Protestant ministers obtain experience in the seminary and through a vicarage at a church. First and foremost, Protestant ministers must feel a calling to religious life. They must believe that God is calling them to dedicate their lives to serving others.
Protestant ministers must meet the requirements of their individual denominations. Both men and women can become ordained ministers in most denominations today. Beyond formal ordination requirements, Protestant ministers must possess a religious vocation—a strong feeling that God is calling them to the service of others through religious ministry. For most, this means giving material success a lower priority than spiritual matters.
Ministers need to be outgoing and friendly and have a strong desire to help others. They need to be able to get along with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. They need patience, sympathy, and open-mindedness to be able to listen to the problems of others, while maintaining a discreet and sincere respect. They need leadership abilities, including self-confidence, decisiveness, and the ability to supervise others. Ministers need to be aware that they will be relied on heavily by their congregation in times of trouble and stress, therefore making it more important they keep the needs of their own families balanced with those of their congregations.