From the windswept plains to the titanic Rockies, Montana is one of the finest examples of God’s work. Big Sky country is a breathtaking, awesome landscape – an embodiment of God’s fiercest, beautiful natural wonders.
Despite those wonders, many individuals throughout Montana are still suffering. In 2019, the state’s violent crime rate was 10 percent higher than the national average, according to the FBI. What’s more, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found 10 percent of Montanans had substance abuse disorder.
The misery must end. Given that you’re reading this, you know the Word of God can be a light for people living through dark times. Yet, where do you begin? How do you start a career in the church? What do you need to do to get started in Montana?
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For you, it might start with learning how to become a pastor in Montana.
Steps to Become a Pastor in Montana
Step 1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry, Pastoral Studies or Other Similar Major in Montana
Besides volunteering regularly with your local church, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry or pastoral studies will be the first step to obtaining a full-time job. That job may consist of hosting ministerial services for youth, running events, or the like – but more on that later.
Many schools offering pastoral studies or Christian ministry degrees often include concentrations as part of their programs. Selecting that concentration (or choosing a Christian-focused major) partly depends on the religious makeup of Montana.
Pew Research reports that 28 percent of Montanans identify with evangelism – Baptists, nondenominational families, and others constitute a diverse mix. There’s also a constituent of Catholics, mainline Protestants, and Mormons in the mix as well.
Consider the messaging that resonates with these believers. Add that to your own beliefs to help you decide which major to pursue. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular Christian studies:
Pastoral Studies: This major focuses on serving your community through the church. Of course, you’ll study the Bible and its interpretations, but the main objective is to help you become an effective minister. You’ll learn not only how to run the day-to-day of a church, but also how to spiritual counseling and guidance to those in your flock.
Christian Ministry: A Christian ministry degree isn't dissimilar to pastoral studies. Both study the Bible and theology, and focus on delivering guidance through the church. The difference lies in Christian Ministry’s heavier focus on public speaking and missiology – the practice of conducting Christian missions across the world.
Youth and Family Ministries: If you want to help families and children in need, this is the major for you. This degree equips students with the knowledge needed to connect youth with the Bible, and help them utilize Biblical teachings as a means to deal with life’s challenges.
Christian Studies: What does it mean to be a Christian? How has the faith evolved over the centuries? What are deepest interpretations of the New and Old Testaments? These are just a few of the many questions you’ll ask during your pursuit of a bachelor’s in Christian studies.
Once completing your major, you’ll be set up for almost any entry-level position a church would offer. Don’t write yourself off from mid-level jobs as well. Those are in reach for the educated and ambitious.
Step 2. Look for Ministry Jobs and Gain Experience Serving the People and Churches of Montana
What are some of the aforementioned jobs a church would offer? It really depends on the scale of the operation. Smaller congregations may only need a few administrative assistants with a junior pastor or two. Others broadcasting televised events need marketers, video editing staff, and sound engineers in addition to the religious workers.
Production-side jobs will always be needed, so they’ll help you get your foot in the door, but what are the jobs specific to religious workers?
Youth Pastor: According to a report from the Montana Board of Crime Control, there were an average 9,570 juvenile offenses between 2006 and 2017 in the state. A job as a youth pastor can help you reach these kids. You’ll help them find wisdom in the Bible, using God’s Word to make constructive, loving decisions in their lives.
Discipleship Pastor: Discipleship pastors focus on building membership. They spread the word of God, inviting those who need it most into the loving arms of the church. From there, they help members find guidance through the Bible, helping them lead healthier lives.
Event Coordinator: This is a job for the natural ring-leaders of the world. You’ll set up charity events, schedule worship services, and set aside resources for weekly meet ups. Your chief job will to make a person’s experience with the church enjoyable and meaningful.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Look on Indeed.com for jobs within churches, or call congregations yourself to see if they’re hiring. Life rewards the ambitious.
Explore Ministry Jobs with One of Montana's Many Churches
The bigger the church, the more resources needed to run it. Montana isn’t known for its megachurches, but the few headquartered in the state draw unbelievable attendance:
Harvest Church: An Evangelical congregation drawing some 2,500 attendees every service, Harvest Church hosts televised sermons from its campus in Billings, MT. Believing that the Bible is the “verbally inspired Word of God,” Harvest Church commits itself to serving its community. One of its core beliefs is that this community service should be “relevant and tangible and make a difference.”
Faith Chapel: Also located in Billings, MT, Faith Chapel is another church offering televised services Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. The services don’t stop there. The church hosts courses on how members can develop healthy relationships with their loved ones, Bible study nights, and dozens of other in-person events.
Canvas Church: Formerly known as Kalispell Christian Center, Canvas Church embodies Evangelical values. The church’s core tenants include recognizing the Bible as God’s Word, equipping people to engage in ministry, and “a never-ending commitment to serve our communities and world in tangible ways.”
Salary Expectations for Church Ministry Jobs in Montana
What can you expect to make as an entry-level worker at a ministry? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, religious workers in Montana report earning an average of $28,530 per year. The top 10 percent – those who have stayed in those positions the longest – make $35,260 or more annually.
Directors of religious services earn a modest, but decent living in Montana. These folks reported earning an average of $31,580 annually while the top ten percent bring in $50,700 or better every year.
Step 3. Earn a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Similar Graduate Degree in Montana and Establish Your Role in Christian Leadership
Build experience as a youth pastor, administrative assistant, or another religious worker. That will give you the experience to build a foundation for your career as a minister.
A Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree will complement that experience. MDiv degrees provide an in-depth study of the Bible and Christianity as a whole. Designed to develop the next generation of pastors and ministers, MDiv programs contain courses from Biblical Hebrew to Christian theology; Bible exposition to evangelism. Many programs require students to complete a mission across the world, giving them real-world experience with God’s work on a global scale.
An MDiv program isn’t your only option, though. Consider a master’s in transformative ministry. These programs are ideal for those who want to work with individuals suffering in their lives. The principle behind transformative ministry is to help people “transform” through accepting Christ as their savior. In practice, it could mean taking a surly, selfish person into a generous, ebullient member of society.
Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Montana
Pastors and other members of the clergy in Montana make considerably more than the standard religious worker – an average of $51,550 per year. The top-earning clergy – those with the most experience and larger congregations – earn $78,580 per year or better.
Step 4. Consider Forming a Christian Ministry of Your Own in Montana
Montana’s full of big skies and small towns. Within that vast expanse may be a community in need of a church of its own - one that commits itself to lifting people up when they need a hand the most.
Before you get started with God’s work, you need to get some litigious details in order.
File Your Articles of Incorporation with the State of Montana
The first step to getting your church off the ground is to file your articles of incorporation with the Montana Secretary of State’s office. The articles of incorporation contain various details about your church, such as:
- Identification of your church as a religious corporation.
- The name and business mailing address of each incorporator.
- How assets will be distributed if the church is dissolved.
- The purpose of the corporation.
- The names and business mailing addresses of individuals who will serve as the initial directors.
- Limits on the powers of the corporation, its board of directors, members, and any class of members.
Consult a corporate or business lawyer to help you draft the articles of incorporation. They’ll help you flesh out all the details.
Create Your Church’s Bylaws
You’ll also submit your church’s bylaws with your articles of incorporation. The bylaws regulate how the church conducts itself under general and certain conditions. For example, your bylaws may dictate:
- The manner in which you will elect directors and choose officers.
- The assembly of committees for carrying out clerical responsibilities.
- The church’s voting process.
- Disciplinary action of church staff who conduct themselves poorly.
- How officers and directors must conduct themselves.
Apply for a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS
This is where a tax specialist will come in handy. In order to become eligible for a 501(c)(3) status, you need to obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN). The EIN allows you to open up a post office box, and file tax documents.
Once you have your EIN, you can fill out form 1023. This is the application for a tax-exempt status with the IRS. It’s a pretty thick document, so make sure you have a professional to help you walk through the process. Note that you need to submit form 1023 within 27 months of filing your articles of incorporation with the state of Montana.
After getting your 501(c)(3) status, you’re good to go. Then comes the challenging, but meaningful work of spreading God’s love.
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.
