Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership & Theology (M.A.)

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership & Theology provides advanced, graduate-level, biblically grounded preparation for pastoral leadership, theological teaching, and strategic ministry oversight within the local church and broader ministry contexts. The program develops exegetical precision, theological integration, doctrinal clarity, expository preaching depth, pastoral care competency, leadership strategy, ethical accountability, cultural discernment, and missional effectiveness under accountable church authority. This graduate degree consists of 36 credit hours across 12 required courses, integrating advanced Old and New Testament exegesis, biblical theology, hermeneutics, systematic theology, preaching, pastoral leadership, counseling, ethics, church growth strategy, cultural engagement, and graduate-level theological research culminating in a master’s thesis. All courses are required to ensure comprehensive theological formation, academic rigor, and doctrinal cohesion across the program. Required Core Courses OTS 510 – Advanced Old Testament Exegesis NTS 520 – Advanced New Testament Exegesis BTL 530 – Biblical Theology: Old & New Testament Integration BIB 540 – Advanced Hermeneutics THE 550 – Systematic Theology III (Advanced Doctrine) HOM 560 – Advanced Homiletics & Expository Preaching MIN 570 – Pastoral Leadership & Organizational Strategy MIN 580 – Advanced Pastoral Counseling & Care ETH 590 – Ethics, Power, and Accountability in Ministry MIS 600 – Church Growth, Revitalization & Missional Strategy THE 610 – Theology & Culture RES 620 – Master’s Thesis Completion of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership & Theology affirms advanced academic achievement and the development of theological depth, pastoral discernment, and leadership capacity appropriate for graduate-level ministry preparation within structured church oversight. Completion of this degree does not confer ordination, ecclesial office, independent authority, or licensure.