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For a long time various people have told me that I would make a good minister/priest. I have always laughed it off and sincerely told them that I have no such wish and that an outer calling is not enough. And this was the truth, for most of my life I have not had even a small calling to go down that route but now for about six months I have started to feel that maybe this is not as outlandish as it once seemed. I would not say that I long to be a priest but I think that god would not be disatisfied with me making this decision. I belong to a very liberal Lutheran church that obviously allows for priests of all sexes but it is not as easy as just studying theology and ask to be hired. To become one I would first need to be officially confirmed. I was not a believer for most of my teen years so I didn't do this then when it is more often done in my church. I might be able to find a priest that is willing to let me do the ceremony without having to take a lot of classes since I am quite knowledgeble about the faith of my church but if they insist on classes I think it will take about 6 months. I would also try to see if I can get myself more involved in church too as I have read that to be accepted as a candidate to become a priest such things are a merit and I would not dislike doing that. If I am going to do it I will have to get myself enrolled in the theological program at the university and study a lot. I most likely would need to get another 6-8 semesters at the university so it is not a small thing I would embark on. I have a job so it would have to be all at distance too. I think you understand why one part of me is screaming "crazy crazy" right now. During this time I would also have to try to complete a number of weeks of work training with the church as well as some other church courses and somewhere in there also ask for the bishop's permission to become a candidate. If he/she says no I am fucked for 5 years since I cannot ask for ordination for another 5 years if rejected. If I complete all of this I still would have another year of school where I would have to be away from my family quite a lot before I could be ordained. I would not be a Jeremy-style minister as you can see, it is a life changing commitment if I take the plunge. My current plan is: 1. Confirmation and a talk with a priest or deacon 2. Enroll in the religious program at the university and try to study and keep a full time or near full time job. If I after having tried it out for a semester or two still feel the same way I will go forward with an application to the bishop. If I have changed my mind by then I can still add another subject to my teacher's certificate so I would not be wasting my time. If I would get accepted as a candidate I would then have 8 years to complete my remaining studies and be ordained. I don't know where to begin talking about this so this is why I start here. Any thoughts or support is welcomed. If you do not believe in women as priest please shut up about that particular view I am not interested in discussing this in this thread at least. Questions are allowed too. I am overwelmed by this and perhaps I haven't been too elegant in my writing and perhaps I have left out some important detail but be kind, if this will happen my whole life would change as this is not just a job but a life-long committment.