Should I Pursue a Seminary Education for Pastoral Ministry?

When God calls someone to pastor a congregation, it is a noble calling worthy of serious devotion that comes with many difficulties. This raises a question every person called to pastor a church ought to ask themselves: should I pursue a seminary education? In this article, we would like to share a few reasons why you should pursue a seminary education if you are called by God to pastoral ministry.

The first step to answering the call to pursue seminary education for pastoral ministry is to understand the role of seminary and its benefits. Three predominant benefits come with seminary education at an institution like Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS).

Theological Depth

In your courses, you will be exposed to several theological convictions within evangelical theology grounded in Scripture. This will not only aid you by providing strong biblical and theological foundations but also in learning how to thoroughly address various theological convictions with clarity and charity.

Practical Skills In Ministry

Ministry can be extremely difficult, especially if you begin without the skills provided by seminary training.  At TEDS, your coursework can train you in skills you may need for your pastoral ministry, such as ministry care, homiletics, and church administration. You will also be connected with other like-minded colleagues and faculty who can provide mentorship and helpful tools for your ministry.

Spiritual Formation

Alongside the theological depth and practical skills you acquire in seminary comes the faith formation necessary for pastoral ministry. Even though seminary training will not prepare you for every situation that may arise when you pastor a congregation, resources such as formation groups and community with other students will help prepare your heart and mind for whatever you may face.

One of the blessings of a seminary education is that multiple paths are offered to equip pastors to shepherd their congregations well. When considering which educational path is best for your calling, each option has pros and cons worth considering. TEDS offers three seminary degrees especially well-suited for pastoral ministry: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and Master of Chaplaincy and Ministry Care.

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

This degree is the most comprehensive of all the Master’s programs TEDS offers. The MDiv degree can be completed both residentially and remotely, and it offers two tracks: the Church and Parachurch Ministry track and the Academic Ministry track.

With this degree comes a complementary Logos Bible Software package customized for your seminary and ministry needs, a built-in Formation group that will benefit your spiritual formation in your seminary training, and a greater likelihood of placement in a pastoral ministry position within the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) denomination.

While this degree is the most comprehensive, some students may find the length of the program challenging. The MDiv is our longest program and takes around three years to complete the requirements for this degree.

Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)

Of the three suggested seminary degrees, the Master of Arts in Theological Studies is the quickest to complete, only requiring forty-two credit hours. This is still a robust degree that offers a blend of biblical theology, systematic theology, and historical theology. It also offers a few courses on spiritual formation and ministry. Optional tracks allow students to specialize in Cross-Cultural Ministry, Executive Leadership, Preaching, or Ministry Care.

Even though this degree is highly beneficial for pastors, it lacks some coursework that addresses pastoral leadership and pastoral care, which are two very important aspects of pastoral ministry. It also does not include courses in biblical Greek or Hebrew. Although that may be a relief for some students, biblical languages are often considered essential tools for pastors in preaching ministries.

Master’s Degree in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care

A Master’s Degree in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care is also not as long as the MDiv, only requiring forty-eight hours. It specializes in chaplaincy both for military and hospital care. This degree better prepares you to care for people both within and outside of the local church context.

Even though this degree requires fewer credit hours than the MDiv, it is not as comprehensive as the MDiv. The focus of this degree is limited to chaplaincy and ministry care, which means that there is not as much theological training as the MDiv. Instead, the focus is on preparing you for these specific kinds of ministry care, which may or may not apply to your ministry context.

With answering the question of whether to pursue seminary education often comes the desire to know what alternatives are available. One alternative could be to consider what training your local church offers. Sometimes, local churches offer programs that act as a certification for pastoral ministry within their denomination or network. Even though this may seem advantageous to pastors, these programs may lack the necessary doctrinal and ministerial oversight accredited institutions possess.

Certificates at TEDS

Another alternative is to consider a certification rather than a full Master’s program. It is worth noting that certifications lack the accreditation and rigor of a Master’s degree. However, TEDS offers several certifications that can benefit pastors with a limited amount of time and capacity for graduate studies. Some options at TEDS include certificates in Children and Family Ministry, Christian Counseling, or Organizational Leadership.