Pastoral Assistant Jobs
Pastoral Assistant jobs are open across churches, healthcare systems, hospice organizations, and educational institutions, at every level from entry-level volunteer coordinator to senior associate pastor, with specializations in hospital chaplaincy, youth ministry, and grief support. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 100 E. Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Posted: 11/10/2026
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is accepting applications for the full-time position of Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer. The Executive Assistant serves as the primary contact for administrative and secretarial support for the Chief Operating Officer. Serves as an operational partner to the COO, ensuring meeting readiness, executive follow-through, stakeholder accountability, and proactive management of information flow. Responsible for preparing briefing materials, coordinating pre-reads, validating completeness and accuracy of information received from departments, and ensuring the COO is thoroughly prepared for meetings, presentations, and decisions. The Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer may serve as backup to the other Executive Assistants as needed.
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Archdiocese Pastoral Center
Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 100 E. Eighth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Posted: 11/10/2026
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is accepting applications for the full-time position of Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer. The Executive Assistant serves as the primary contact for administrative and secretarial support for the Chief Operating Officer. Serves as an operational partner to the COO, ensuring meeting readiness, executive follow-through, stakeholder accountability, and proactive management of information flow. Responsible for preparing briefing materials, coordinating pre-reads, validating completeness and accuracy of information received from departments, and ensuring the COO is thoroughly prepared for meetings, presentations, and decisions. The Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer may serve as backup to the other Executive Assistants as needed.
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Archdiocese Pastoral Center
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in pastoral assistant jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in theology, divinity, religious studies, or a related field
- Completed units of Clinical Pastoral Education from an accredited program
- Experience providing pastoral care in a church, hospital, or community setting
- Active ordination, licensure, or formal endorsement from a recognized faith body
- Strong counseling and active listening skills for grief, crisis, and family support
- Proficiency with church management software and basic office productivity tools
Tips for Your Pastoral Assistant Job Search
Tailor your resume to the congregation
Pastoral assistants serve wildly different communities, so your resume should reflect the specific tradition and population of each employer. A hospital chaplaincy role calls out crisis intervention and clinical hours, while a youth ministry position needs program development and volunteer coordination front and center.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists pastoral assistant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight your clinical pastoral education hours
Many pastoral assistant postings, especially in healthcare and hospice, screen for completed Clinical Pastoral Education units before they read anything else on your application. List your CPE units, the accrediting body, and the clinical setting in a dedicated credentials section so recruiters can confirm eligibility immediately.
Get a referral from your ordaining body
Churches and faith-based nonprofits lean heavily on denominational networks to fill pastoral roles. Contact your presbytery, diocese, or synod before you apply, because a letter of standing or a direct referral from a regional coordinator often carries more weight than a cold application.
Prepare a pastoral philosophy statement in advance
Many pastoral assistant interviews open with a request for your theological and care philosophy, not your work history. Draft a one-page statement before your first interview, grounding your approach in scripture, tradition, or clinical training, so you can speak to it fluently and adapt it to different faith contexts.
Negotiate your housing allowance separately
Pastoral roles at churches often include a housing allowance that is treated differently from base compensation under IRS guidelines for clergy. When you receive an offer, ask the church administrator to itemize housing and salary separately so you can compare the full package accurately across competing offers.
Pastoral Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most pastoral assistants?
The companies hiring the most pastoral assistants right now include Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Moody Bible Institute, and Archdiocese of Detroit, with the largest share of openings in Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Healthcare systems and hospice networks tend to post the highest volume of openings outside of local congregations.
How many pastoral assistant jobs are remote?
About 0% of pastoral assistant openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with most remote-eligible roles concentrated in administrative pastoral support, online ministry coordination, and telehealth chaplaincy. Roles that involve in-person sacramental care, bedside visits, or congregation leadership are almost always on-site.
How do you become a pastoral assistant?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in theology, religious studies, or a related field, then pursue ordination or licensing through a denomination or faith body that aligns with your tradition. Complete at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education if you want to work in healthcare or hospice settings. Volunteer or intern with a local congregation or hospital chaplaincy program to build supervised care experience before applying to paid roles.
Can you get hired as a pastoral assistant with little experience?
Yes, many entry-level pastoral assistant roles are specifically designed for candidates early in their ministry training, particularly at smaller congregations and community nonprofits. Demonstrating consistent volunteer ministry involvement, a completed field education placement, or a strong endorsement from a supervising minister can offset a short formal work history when you apply.
What does the pastoral assistant interview process look like?
Most pastoral assistant interviews include an initial screening call with a human resources contact or church administrator, followed by a panel interview with pastoral staff or a search committee. You will typically be asked to share your faith background, describe your care approach, and respond to a scenario involving a congregant or patient in crisis. Some faith communities also request a preaching sample or a written theological reflection before making a final decision.
Where can I find and apply to pastoral assistant jobs?
You can find and apply to pastoral assistant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from churches, healthcare systems, hospice organizations, and faith-based nonprofits across the United States. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 6 Pastoral Assistant Jobs
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