Portland, OR — Warner Pacific University (WPU) is reaffirming its historic roots as a Christ-centered, urban liberal arts institution with the launch of a new Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies, beginning Fall 2026. The program is designed to prepare students who sense a call to pastoral ministry and church leadership to serve faithfully and effectively in today’s ministry contexts.
The 48-credit undergraduate major provides a clear and practical pathway for students preparing for pastoral ministry, church leadership, and Christian service. The degree was developed during the 2025–2026 academic year by an advisory group of Church of God pastors, former pastors, Christian ministry scholars, and university academic leaders in response to the growing need for well-equipped pastors throughout the Northwest region and beyond. The program has been approved for offering by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
“The Church needs leaders who are deeply rooted in Scripture and prepared for the realities of ministry today,” said Interim President Douglas Wade. “This degree reflects Warner Pacific’s historic commitment to forming pastors who love God, understand His Word, and shepherd His people with wisdom, conviction, and compassion.”
Warner Pacific was founded in 1937 in Spokane, Washington, as Pacific Bible College and was established by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) to provide Christian education grounded in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition. The new Pastoral Studies degree builds upon that legacy while equipping students to serve contemporary congregations and communities with theological depth and practical leadership skills.
Students who choose to major in Pastoral Studies will engage in theological study, spiritual formation, and leadership development through a curriculum intentionally designed for real-world pastoral demands. Areas of emphasis include preaching, discipleship, evangelism, pastoral care, church administration, and mission-shaped leadership in diverse contexts.
Coursework includes:
- Biblical Studies
- Hermeneutics
- Pastoral Ethics
- Church Administration
- Evangelism and Missional Leadership
- Preaching
- Church of God History
- Sustaining a Whole Life in Ministry
Students are required to complete at least one supervised local ministry internship, providing hands-on experience in pastoral leadership and congregational life. In addition, students benefit from numerous church and ministry partnerships within the WPU network committed to supporting the formation of church leaders.
Collaborative relationships include organizations such as Mid-America Christian University (MACU), the Leadership Focus program, and other associations, movements, denominations, and local churches. These partnerships expand opportunities for ministry experience and may support students pursuing Church of God ministerial credentialing pathways.
Program Outcomes
Program outcomes reflect both theological depth and pastoral practice. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies will be equipped to:
- Interpret Scripture using hermeneutics
- Integrate theological reflection with pastoral practice
- Demonstration spiritual and emotional maturity in leadership
- Communicate effectively through preaching and teaching across ministry contexts
- Lead evangelism and mission work with cultural intelligence
- Sustain a holistic life of ministry through ongoing spiritual formation and healthy balance
Students move through a structured major that includes core Pastoral Studies coursework and a Pastoral Leadership Emphasis, preparing leaders for ministry that is both faithful to the gospel and attentive to the needs of contemporary communities.
Incoming first-year students may complete the degree in four years through primarily in-person coursework supplemented by select online offerings. The program also includes an accelerated ministry pathway through the Church of God for students who choose to pursue credentialing, including participation in the Leadership Focus program, which supports completion of ministerial credential requirements.
The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies represents Warner Pacific University’s continued commitment to forming Christ-centered leaders equipped to serve the Church and the world with theological depth, spiritual maturity, and practical wisdom.
About Warner Pacific University
Warner Pacific University is a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts university in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1937, the University is dedicated to preparing students from diverse backgrounds to engage actively in a constantly changing world. As a federally designated Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), Warner Pacific University is committed to educational equity, with nearly half of its students being first-generation college students.