years of experience and education level. The career outlook for all members of the clergy, including outreach ministers, is expected to grow by 2018.
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References
- Photo Credit Chapel Hill 1 image by wailor from Fotolia.com
