Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Career Overview

Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling, guidance, and leadership relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems.

Also Known As

  • Children's Ministries Director
  • Christian Education Director
  • Religious Education Director
  • Youth Pastor

Alternate Job Titles

  • Adult Ministries Director
  • Campus Ministries Director
  • Campus Ministry Director
  • Children and Family Ministries Director
  • Children and Youth Ministries Director
  • Children's Director
  • Children's Ministries Coordinator
  • Children's Ministries Director
  • Children's Ministry Director
  • Christian Education Director
  • Church Supervisor
  • Family Ministries Director
  • Leadership Director
  • Men's Ministries Director
  • Ministries Coordinator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
  • Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
  • Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
  • Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
  • Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
  • Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
  • Train and supervise religious education instructional staff.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Education and Training
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Speaking
  2. Active Listening
  3. Social Perceptiveness
  4. Reading Comprehension
  5. Critical Thinking
  6. Active Learning
  7. Instructing
  8. Service Orientation
  9. Learning Strategies
  10. Coordination

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Written Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speech Clarity
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Originality
  • Fluency of Ideas

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Empathy
  • Dependability
  • Sincerity
  • Social Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Relationships
  • Achievement
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Facebook
  • Google Workspace software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Zoom

Tools & Equipment

  • Computer laser printers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Smart phones
  • Tablet computers

Work Environment

  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • E-Mail
  • Telephone Conversations

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$33,990
Median$54,840
Top Earners (90th percentile)$106,530

Workers Employed Nationally: 21,460

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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