Becoming a pastor is not first a career decision but a calling that God confirms through His church. In the Reformed tradition, the path weaves together four things: an inward sense of call, the outward confirmation of a local church, the biblical qualifications of an elder (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), and theological training that prepares a man to preach and shepherd — usually a Master of Divinity (M.Div.). That preparation is then tested and set apart through licensure and ordination by a church or denomination. At New Geneva Theological Seminary, a confessional Reformed seminary, aspiring pastors complete a fully online M.Div. rooted in Scripture and the Westminster Standards — while remaining in the home church where their calling is being confirmed.
The calling: inward and outward
In Scripture, no one takes the office of pastor upon himself. “And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was” (Hebrews 5:4). The Reformed tradition has long recognized that a genuine call to pastoral ministry has two parts that must agree.
The first is the inward call — a Spirit-wrought desire for the work, backed by godly character and real gifts for ministry. Paul writes, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1). John Calvin called this the “secret call,” the sincere conviction before God that one is set apart for this labor.
The second is the outward call — the confirmation of the church. A private sense of calling is not enough; it must be tested and affirmed by the people of God and their leaders. This is why becoming a pastor is never a solitary pursuit. It begins in the local church, where your gifts are known, your life is observed, and your calling is either confirmed or lovingly redirected. Talk with your pastor and elders early — their discernment is one of God’s ordinary means of calling men into ministry.
The biblical qualifications of an elder
Because the office is a sacred trust, the Bible sets clear qualifications for it. Paul lists them in two places — 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9 — and the striking thing is how much they emphasize character over talent. An overseer must be:
Only one qualification is a distinctly ministerial skill: he must be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) — able, as Paul tells Titus, “by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). Everything else is Christian character to which every believer is called; this last requirement means a pastor must know the Scriptures deeply and handle them rightly. That is where theological training comes in.
Theological education and the M.Div.
To be “able to teach” and to keep “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), most pastors pursue a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) — the standard professional degree for ordained ministry. It is the most comprehensive seminary degree because it covers the full range of what a shepherd must know:
At New Geneva Theological Seminary, the M.Div. is a 100-credit-hour, fully online degree — 46 courses, including required Hebrew and Greek — rooted in the Westminster Standards and taught to preach Christ from all of Scripture. Because it is online, you can prepare for ministry without leaving the church where your calling is being confirmed. Tuition is $300 per credit hour ($30,000 for the full degree, with no housing or campus fees); the details are on the tuition page.
Not everyone called to serve needs the full M.Div. The M.A. in Christian Ministry (48 credits, no languages required) equips lay leaders, and the Certificate in Biblical Studies (26 credits) is a foundational starting point. Compare all five programs on the degrees page. If ordination as a preaching pastor is your goal, the M.Div. is the standard path.
Licensure, examination, and ordination
Seminary trains you, but seminaries do not ordain pastors — churches do. Once a man is qualified and educated, his own church body examines him and sets him apart for ministry. In Presbyterian and Reformed churches, that path usually runs through several steps overseen by a presbytery (a regional body of elders):
Scripture describes this setting-apart of shepherds — “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God” (Acts 20:28). But the exact process, titles, and requirements vary from denomination to denomination: a Baptist church, a Presbyterian presbytery, and an independent congregation each order it differently, and some require the M.Div. while others do not. Always confirm the specific steps with your own church, denomination, or presbytery before you map out your path, and let their process shape your preparation.
It is a calling, not a career
Through all of this, one thing must stay clear: the pastorate is a calling, not a career. It is not a position you pursue for advancement, security, or status, but a stewardship you receive to serve Christ’s people. Paul calls the overseer’s work a “good work” (1 Timothy 3:1), and Peter urges elders to shepherd “not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly” (1 Peter 5:2). The measure of a faithful pastor is not the size of his church but his faithfulness to his Lord and his flock.
And the church still needs shepherds. “How shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:15). If God has put this desire in your heart, and your church has begun to confirm it, the next step is simple and concrete: talk with your elders, and begin to prepare. New Geneva exists to train faithful, confessional pastors for exactly this calling — you can take the first step on the admissions page.
