Job Title: Senior Pastor of Maryland Presbyterian Church

Organization: Presbytery of Baltimore, North Baltimore Presbyterians, Maryland Presbyterian Church

Career Overview: Along with leading worship. Work with the community and neighbors regardless of religion. Helping folks to figure out how we can be good stewards to the Earth.

A Day on the Job: There is no typical day. Outsiders often think that a pastor’s work is strictly for Sundays. While David does come to church on Sundays 3 hours before worship to set-up and edit his sermon, after the service he is talking to various community members. He even has regular duties like meeting with the Music Director. Throughout the week, he is providing pastoral care and counseling to parishioners, meeting with visitors, and leading education classes. David meets with various community leaders throughout the week - political, interfaith partners, environmental stewardship, and missions.

He does fun things like kickball and arts-and-crafts with the church mission in the Woodbourne-McCabe neighborhood in Baltimore City. In a few days, he and members of the congregation will be going to Washington DC to visit elected officials and their staff to talk about ways to combat hunger.

Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Flexibility, Creativity

Education: Undergraduate degree, Masters of Divinity from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Experience and Training: In order to obtain a Masters of Divinity some of the courses include Biblical Studies, Language - Biblical Greek and Hebrew, Care & Counseling Classes, Church History, Theology, and Field Education. In order to fulfill the Field Education requirement, it includes holding an internship. David did an international one with the Asian Rural Institute in Japan. He worked on a farm that trains leaders from the global South to have self-sufficient communities and produce their own “beyond organic” food. He also interned at a church for 2 years in a religiously diverse community in New Jersey.

Personal Career Path: David grew up in the church. It feels like home. He has a strong spiritual connection to the church. For him and through ministry, he wants to put the world in a better place.

Mentorship: Prior to formally starting his education as a minister, his mentor was Rev. Kenny Russ who showed him some of the basic skills in becoming a pastor. Rev. Beth Scibienski helped David greatly when he did his two year internship in New Jersey.

Pay and Job Outlook: The percentage of people who are attending church regularly is declining in most faiths; however, community involvement like civic engagement is growing. It is critical to have strong, determined, and enthusiastic pastors who can build relationships between the church and the community. Pastors are retiring and many congregations are closing-and-combining in order for the Presbytery to have more resources; therefore, it is a competitive market for hiring pastors.

Favorite and Most Challenging Aspect to the Job: David’s favorite part of the job is developing relationships with people, whether they be from the congregation to community leaders outside the church. He is amazed by the creativity that comes from combining ministry and community engagement. The most challenging aspect is working with limited resources - from time to finances. He is constantly pushing the boundaries with creativity in order to have the best results.

Advice for Young Professionals Interested in This Career: David recommends that you be creative and willing to face challenges. That includes listening to the congregation and the community. You will not always get what you want, but you will develop great relationships.