Through a step-by-step process you can create an effective cover letter to enter into a church ministry. Your first goal is to communicate your aspirations as a minister and inform the church how you plan to be an asset to the congregation. A cover letter respectfully highlights your most valued achievements. Through this letter, you enable others to learn more about you and your ministry qualifications.

Write the date in the upper left-hand corner. Your page should be left justified, single spaced and double spaced in between paragraphs. This is a formal style called block format.

Write the recipient’s address. Place your full name in the upper-left hand corner of the page. Write your complete address including street, city, state and ZIP code. Include a valid contact number.

Write the church’s address. Include the name of the church, name of the church Pastor, city, state and ZIP code. Include a proper greeting such as: “Dear Pastor Smith," or "Dear Church Search Committee."

Write the opening paragraph. Choose at least five sentences that describe who you are, guiding principles and profess your knowledge of the congregation you are interested in joining. An example introduction statement might be “I am writing to show interest in joining your pastoral staff. I am familiar with the biblical principles at One City Church.” Inform the church how you heard about the opening. You could write, “I heard that One City Church was looking for a minister, through Bob Jones, a member of your church.”

Write the body. Use a soft friendly tone and include at least ten strong sentences. Focus on highlighting your skills and point to parts of your resume. For example, “At DEF Church, I was in charge of the children’s ministry department. My experience included spiritual development and religious education.” Include statements that highlight outstanding ministry achievements. You could write, “As you can see from my resume, I implemented a successful spiritual program for families experiencing grief.”

Write the closing. Write two to three sentences. Write your phone number and your availability. Thank the reader for his time. Inform the church that you will follow up and check on the status of your resume and cover letter in one week.

Write the closing signature. Choose an appropriate closing title, such as "Sincerely," "Respectfully submitted." Type your name underneath after a double space. Place your signature in the middle of the closing signature and closing title.