Many women and men who are attracted to ministry have a deep desire to make a difference. Ministry happens in many locations and contexts. Here are just a few possibilities:

Local Church Pastor: These pastors make a difference through day to day contact with their parishioners. Whether serving in a rural farming community, in the suburbs or in the midst of a busy and diverse city, there is always ministry to do. Local church pastors: baptize and celebrate communion, stand with people in times of great joy and sorrow, lead worship and preach, work with children, youth and adults, help people relate their faith to their daily lives, teach … the list goes on and on!

Chaplains: There are a variety of settings for the ministry of chaplains. Some serve in the military or VA hospitals, some serve in hospitals and hospice programs, some minister to fire fighters and police officers, some work with students on college and university campuses. To learn more about these types of ministry, contact John Gundlach, Endorser for Government Chaplaincies, at gundlacj@ucc.org or Richard Sparrow, Endorser for Professional Chaplaincies, at sparrowr@ucc.org.

Pastoral Counselors: These ministers seek to combine the skills and insights of psychology with the resources of faith. They minister to individuals and families in times of crisis as well as times of growth. Specialized training beyond the basic Master of Divinity degree is required.

Youth Minister: Some people feel a special calling to minister to youth and young adults. They enjoy the honesty, energy and enthusiasm of youth and want to help young men and women to grow in their faith in God and be leaders in the church now.

Missionary: Some people feel a call to minister in other places in the world and witness to their faith. Missionaries not only share faith but often stand with people around the world who are fighting injustice and are in need of the basics of life: food, shelter, clothing, medical services and education. To learn more about mission in the United Church of Christ please visit Wider Church Ministries page on www.ucc.org/wcm.

Christian Educator: The educational ministry of the church is filled with opportunities to help people of all ages grow in their understanding and practice of their faith. Some Christian educators are ordained, others are commissioned ministers and still others are lay people.

Social Activist: Down through the years there have been many men and women who understood their calling to be that of standing with those who are oppressed and marginalized by society. We may think of people like Bishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or our own Rev. Jesse Jackson. However, countless men and women have lived their faith in action - working to change unjust laws, to feed the hungry, to protest injustice and to work for the coming of God's realm.

These are just a few of many ways of being a minister in the United Church of Christ. Whether as an "authorized" minister (ordained, licensed, commissioned) or simply as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ there are many ways you can live out your call and make a difference.