Becoming a Pastor

OneHope · 10-06-2006, 01:19 PM

I'm thinking about becoming a pastor, how would I do it?

One criteria, I would have to do it through an accredited university.

psalm63adam · 10-10-2006, 12:01 AM

Well - it kind of depends on your denomination/church background as to what you would need to do to become a pastor. Some denominations want you to have at least a Master's degree, others aren't as strict. There are many ways to go about becoming a pastor.

As for accreditation, I'm not sure why that's necessary? In case the pastor thing doesn't work out?

For me, I went to a Christian College and graduated in four years with a B.A. in Bible and Youth Ministry. Then I was a youth minister for a couple of years before being "ordained" into ministry. Now I've been in ministry for 13-14 years or so.

A friend of mine went to a local college and graduated with a regular B.A. degree. Then he went to seminary and got an M.Div (a masters of divinity). Now he's a youth minister in the same town as the seminary.

Like I said, there are many different ways to go about it.

SqshdPanda · 10-10-2006, 08:51 AM

OneHope, are you thinking of youth ministry or adult ministry? And how old are you?

I would recommend getting an M.Div after your B.A. either way even if your denomination only requires a B.A. because it's good training.
I went to a secular undergrad and got a B.S. in Applied Math and then got a M.Div. Many of my classmates in seminary were already ordained in their denomination after getting their B.A. but still wanted to go on to grad school to be better equipped.

Also, don't go about this pastor thing by yourself! Involve your home church and especially your pastor.

OneHope · 10-10-2006, 10:30 AM

Yeah, I was looking at some websites of schools. I'm currently doing my third year of a bachelor of physics degree so it probably makes more sense to finish that degree and then do a M.Div instead of switching now.

My goal right now would be to get everything that I need to become an ordained pastor, apply and go to med school, become a doctor and then become an ordained pastor and then become a missionary. That is my goal, how I will accomplish it is unknown.

SqshdPanda · 10-11-2006, 08:18 AM

nice plan!

Is your church part of a denomination? If so (or if you already have a denomination in mind) then make sure you find out what their requirements for ordination are.

Just curious, why are you so set on ordination if you want to go on to the missions field?

OneHope · 10-11-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SqshdPanda

Just curious, why are you so set on ordination if you want to go on to the missions field?

I don't understand the question. Aren't missionaries usually pastors?

Tony · 10-11-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneHope

I don't understand the question. Aren't missionaries usually pastors?

I know a couple of medical missionaries. They are doctors who work for missionary organizations, but they are not necessarily ordained ministers. In fact, in some cases they couldn't get into the countries they serve if they were ordained, but because they are medical doctors they can.

I think you have a wonderful vision, and encourage you to pursue it.

SqshdPanda · 10-12-2006, 09:31 AM

What Tony said is true in many countries that are not very open to the gospel.

While missionaries do some "pastoral" duties... the focus and even the training can be a little different. In the seminary that I attended, there was a special "missions" concentration for those who wanted to go on to the missions field after finishing up their M.Div.
As a missionary, while you may technically be their pastor, your aim is never to stay there. The reason is that in missions, the missionaries are not from the culture they are trying to reach (if they were, it would be evangelism). No matter how much you eventually fit in and are accepted, the missionary is always trying to build up native leaders that will be able to take over the ministry. Until the gospel is truely contextualized into that particular culture/community, the gospel will not really be rooted and/or spread. The best people that connect with the culture are people within the culture. (This is something that they should teach you in a missions-anthropology class)
In an ideal world, when the people the missionary is ministering to truely embrace and own the gospel, then the missionary can move on to another missions field - leaving the ministry in the hands of nationals.

Talk this over with your pastor and see if the church supports any missionaries that you can talk to.

Keep pressing on!

AlanRoberson · 09-17-2009, 02:06 AM

Go get your degree in whatever, then get a job non "ministry" related for a couple of years - learn a trade, whatever, get out of the "religious" culture for a while.