Your Guide to Meeting the Qualifications of a Pastor in Michigan

Salary Expectations for Church Ministry Jobs in Michigan

For non-leadership religious workers in Christian ministry, the annual average salary in Michigan is $39,680, while the highest earners in the top ten percent make $63,060 or more.

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

Currently, there are no licensing or registration requirements for pastors or other members of clergy in the state of Michigan, leaving the requirements of church leadership to be set by the church elders and established bylaws of each individual church.

To establish your role in Christian leadership, a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or another similar graduate degree will be required.  Earning a graduate degree in a Christ-centered program will not only provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the Bible, theology, ministry, and service, it will guide you through the process of servant leadership, establishing and implementing a vision for the church, and how to minister to the many diverse needs of the men and women of Michigan.

Like Pastor Bryant and Wilkerson, obtaining a graduate degree will provide you the proper tools and biblical foundations for implementing the Christian faith into life outside the building, enabling you and your church members to live out in flesh the truth of the Sunday sermons.

An MDiv program typically takes three to four years to complete and can be earned either online, in person, or a combination of the two.

Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Michigan

The annual average salary for pastors and other members of clergy in Michigan is $47,110, with the top 10% earning more than $67,500 as of 2020.

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

Instead of joining an already established church, for many, there is a calling to start their own church. If you are one of those people, if you feel called to serve your community with a new and unique church, there are a few things to consider.

First and foremost is the support and encouragement from family and friends. The second is the legal requirements of Michigan for starting and establishing your own church.

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

1. Name your church. Make sure your name is unique and does not conflict with any other registered organization in Michigan. It must also meet all state requirements, of which you can find at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website.
2. Name Incorporators and Directors. The incorporator will be responsible for signing the Articles of Incorporation for your church. Directors, however, make up the governing body and are the stakeholders. You will need at least one incorporator and a minimum of three directors.For the state of Michigan, you will also need a president, secretary, and treasurer. Although two or more offices may be held by the same individual, they may sign in one capacity only, when the signatures of two officers are required.
3. Appoint a Registered Agent. This appointed individual will be responsible for receiving legal notices on behalf of your church. They must be a resident of Michigan with an office address physically located within the state and open during regular business hours.The local Michigan registered agent office is located in Okemos.
4. File Articles of Incorporation. This document will officially mark the creation of and identify the existence of your church in Michigan. It will also allow you to apply for 501(c)(3) exemption.You can find specific directions on how to file at Michigan.gov under The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
5. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Your EIN is a unique, nine-digit number that the IRS will assign, identifying your church as nonprofit. You will use this number to open bank accounts, apply for 501(c)(3) status, and when submitting your 990 tax returns to the IRS.
6. Create Bylaws and Policies. Your bylaws are the governing documents of your church and serve as the foundation for decision making. The conflict of interest policy, which you will need to create, ensures that all decisions are made with the interest of the church at heart, not any one individual. Your 501(c)(3) application will require that both your bylaws and conflict of interest policy have been approved and adopted by your church board of directors.
7. Hold an Official Meeting: At this meeting, your board of directors will approve the bylaws and conflict of interest, as well as elect and appoint church leaders.
8. Obtain Michigan State Tax Identification Numbers and Accounts: You will have to fill out form 518 and submit it to the Michigan Department of Treasury
9. Apply for 501(c)(3) exemption. This section is the most daunting portion of the church planting journey. With an overall estimate of well over 100 hours to complete the process, church leaders are encouraged to hire a professional who is accustomed to the language, process, and criteria of applying for a 501(c)(3).
10. Register for Fundraising. Depending on your vision and scope of influence of your church, you may need to register in multiple states. But first and foremost, you must register for charitable solicitation with the state of Michigan at the Michigan Attorney General agency. You must then register all soliciting donations thereafter on an annual basis.

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.