Your Guide to Meeting the Qualifications of a Pastor in Illinois

Salary Expectations for Church Ministry Jobs in Illinois

The annual average salary for non-clergy Christian church jobs in Illinois is $34,390, with an hourly pay of $16.53. The bottom 10% earn just over $23,000 while the top 10% earn $55,000 or more, depending on the size and location of the church or ministry.

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Liberty University

Featured Program: Liberty University’s Christian ministry certificate and degree programs can help fill this growing need by equipping students with a strong understanding of biblical leadership principles and strategies necessary to minister to and grow today’s churches. Liberty’s Christian ministry degree programs are taught from a biblical worldview with a mission to “Train Champions for Christ” in every class, every degree, for every career.

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Grand Canyon University

Featured Program: Grand Canyon University’s theology and ministry degree programs are rooted in biblical truth and designed to strengthen theological knowledge. The mission of GCU’s College of Theology is to “educate students to communicate the gospel effectively, serve the church faithfully and minister with integrity at home and abroad.”

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

Illinois does not have any licensing or registration requirements for pastors or other members of clergy, so the requirements are set by church elders and the bylaws in place for individual churches. In some cases, educational standards and other requirements might be customary for certain denominations, but most of the time it’s the individual church itself that establishes the criteria for Christian leadership roles.

The Master of Divinity (MDiv), or other similar graduate degree, is the most common educational standard across all denominations. This degree provides you a more in-depth understanding of the Bible and theology as well as practical and purposeful skills and practices for leading a church.

A Master of Divinity program will prepare you for church leadership, walking you through an exploration of cultural context, religious heritage, personal and spiritual formation, and the capacity for ministerial and public leadership.

An MDiv program typically takes three to for years to complete and can be earned either online, in person, or through a combination of both on-campus and remote learning.

Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Illinois

Illinois is one of the higher paying states for pastors, with an annual average salary of $57,560. The top 10% enjoy a more generous salary, earning more than $81,150.

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

Instead of joining a church, you might feel lead or called to start one of your own. And for many, this simply means gathering together with a group of like-minded people, offering prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, and enjoying fellowship and community.

For others, however, the vision is larger with an actual church building that has the capacity and availability to serve and provide for its local community. In which case, the process of establishing a church is a bit more completed.

To be a legally recognized as an established church in Illinois, there are a few steps that must be followed.

State Requirements:

1. The Religious Corporation Act of Illinois states that, any church, congregation or society established for the purpose of religious worship, may become incorporated in the following manner:
   • Electing and appointing two or more members as trustees, wardens and vestrymen
   • Adopt a corporate name
   • Have the chairman or secretary of the meeting make and submit to the office of the recorder in the county which the church abides, an affidavit that follows the form provided on the Religious Corporation Act website (chapter 32, par. 165).

Federal Requirements:

2. Obtain a Federal Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS. This is a unique, nine-digit number that identifies your church as a nonprofit organization and will be required to open bank accounts, file your 501(c)(3), and submit your 990 returns. You can apply online, at no cost.
3. Establish bylaws. Bylaws are the policies you will use to run and operate your church and establish your conflict-of-interest policy. These must be approved and adopted before submitting your 501(c)(3) application.
4. Establish an incorporator. An incorporator is someone who can sign the Articles of Incorporation for your church and is required in order to file for 501(c)(3) status.
5. Submit 501(c)(3) application. This crucial document identifies your church as a nonprofit, exempting you from federal income tax. This document also allows your church to provide doners with tax-deductible documentation. This is perhaps the most detailed and arduous stage of the process. Individuals submitting a 501(c)(3) are often encouraged to hire a professional as the language and paperwork can take over 100 hours to complete.

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.