www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Primarily for Orthodox Priests, secondary careers for clergy...

Now the subject title says 'primarily for Orthodox' but if EC's have any input on this topic please do so, but typically the situation isnt quite the same at EC parishes.

Im talking about where the laity tries to hold the parish priest hostage by withholding his salary or giving him one him and his family cant even live on. I am seriously discerning the priesthood. In order to avoid this I am considering a secular career and degree. I just now finally got my Associates in arts degree and will go for a BA degree in something. I was planing for Sacred Music or perhaps Russian studies as I would enjoy either, but its not easy to get careers in either at a BA level. I can go to seminary with the BA, which was my original aim, but now Im looking for something more practical unfortunately. I am a military vet and my MOS was not something that translated to a civilian career. So I have great life and leadership experience, but no skill sets that wouldn't have me working for the government which I don't really want to do. Just wondering what priests do to support themselves. I really wanted to dive headlong into something just to get to seminary, and I have to admit this is kind of a let down with the ungrateful parishioners. As a combat vet I guess I should expect it. People are clueless and indignant. You just hope not to see it with supposed Christians. All of the priests I talked to said that I should go the practical route. I wanted to forgo it and let the Lord take care of it, but maybe the Lord is speaking through the priests.

I was hoping to teach British Literature on a college level, but I looked into that and PhDs cant even get hired in full time. Its ridiculous. Well if there are some Clergy members or people who know Clergy members with second careers and what they do who could give some input it be greatly appreciated.

I would like to go into a ROCOR church as I think they are just the best at what they do. If I was thinking about being a Greek pastor I guess this wouldn't be an issue. I appreciate any input.

KS

Greetings KS.

I am writing this as a deacon who hopes, in time, to serve as a priest. I also hold down a career as a college lecturer in religion and philosophy.

The first thing I would say is that you must pray about whether or not you have a vocation to the priesthood. If you do, then you can trust that your needs will be taken care of. Please do not take this the wrong way, but try reading Matthew 6:24-34, and spend some time contemplating what it might mean in your case.

A vocation to the priesthood will sometimes entail a living wage (more an allowance, really!), and sometimes it will not. That will depend on your circumstances. As a result, if you are discerning a call to that life, you would probably do well to undertake your discernment at the same time as you pursue your studies and gainful employment.

As for your studies, I would strongly urge you not to consider what career they might lead to, but rather how they might contribute to your development and self. In other words, I would take up Russian Studies at university simply because I loved Russian Studies... NOT because I expected it to lead me into some sort of particular work. The work will come to those who are open to it.

Take, for example, a Canadian woman I know of who studied Russian at university. She didn't take it in order to 'get a job'. Rather, she also happened to have a deft hand with a camera; and when she finished at university, she went traveling in Russia only to find herself in huge demand as a photographer. Now she's famous. (You can find her story online. I read about her in my universtity's alumni magazine.) Then, there is the possibility of museum work; teaching; translating; political advising; writing... The list of possibilities is endless. You just need to pursue something you love and let it take you somewhere.

But you really have posed more than one question, as well as a few other issues. I hope I have given you something to think about, but would strongly suggest that you talk to your own priest and find yourself a spiritual father as soon as you are able.

Thank you for your post Fr. Deacon.

I think you are right and should pursue something I love. I thought of sacred music(voice) and the Brit Lit thing. My voice coach told me literally 'if you can do anything else, do it and then do your music as a hobby' and she says I have a wonderful voice (and she assures me she's serious!). Its just very hard to make ends meet with it alone. Unless you are the best of world class you arent going to make money doing it. For instance, the Cleveland Orchestra Choir is volunteer. Not the Orchestra itself but the choir.

Im starting to see why they call em 'starving artists'.
I will try to find out about the girl who went to Russia online. And thanks for the reorientation. 'Do what you love and never work a day in your life...'

Oh I pray everytime I sit down to pray on my vocation. Whatever it may be... Good luck with yours as well Fr. Deacon.

KS,

with your military background, is there any chance of your becoming an Orthodox chaplin in the Armed Forces? Perhaps that would alleviate your salary concerns?

I agree with former posters. Do what you love, you will be surprised how it opens doors - and God does provide.

Note that studies have found that liberal arts majors actually do better in business careers than business majors.

Major in what you enjoy; the person that actually has a career in his major field is the exception, not the norm (says the physics major who alternates between practicing law and being an economics professor).

I could probably but I really dont want to go back to the military. It would be a totally different experience than what I had dealt with before, but I really dont have the same zeal for this nation as I once had. Not because I knew how it was, but of what it is becoming. Its sickening quite frankly. I live and die for one kingdom now, because this country is no longer a subject of that kingdom. I want to directly serve the master, not by proxy.

Great advice from all. Thank you.