What Do Religious Activities Directors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Religious Activities Directors plan, direct, or coordinate programs designed to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling and guidance relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems. They also identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.

Other tasks include:

• Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
• Publicize programs through sources, such as newsletters, bulletins, or mailings.
• Train and supervise religious education instructional staff.
• Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
• Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
• Implement program plans by ordering needed materials, scheduling speakers, reserving space, or handling other administrative details.

We asked Religious Activities Directors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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84% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 96% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Religious Activities Directors implement program plans by ordering needed materials, scheduling speakers, reserving space, or handling other administrative details. They identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.

• Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
• Analyze member participation or changes in congregational emphasis to determine needs for religious education.
• Publicize programs through sources, such as newsletters, bulletins, or mailings.
• Confer with clergy members, congregational officials, or congregational organizations to encourage support of or participation in religious education activities.
• Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.

We asked some Religious Activities Directors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	79% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	70% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Religious Activities Directors also analyze revenue and program cost data to determine budget priorities. They may also confer with clergy members, congregational officials, or congregational organizations to encourage support of or participation in religious education activities.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Religious Activities Directors Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats. They might also Analyze member participation or changes in congregational emphasis to determine needs for religious education.

In addition, they Publicize programs through sources, such as newsletters, bulletins, or mailings.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.

To some Religious Activities Directors, it is also their responsibility to Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Religious Activities and Education Director, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes212021.htm