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Training for ministers is sometimes long and rigorous, and personal and family sacrifices are significant. While most ministers train in their 20's, there is an increased tendency for people to experience a call to ministry during a first or second career. Often these people return to school for further training. Certainly there is no ideal time to train for ministry. When one enters seminary or graduate school at a young age, he/she has little life experience from which to draw whereas older students have many life experiences. Education for ordained ministry varies widely from denomination to denomination. Before entering a seminary or graduate program with the idea of ordination, carefully consult the group with which you will pursue ordination to confirm that this program meets their ordination requirements.

Financial concerns must be carefully considered before beginning a program leading to vocational ministry. Few denominations cover the entire cost of training clergy, and often clergy are paid salaries that make it difficult to repay large school loans; therefore, a clear financial plan should be in place from the beginning. Additionally, some denominations may not recognize a music minister as clergy; therefore, financial assistance during graduate school or seminary may be difficult to attain.

Another primary concern is family. While parents' hesitancies regarding their child's being a minister are usually not a long-term hindrance, since most people eventually gain independence from their parents, spousal issues are of greater concern. If your spouse, or potential spouse, does not support your becoming a vocational minister, you must carefully evaluate your call. Since a call is not exclusively a private decision, your spouse's refusal to support a call to ministry almost assures failure. Sometimes spouse's (and parents') concerns are related to fears that the minister will not make an adequate salary to care for his/her family, will have little privacy, and will have little status. If you are facing resistance to ministry from family, these issues must be thoroughly resolved before you enter graduate school, seminary, or any other program leading to ordination.

A decision to pursue professional training must be made with the counsel of family, friends, and the faith community. No call to ministry and preparation is exclusively a private decision. There is no substitute for listening to the voice of the community of faith in discerning God's plan for your life.