Pastoral Ministry Degree

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A degree in pastoral ministry will help you develop a solid foundation of biblical interpretation, counseling, expository preaching, concepts of worship, and church growth.

Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:14,15

The Pastoral Ministry Program at Welch College will prepare you to minister in the local church as a full-time, bi-vocational or associate pastor. Our strong biblical core will challenge you to think biblically about the current issues facing the church today. You will develop a solid foundation of biblical interpretation, counseling, expository preaching, concepts of worship, and church growth.

Upon completing your degree at Welch, you will be well equipped for graduate studies.

Career and Ministry Opportunities with a Pastoral Ministry Degree

This program trains preachers for leadership ministry, for Free Will Baptists especially, usually as pastors, church planters, or evangelists. The graduate should be able to:

  • Articulate a biblical theology and philosophy of church life and ministry;
  • Minister God’s Word effectively through preaching and teaching;
  • Demonstrate competency in effective leadership and interpersonal skills; and
  • Develop and direct various church ministries centered around worship, evangelism, and edification.
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Pastoral Ministry Programs at Welch College

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Bachelor of Arts Degree: Major in Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry Track

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts: 127 hours, with a C average (2.00 g.p.a.) overall and in each segment of the degree.

(1) Arts and Sciences Core, 53 hours:

  • BIO 1001, 1011. Systems in Biological Science and Lab, 4
  • BUS 1150. Microcomputer Applications, 0
  • ENG 1111, 1122. Grammar and Composition I, II, 6
  • ENG 2111, 2122. Masterpieces of World Literature I, II, 6
  • HIS 1011, 1022. History of Western Civilization I, II, 6
  • IDS 1501. Leadership and Calling: Personal Development and Leadership Principles, 2
  • IDS 2102. Foundations for Civic Engagement, 2
  • LNG 2013-2026. Beginning Koine Greek I, II, 6, or LNG 3014-3025. Beginning Biblical Hebrew I, II, 6
  • LNG 3024. Intermediate Koine Greek I, 3, or LNG 4013. Hebrew Exegesis I, 3
  • MAT 1101. College Algebra, 3
  • MUS 1002. Music Introduction and Appreciation, 3
  • PHE 2100. Lifetime Fitness and PHE activity elective, 3
  • PHL 3602. Christian Philosophy, 3
  • SPE 1000. Fundamentals of Speech, 3
  • SSC 3101. Marriage and Family, 3
  • (2) Theological Studies, 74 hours:

     (a) Bible and Theology Major, 37 hours:

  • BIB 1011, 1031, 2032, 2062. Bible Survey, 10
  • BIB 1100. Introduction to Biblical Studies, 2
  • BIB 1250. Evangelism and Discipleship, 2
  • BIB 2601. Biblical Interpretation, 3
  • LNG 3035. Intermediate Koine Greek II, 3, or LNG 4026. Hebrew Exegesis II, 3
  • THE 3251. Systematic Theology I, 2
  • THE 3301. Systematic Theology II, 3
  • THE 3402. Systematic Theology III, 3
  • THE 4032. Eschatology, 2
  • THE 4855. Free Will Baptist History, 2
  • BIB/THE 3000. Electives, 2
  • BIB 4000. Electives, 3

     (b) Ministry Core, 22 hours:

  • IDS 1902, 3101, 4101. Christianity, Culture and Worldview, 6 (for content purposes, these courses are shared with the A/S Core)
  • MIN 1011. Local Church and World Missions, 2
  • MIN 2326. Church Growth: Theory and Practice, 2
  • MIN 3011. Christian Ministry, 3
  • MIN 3111, 3122. Homiletics, 4
  • MIN 3601. Christian Counseling, 3
  • MIN 4253. Christian Worship, 2

     (c) Pastoral Ministry Track, 15 hours:

  • HIS 3204. Church History, 3
  • PMN 3045. Pastoral Leadership, 2
  • PMN 3105. Church Administration, 2
  • PMN 4106. Reading the Pastoral Classics, 2
  • PMN 4211, 4222. Pastoral Internship, or PMN 4208. Pastoral Internship, 2
  • PMN 4602. Fundam. of Effective Preaching, 2, or PMN 4007. Expositional Preaching, 2
  • YFM 2106. Spiritual Disciplines, 2 
Bachelor of Science Degree: Major in Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry Track

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science: 124 hours, with a C average (2.00 g.p.a.) overall and in each segment of the degree.

(1) Arts and Sciences Core, 50 hours:

  • BIO 1001, 1011. Systems in Biological Science and Lab, 4
  • BUS 1150. Microcomputer Applications, 0
  • ENG 1111, 1122. Grammar and Composition I, II, 6
  • ENG 2111, 2122. Masterpieces of World Literature I, II, 6
  • HIS 1011, 1022. History of Western Civilization I, II, 6
  • IDS 1501. Leadership and Calling: Personal Development and Leadership Principles, 2
  • IDS 2102. Foundations for Civic Engagement, 2
  • LNG 2013-2026. Beginning Koine Greek I, II, 6, or LNG 3014-3025. Beginning Biblical Hebrew I, II, 6
  • MAT 1101. College Algebra, 3
  • MUS 1002. Music Introduction and Appreciation, 3
  • PHE 2100. Lifetime Fitness and PHE activity elective, 3
  • PHL 3602. Christian Philosophy, 3
  • SPE 1000. Fundamentals of Speech, 3
  • SSC 3101. Marriage and Family, 3

(2) Theological Studies, 72 hours:

     (a) Bible and Theology Major, 37 hours:

  • BIB 1011, 1031, 2032, 2062. Bible Survey, 10
  • BIB 1100. Introduction to Biblical Studies, 2
  • BIB 1250. Evangelism and Discipleship, 2
  • BIB 2601. Biblical Interpretation, 3
  • THE 3251. Systematic Theology I, 2
  • THE 3301. Systematic Theology II, 3
  • THE 3402. Systematic Theology III, 3
  • THE 4032. Eschatology, 2
  • THE 4855. Free Will Baptist History, 2
  • BIB/THE 3000. Electives, 2
  • BIB/THE 4000. Electives, 6 (at least 3 of these hours must include the BIB prefix)

     (b) Ministry Core, 22 hours:

  • IDS 1902, 3101, 4101. Christianity, Culture and Worldview, 6 (for content purposes, these courses are shared with the A/S Core)
  • MIN 1011. Local Church and World Missions, 2
  • MIN 2326. Church Growth: Theory and Practice, 2
  • MIN 3011. Christian Ministry, 3
  • MIN 3111, 3122. Homiletics, 4
  • MIN 3601. Christian Counseling, 3
  • MIN 4253. Christian Worship, 2

(c) Pastoral Ministry Track, 15 hours:

  • HIS 3204. Church History, 3
  • PMN 3045. Pastoral Leadership, 2
  • PMN 3105. Church Administration, 2
  • PMN 4106. Reading the Pastoral Classics, 2
  • PMN 4211, 4222. Pastoral Internship, or PMN 4208. Pastoral Internship, 2
  • PMN 4607. Fundam. of Effective Preaching, 2, or PMN 4007. Expositional Preaching , 2
  • YFM 2106. Spiritual Disciplines, 2
Church Planting Emphasis

A Church Planting Emphasis is available within the Pastoral Ministry Track as an elective.

Students who choose this emphasis will take

  • PMN 4307 Church Planting in lieu of one of the pastoral seminars
  • PMN 4507 or 4517-4527 Church Planting Internship will be substituted for the regular Pastoral Internship.

Meet your Degree Program Coordinator

Dr. Barry Raper - Welch College is a Christian Bible College in Gallatin, Tennessee

Dr. Barry Raper

Associate Dean, Welch Divinity School | Associate Professor of Ministry | Program Coordinator, Pastoral Ministry, General Christian Ministries, and Master of Arts, Theology and Ministry

braper@welch.edu
615-675-5281

B.S., Welch College, 1999
M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002
D.Min., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2012

Recruitment, Welch College, 1999
Youth and associate pastor, Free Will Baptist churches, 2000-03
Pastor, Free Will Baptist churches, 2003-
Adjunct Instructor, Welch College, 2005
Faculty, Welch College, 2006-
Program Coordinator, Youth and Family, Welch College, 2006-15
Program Coordinator, Pastoral Ministry and General Christian Ministries, 2015-