Your Guide to Meeting the Qualifications of a Pastor in Iowa

Step 1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministry, Pastoral Studies or Other Similar Major in Iowa

Being a pastor is so much more than preaching sermons on a Sunday morning. It is leading and training others within the church and community, it is ministering and counseling men and women of all ages, it is solving modern day problems with the help of ancient biblical text, and it is doing so with grace, wisdom, and integrity.

To become a pastor in Iowa you will need a strong foundational understanding of Christ, His life and the teachings He inspired. To do so, you will need to earn a Christ-centered bachelor's degree in Christian counseling, ministry, pastoral studies, or another similar major.

In Iowa, there are several colleges and universities that provide Christian degrees, all of which offer them both on-line and in person.

Earning a degree in Iowa will also provide you more than a biblical education. It will require that you take courses in history, math, English, and science, as well as strengthen your communication and leadership skills. It will also teach you about the history of Iowa itself, the people who make up your church and local community, and it will provide you opportunities to learn and understand the many cultures and people groups that make the state special.

Earning a Christian bachelor's degree will make you a more well-rounded, connected, and purposeful church leader.

Step 2. Look for Ministry Jobs and Gain Experience Serving the People and Churches of Iowa

Throughout Iowa, there are people who have endured a great deal of oppression, as Rev. Minna Bothwell stated. There are also a great number of people who have been dealt a hard hand and need support. Ministries such as Hope Ministries in Des Moines provide such support.

With a heart and mind that believes it is the responsibility of Christian leaders to serve those in need, Hope Ministry serves three free meals daily to hundreds of struggling Iowans, provides free shelter to the homeless and abandoned, and encourages counseling and education for those eager and able to grow and learn.

And Hope Ministries is not alone. Throughout all of Iowa, both urban and rural, there are churches who are eager to help improve the lives of their local and greater communities.

Explore Ministry Jobs with One of Iowa's Many Churches

“The church is an ambassador for Christ in the world,” Rev. Trey Hegar of the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant writes in his monthly blog, “The people of the church are the representatives. I would love to have a few crazy Christians support this work.” A sentiment shared by many churches throughout Iowa.

If you would like to be an ambassador for Christ in this world, below is a list of some of the largest throughout Iowa that would love to have your crazy Christian support through volunteerism or even full-time ministry work as a member of church staff.

• Cornerstone Church in Ames
  
• Faith Evangelical Free Church in Spirit Lake
• First Assembly Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids
• Harvest Bible Chapel in Davenport
• Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines
• Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls
• Point of Grace Church in Waukee
• Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls
• Third Reformed Church in Pella
• Valley Church in West Des Moines

Salary Expectations for Church Ministry Jobs in Iowa

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, religious workers serving in non-leadership positions will earn an average salary of just over $28,000, with the top ten percent earning at least $47,040.

Step 3. Earn a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Similar Graduate Degree in Iowa and Establish Your Role in Christian Leadership

To become a pastor in Iowa, just about any church will expect you to hold a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or other similar graduate degree in areas such as ministry, Christian counseling or theology. Earning your Christian master's degree will not only stretch your understanding of biblical truths and ideologies, it will also provide a solid foundation of trust between you and your church.

During your coursework you will study and learn how to accurately interpret the Bible as well as how to better and more effectively minister to those around you. An MDiv will also provide you opportunities to gain essential knowledge and skills in leadership, church planting, organizational leadership, and youth and adult ministries.

A Master of Divinity or similar graduate degree prepares you for a life of service and leadership within the church. It also teaches you how to be a better communicator, writer, and critical-thinker equipped to relate to the world and all those who live in it.

And as a Christian leader of Iowa – a land with over 3 million people, 50% of which fall between the ages of 18 and 65, 10% of whom live in poverty, and just above 75% of which identify as Christian – understanding how to connect with a diverse group of people is critical.

Earning an advanced degree will also provide you the essential skills and knowledge you need to plant your own church, if ever you feel called.

Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Iowa

Pastors, ministers and other members of clergy in Iowa earn an average salary of $52,000, while the top ten percent earn at least $76,000.

Directors and of religious activities working for Iowa churches earn an average salary of $63,180 with the bottom 10% earning $35,730 and the top 10 percent earning $109,930 or more.

Step 4. Consider Forming a Christian Ministry of Your Own in Iowa

There times and opportunities, however, when starting your own church is appropriate, rather than joining one. If you are feeling called in that direction there are a few local, state, and federal laws that you must follow.

In Iowa, churches fall under the category of a nonprofit organization. The first step in forming your nonprofit organization (church) is to file your articles of incorporation with the Iowa Secretary of State. The minimal requirements for an Iowa nonprofit organization can be found under the Iowa Code section 504.202.

Once you have filed the articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, they will send you a certificate of acknowledgement, indicating the validation of your church as a nonprofit organization.

Next, you will need to hold an organizational meeting with your board of directors and create and adopt bylaws, elect officers, and discuss pertinent specifics of your church.

Lastly, your board of directors must adopt your bylaws. These bylaws are the backbone of your church as they clarify your mission and purpose statement and are the source from which all other decisions are made (alongside the bible).

2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job market trends for Religious Workers, Church Directors, and Clergy based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2022.