People Calling Years Baby Work Christian Group Entering

Many people who have worked for many years in one "industry" (field of work) decide to make a change, either because they cannot find work in that industry or because they prefer to work in a different field. These people often start "second careers" in a completely different area of work.

In recent years, there has been a "rise" (increase) of people going into seminaries. A "seminary" is a college that trains people to be priests, ministers, rabbis, and other types of religious leaders. (Different religions or "denominations" (division or branch of the Christian church) use different terms for its leaders: priest=Catholic (Christian), minister=Protestant (Christian), rabbi=Jewish, etc.)

The fastest-growing group of people entering seminaries is baby boomers. Baby boomers are people born between 1946 and 1964. These baby boomers are now in their 50s and 60s and no longer have children to raise or "mortgages" (money owed on a home loan) to pay, and perhaps are looking to change their lives in significant ways.

Many see this as a second career. Many who are entering seminaries have been active in their church for years and have felt a calling for the church. A "calling" is a strong feeling that one should do a certain job, a strong "urge" (desire) that one should pursue a certain career. Although "a calling" is often used in relation to the church, we can also use it, though less commonly, for other professions, especially those that help or serve other people. For example, in medicine, you may have a calling to be a doctor or nurse.

As you might expect, in 2011, students under the age of 30 is still the largest group of seminary students at about 30%, but those over 50 years of age now "make up" (account for; total) about 20%; it was 12% in 1995.