Does Your Pastor Need a Seminary Degree?

 

One of the things I continually asked myself while I was in Seminary (especially while I was writing 20 page papers and reading 1000 page books) was whether or not I even needed to be doing it at all? I had a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology and I had been a youth pastor for almost five years at that point. Why go to Seminary at all? In fact, in the area I grew up there were a lot of senior pastors at churches that didn’t have any degrees at all. Did I just make a huge mistake by moving to a new state and starting a master’s degree when I didn’t need to? 

Well, my own personal existential crises aside, I think my questions beg an even larger question that should be discussed in ministry: does your pastor need a Seminary degree? In order to serve as a pastor of any title in the church, do you need some kind of degree or training? Let me tell you what I think.

In the grand scheme of things, no, I don’t think that pastor’s need to have a degree of any kind in order to serve as pastors. God chooses whomever He wants to be the leaders of His church, and our human definition of qualification holds absolutely no weight compared to the Hand of God placing a call on someone’s life. So, big picture, no, a pastor does not need a degree to serve (and excel) in ministry. The gospel is so simple a child can understand and accept it. It doesn’t take years of training and studying to be able to read, understand, and proclaim that gospel.

With all that being said, I definitely think it’s beneficial for pastors to obtain some kind of training in order to be the best pastor they can be. I know that for me, I feel much more prepared and I have the knowledge I feel necessary to be able to properly handle and teach the Word of God faithfully. The training and education I received at Seminary was invaluable, and even though I don’t think it makes me more qualified or a “better” pastor, I do think that it gave me tools that pastors without a Seminary degree don’t have. 

When it comes down to it, I feel like Seminary is a great thing. I strongly encourage anyone considering becoming a pastor to go and get the education because it will give you a toolbox full of tools specifically designed for ministry. However, I fully understand and believe that God calls whomever He wants to be a pastor, and that includes many, many people who will never make the choice (or have the opportunity) to go to Seminary and get a degree. And here’s the beautiful part: God can, and does, use both of us to accomplish His purposes, grow His church, and bring Himself glory! 

So if you’re like me and went to Seminary, fantastic. Use that degree for God’s glory. If you never go to Seminary, it's still fantastic. Use the gifts God has given you and your calling for God’s glory. One isn’t better than the other. And God is greater than both!