How to Become a Pastor: Seminary Degrees and Biblical Qualifications

By Rob Neufer, Director of Admissions and Part-Time Faculty

It might have been when you were a teenager, listening to the conference speaker talk about a life of ministry. Or maybe you were sitting in your office cubicle, realizing you feel most alive when you serve at church. Perhaps you’re discovering that you have a gift for explaining spiritual matters to the members of your small group. No matter your age, background, or current situation, when you sense God calling you into ministry, listen. You may have many questions, and you might already be wondering how to become a pastor. 

Becoming a pastor means recognizing God’s call on your life, growing in your local church, meeting the biblical qualifications Scripture lays out for those who lead, and pursuing the kind of training that equips you to shepherd others well.

We know God often calls people into the unknown, but we can come along and make sure your leap of faith isn’t a blind leap.

Why is a pastoral ministry degree important?

Obviously, it will come as no surprise to you that a seminary will value pastors having seminary degrees. But we think you will agree that the life of ministry and dealing with eternal matters are important. After all, you wouldn’t let just anyone open the hood of your car and start taking parts out. Because you want a safe vehicle, you value a trained mechanic. 

The time it takes to train in any occupation proves commitment to the work. Because what we’re discussing is eternal, training assures us that pastors and ministry leaders have invested time and energy in their careers. 

We see the biblical precedent of the value of training. In Acts 18, we read that Apollos was a “learned man” and “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:24-25). Verse 26 continues the theme, saying that Priscilla and Aquila “invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” 

Even Paul, who wrote half of the New Testament, was given opportunities to learn and train. After his conversion, “[he] spent several days with the disciples in Damascus” (Acts 9:19). They likely spent time talking with him about how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures he knew so well. A few verses later, he is sent to Tarsus, likely both for his own safety from persecution and further training. 

Paul would later encourage continued training to his apprentice Timothy, writing, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). If you’re asking how to become a pastor, keep in mind that there is great value in being trained.

What are the biblical qualifications of a pastor?

Scripture doesn’t leave us guessing! Paul lays out clear qualifications for elders and overseers in two key passages, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

A pastor should be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, and hospitable. He should be able to teach, not be given to drunkenness, be gentle rather than violent, not be quarrelsome, and not be a lover of money.

Titus adds a few additional notes: He shouldn’t be arrogant, quick-tempered, or greedy for gain, but should love what is good, live an upright and disciplined life, and hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he can both encourage others with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.

These qualifications reflect God’s good design to protect His church and shape the character ministry requires. If you want to dig deeper into what the qualifications of a pastor look like in practice, we’ve written more about it in our blog, I Feel Called to be a Pastor: What are the Qualifications of a Pastor?

How do I know how to become a pastor, and what degree a pastor needs?

Believing that training is important is one matter, but there are lots of seminary degrees. How should you know what pastoral ministry degree you need to be ready for ministry? To answer that, we offer these three important steps:

1. Ask

Ask yourself what area of ministry you are interested in. After all, there are a wide variety of ministry opportunities and jobs available. There are senior pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, family pastors, discipleship pastors, and executive pastors. And that’s just a short list of different types of pastors in the local church. 

Other ministry professions include chaplaincy, missionary work, Christian counseling, evangelists, speakers, authors, and non-profit and parachurch leaders. We’d be remiss if we left seminary professors off this list. There are a lot of possibilities, and God has given countless gifts and skills to ensure all the areas of need are being met. 

 2. Assimilate 

Get involved in your local church. See how your passions and gifts match up with different ministries. Yes, some people are called to do things they don’t necessarily like (just ask Jonah after his fishy journey to Nineveh), but God will give most of us a passion for our calling.

There’s no better way to see if you have the personality and skills for children’s ministry than spending a week helping with your church’s Vacation Bible School. We haven’t met a pastor or ministry leader who turns volunteers down, so there are many opportunities to get involved in your church. 

3. Acknowledge 

Considering the cost is not just good advice when becoming a disciple of Christ. Take time to think about what a life of ministry looks like and what it will cost. We’re not just talking about the cost of a seminary program. (Honestly, we keep our prices low because we want to equip ministry leaders for God’s work around the world.) We’re talking about the emotional and physical costs. 

The demand on pastors and ministry leaders comes directly from the frontline work they do, sharing the Gospel with broken people who need a Savior. Understanding the physical and emotional toll of ministry is an important step toward longevity in a life of ministry. 

What are my next steps?

Now that you’ve considered how to become a pastor, why a pastoral ministry degree matters, and how to define your end goal, you need to know what’s next. Grace Theological Seminary can help!

Whatever season of life you’re in, we have a path built for it. If you’re ready for the most comprehensive training available, our Master of Divinity prepares you for the full scope of pastoral ministry. If you’re looking for a more focused degree, our Master of Arts programs let you specialize in areas like Christian Ministry or Local Church Ministry. For those ready to go deeper, our Doctor of Ministry programs sharpen your theological depth and leadership without pulling you away from the church you’re already leading.

And however you need to study, we’ve built a pathway for that too. Join us residentially in beautiful Winona Lake, study fully online from wherever you’re already living and serving, or train right within your current ministry context through our competency-based theological training program built for pastors who can’t step away from the church God has already entrusted to them.

Do you have more questions about your next steps and how to become a pastor? Visit our website or contact our seminary team, who would love to tell you more about what we offer. If God is calling you to a life of ministry, we can equip you to answer the call!