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How do I know if I am called to ministry? What is the pathway to becoming a pastor? How can I grow and explore my gifts? These are some of the most common questions and considerations of those contemplating seminary. As Christians, our primary calling is to follow Jesus. First and foremost, we are made followers by him and for him. In addition, all Christians have various ‘callings’ in their lives which range from our relational callings: daughter, son, sibling, father, mother, etc; to our vocational callings: teacher, engineer, artist, athlete, etc. We also recognize that no one makes or appoints themselves a pastor, minister, or missionary. Someone needs to be called by a church for such ministries. Well, how do you know if you are called? What do you need to do to become a pastor?
Pray for wisdom as you embark on the journey to discover if you are called to become a pastor. Ask the Lord to give you courage and contentment as you engage in the process and preparation of considering a call to the ministry. Thank the Lord for his grace and mercy in your life as you seek to share the grace of the gospel with others. Ask the Lord to make you moldable and malleable in his hands. Pray for the peace that comes with walking by faith and not by sight, knowing that the Lord will guide and direct your steps.
Is it your desire to preach and teach God’s Word? Do you have a growing desire to serve Christ, his church, and a lost and dying world? Do you have a hunger to learn and share the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ with others? Does your heart beat to bring the word of God and the love of Christ into the service of others? Do you have a sense of mission in participating in the Christ’s Great Commission? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then it is worth your ongoing prayer and exploration to examine this sense of call. You will discover whether this internal sense of call is matched by an external call from Christ through his church. In the process, you will grow in grace as you study God’s Word, engage with faculty and fellow students, and practice the skills you learn in churches and the community.
Your journey to becoming a pastor is personal, but not individual. You cannot train, equip, anoint, or ordain yourself. These are communal, interpersonal, and relational events. Westminster Seminary California is a wonderful place for you to explore your call. You will discover and develop your gifts for studying God’s word in the original languages, teaching God’s word to others, understanding God’s word in light of church history, and engaging with God’s word in service to others. Becoming a pastor isn’t just about information, but also about formation. Westminster Seminary California is an ideal place for you to engage with others to explore, examine, and develop your gifts in a community designed to help you grow. Our faculty are pastor-scholars dedicated to helping you gain the information, formation, and experience you need as you consider your calling to become a pastor.
While considering becoming a pastor at Westminster Seminary California you will engage in a comprehensive internship (discipleship/mentorship) experience at a local church. This opportunity will allow you to practice the gifts you are developing at seminary in the life of a local congregation and community. You will preach, exhort, evangelize, visit the sick, engage young and old alike, assist with administration, pray, lead worship, and much more. You will receive instruction and feedback from the church regarding your gifting, strengths, and opportunities. At the end of the day, it is not a self-call or the call of the seminary, but the call of Christ through his church in which one becomes a pastor.
The church explores and examines whether there is the character, competency, and capacity to become a minister, missionary, or teacher in Christ’s church. The church can consent and confirm whether the internal call is matched by the external call. The journey begins with your prayer to be useful to the king, your sense of persistent desire to serve, your active participation in training, community, and evaluation, and your engagement with the church. Becoming a pastor is a weighty call and journey. It is not a solo journey, but a committed community endeavor. We would welcome the opportunity to commence this journey with you.
Westminster Seminary California is a community of faith, study, fellowship, and prayer. Through Reformed theology and a commitment to God’s inerrant word, our mission is to glorify Christ, promote His gospel, and serve His church through graduate theological studies. Our unique in-person structure cultivates a close-knit community, fosters meaningful relationships, and gives students the real-world experience they crave. If you feel called to serve God in the church and are ready to further your education in theology, experience our campus for yourself with a travel grant or apply for one of our programs today.
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