Disqualified by Man, Called by God: Why the Church’s Degree Obsession Is Failing Us
Disqualified by Man, Called by God: Why the Church’s Degree Obsession Is Failing Us
I was a 19-year-old college sophomore when a church took a chance on me and decided to hire me as their first Children’s Ministry Director. I had just transferred to this small Bible college from a large state university, so at the time, I hadn’t completed a single Bible, theology, or ministry class. Yet, this leadership team decided that I was worth pursuing and giving an opportunity to.
The next year, while still at the same church and the same school, our pastors were preparing to go out of town for a conference. Wanting to stay ahead of my work, I informed my professor that I would be absent and asked if there was any work I could get ahead on. I have never forgotten his response. After hearing where I would be and who I would be with, he said, “Never let your schooling get in the way of your education.”
What a concept! Especially from a university professor—who knew you could be significantly educated outside the walls of a college or university? And so I was. My first 12-24 months working at that church taught me far more than all my college classes combined. In fact, school became a distraction from my real learning and education, so much so that I dropped out. I quit college without a degree to pursue a ministry education.
I remained at that church for 11 years before God called me to another church, where I stayed for 7 years, and then to plant another church, which I’ve been at for nearly 6 years now. Each of these stops has been a continual learning opportunity for me. Every conversation, sermon, and meeting has deepened my understanding and education, on top of the many, many hours of videos I’ve watched and books I’ve read over the years. My schooling continues to this day, and I still don’t have a degree.
Eleven years into my first ministry role, God called me to a new opportunity. I sent my resume to a much larger church, and they invited me to interview. I still remember the hesitancy the pastor showed throughout the hiring process. After the first phone interview, and then the in-person interview, the question of whether or not I could do the job almost halted the process.
Although it seemed clear after the interviews that I was capable, the pastor struggled with the idea of an un-degreed person leading a ministry in a large church within a highly educated suburb. To further assess my qualifications, the pastor sent someone to observe my ministry at the church where I was serving. He also asked me to see a counselor for conversations about my personality and ministry capability.
If I weren’t convinced that the Holy Spirit was leading me to this new role, I might have been highly offended by the extra steps they took. It could have been easy to feel deterred by what seemed like a psychological evaluation. To this day, I don’t believe they’ve put any other candidates through that process.
But I have to give them credit: they eventually hired me despite my lack of a degree, and later trusted me enough to sponsor me in planting a new church.
Reevaluating Pastoral Qualifications: Why Degrees Should Not Be the Ultimate Standard
Here’s a hot take for you: Far too many churches do a grave disservice to their congregants and communities by requiring pastoral candidates to hold a college or seminary degree, and may even teeter on the line of sinfulness when making disqualifying standards that Scripture does not make. This rigid expectation often eliminates highly qualified, Spirit-filled individuals who have the calling, experience, and theological understanding necessary to shepherd a church effectively. While formal education can be beneficial, prioritizing a degree over biblical qualifications, ministry experience, and the Holy Spirit’s leading is a misguided and harmful approach to selecting church leaders.
The Problem with the College Requirement
The formal education system, while beneficial to some, is not designed for everyone. People learn in different ways, and the traditional college setting—lecture halls, rigid coursework, and hefty tuition—does not cater to all learning styles. Many individuals thrive in hands-on, experiential learning environments, yet are penalized for not pursuing a conventional academic track.
A common misconception is that a degree guarantees theological competency. In reality, many graduates leave seminary with little more than theoretical knowledge, often unprepared for the real challenges of pastoral ministry. While they may have engaged in rigorous coursework, many have not experienced the relational, practical, and spiritual formation necessary to shepherd a congregation effectively. Classroom learning, though valuable, cannot substitute for the wisdom gained through direct ministry experience, mentorship, and a deep, personal walk with God.
I often think about a young woman that attended the school I went to. She took the same exact Bible courses, and had many of the exact theology courses that I did. Today she is a polygamist that actively practices Wicca and has a great disdain for the Church. How did that Bible college education work out? The sad reality is that she’d get more interview opportunities than men who love and follow God passionately, but do not have a college degree, by many churches.
Additionally, requiring a degree places an unnecessary financial burden on those pursuing ministry. The cost of seminary education has skyrocketed, with many young pastors graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. I know this firsthand. This financial strain can be crippling, especially when many pastoral positions do not offer competitive salaries.
Despite only pursuing schooling at this college for 2 years, I left tens of thousands of dollars in debt. My ministry position was not capable of paying me enough to pay my bills AND my college debt. So that cycle lead to more credit card debt, and a worse off financial situation. The current system breeds systems that the Bible strictly teaches against (going into dept), and yet the church required it before it allows a person to be considered worthy of a servant position in their church. Church leaders should consider whether their degree requirements are indirectly forcing individuals into financial bondage before they even begin their ministry careers.
And to be honest, the traditional seminary environment is not immune to secular ideologies that can sometimes dilute or distort biblical teaching. Some institutions, rather than reinforcing a strong biblical foundation, expose students to liberal theological frameworks that can lead them away from a high view of Scripture. This raises the question: Are churches truly ensuring doctrinal integrity by prioritizing seminary education, or are they merely perpetuating a system that does not necessarily produce biblically sound leaders?
The Many Paths to Ministerial Training
It is absolutely vital that churches recognize that theological education and ministry preparation happen in numerous ways outside of the college system:
Personal Study – Many dedicated individuals have developed a deep theological understanding through diligent study of Scripture, reading theological works, and engaging in online courses or certifications. Today, there is more sound theological information at our fingertips than at any other time in history. With the rise of digital platforms, individuals can access free resources from reputable scholars and teachers through YouTube videos, podcasts, and online lectures. For example, YouTube is full of channels dedicated to in-depth Bible studies, lectures on church history, and theological discussions, often from respected theologians, seminary professors, and ministry leaders. Podcasts like The Bible Project, The Gospel Coalition, and Ask Pastor John make it easier to listen to insightful discussions while commuting, exercising, or doing chores. These platforms offer both deep dives into specific topics and more general discussions that help individuals build a solid theological foundation. In addition to these, online courses and certification programs are often available for a fraction of the cost of traditional education, offering access to structured learning with interactive elements. This accessibility has democratized theology, allowing anyone with an internet connection to learn from the best and broaden their understanding of Scripture, ministry, and faith. With so much valuable content available for free or at low cost, the opportunity for personal study and spiritual growth is greater than ever.
Mentorship and Discipleship – Discipleship, as outlined in Scripture, is all about the intentional, relational training of one believer by another. Some of the greatest Christian leaders in history weren’t shaped in lecture halls or through academic degrees, but rather through personal mentorship and apprenticeship, learning from experienced pastors, ministry leaders, and elders who lived out their faith. This model of discipleship reflects the method we see in Scripture, where Jesus personally invested in His disciples, walking alongside them, teaching them through example, and sending them out to replicate what they had learned. Paul, too, exemplified this relational, hands-on approach, mentoring young leaders like Timothy, Titus, and others, demonstrating that the best way to grow in faith and leadership is through direct, personal guidance.
In today’s world, mentorship and apprenticeship have largely disappeared from the church culture, but they need to make a strong comeback—fast! The practice of learning through observation, participation, and personal guidance has proven to be one of the most effective ways to build leadership and solid faith. Just as the trades once relied on apprenticeships to pass on skill and knowledge, the church needs to embrace mentorship as a core aspect of discipleship. It’s not just about teaching content; it’s about walking through life together, answering questions, challenging each other, and allowing more experienced believers to guide the next generation in practical, real-world ministry. This is how true transformation happens. When believers are discipled through relationships, not just classes, they grow in a way that is rooted in both head knowledge and heart transformation. By reviving the method of discipleship that Jesus and the apostles used, we’ll not only see stronger leaders emerge but also a church that functions as a living, active body, growing in unity, maturity, and outreach.
Hands-on Ministry Experience – There is simply no substitute for real-world ministry. While classroom instruction can provide important knowledge and theoretical frameworks, it is the hands-on experience of preaching, counseling, leading small groups, and serving in various roles within the church that truly equips a person for ministry. Engaging in ministry in real-life settings teaches lessons that no textbook ever could—lessons in patience, empathy, adaptability, and spiritual discernment.
Preaching from the pulpit, for example, isn’t just about delivering a well-crafted sermon; it’s about reading the room, understanding the diverse spiritual needs of the congregation, and responding to those needs with clarity and conviction. Counseling people through difficult seasons isn’t merely about offering advice, but listening carefully, providing wisdom rooted in Scripture, and offering emotional and spiritual support in a way that can truly make a difference in their lives. Leading small groups goes beyond facilitating a discussion; it’s about building genuine relationships, creating a space where people feel safe to share, and leading them toward spiritual growth. Serving in various roles within the church—whether in worship, outreach, or administrative tasks—provides the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that all contribute to a holistic understanding of how the body of Christ functions together.
In all of these areas, theory meets practice, and character is shaped in ways that a classroom cannot replicate. The day-to-day challenges of ministry push a person to depend more fully on God, grow in humility, and develop the kind of resilience and relational wisdom that is vital for effective leadership. Through trial and error, success and failure, real-world ministry cultivates a depth of understanding that transforms knowledge into action. It’s in these moments of active service and leadership that individuals truly begin to understand the heart of ministry and the calling God has placed on their lives.
The Biblical Standard for Church Leaders
Nowhere in Scripture is a degree or formal education listed as a qualification for pastoral ministry. The biblical qualifications for a pastor, as laid out in passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, emphasize character, spiritual maturity, and ability to teach—not academic credentials. According to Scripture, pastors should be:
Above reproach
Faithful to their families
Sober-minded and self-controlled
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not a lover of money
Not a recent convert
Well thought of by outsiders
If these are the standards set by God, why do so many churches impose additional, man-made barriers to ministry?
The Danger of Turning Away God-Ordained Leaders
By prioritizing degrees over spiritual qualifications, churches may be rejecting the very person God has called to lead them. Some of the most effective, Spirit-filled pastors in history had no formal theological education but were powerfully used by God. Men like Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, and A.W. Tozer lacked formal seminary training, yet their impact on the Church was monumental.
This practice of turning away qualified candidates because they lack a degree is not only unbiblical but also deeply detrimental to the health of the Church. Many churches are experiencing a leadership crisis, struggling to find pastors who can truly shepherd their congregations with wisdom and love. Meanwhile, highly qualified, passionate, and anointed individuals are sidelined simply because they did not follow the traditional academic path.
On the other hand, many men and women graduate from seminaries and colleges equipped with enough academic knowledge to impress Pastoral Search Committees, yet their hearts are often compromised. The doubts they explored in their "Deconstructing Christianity" courses, or the emphasis on social issues over biblical truth, have now blossomed into a generation of church leaders who are well-versed in information but lack the conviction and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. These leaders may have the intellectual tools, but their spiritual foundation is weak, leaving their ministries vulnerable to the influence of human wisdom over divine guidance.Furthermore, this overemphasis on degrees fosters a culture of elitism within the Church. It sends a message that only those who can afford higher education or conform to academic expectations are fit for leadership. This contradicts the very essence of the Gospel, which calls people from all walks of life into ministry based on God’s calling, not human qualifications.
The reality is that some of the best pastors are those who have been forged in the fires of real-world ministry—those who have served in the trenches, discipled others, and developed a profound reliance on God rather than academic accolades. These are the leaders who understand the struggles of their congregation, who have wrestled through theological questions in practical contexts, and who have cultivated wisdom through experience rather than theory.
To put it another way, Jesus would be disqualified to pastor many of our churches. His lack of formal education would trump the concept of God raising up and equipping Him for ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their views that God primarily uses the formally educated to raise up leaders would leave them ignoring Jesus’ resume and recommendations.
A Call to Church Leadership Teams
Churches must shift their focus back to what truly matters. Instead of disqualifying candidates based on whether they went into debt to obtain a piece of paper, church leadership teams should evaluate pastoral candidates based on their biblical qualifications, experience, and the Spirit’s evident work in their lives.
Before setting degree requirements, churches should ask:
Does this candidate exhibit the character of a godly leader?
Has this person demonstrated a love for and commitment to the local church?
Are they able to rightly handle and teach Scripture?
Do they have a track record of faithful ministry and discipleship?
Has the Holy Spirit’s calling on their life been affirmed by others in the church?
Churches should consider implementing alternative pathways for vetting and training pastors. This could include formal mentorship programs, apprenticeship models, and structured theological reading plans. Instead of assuming that a degree equates to preparedness, churches should take the responsibility of raising up leaders from within, equipping them with both biblical knowledge and practical ministry experience.
Prioritizing What Matters Most
If churches continue to prioritize degrees over biblical qualifications, they may be closing the door on the very leaders God has appointed for them. It is time to break free from man-made standards and return to the biblical model of assessing pastoral candidates. The Church needs Spirit-led, biblically qualified, and ministry-tested leaders—not just those with diplomas hanging on their walls.
Churches, do not let arbitrary requirements keep you from the pastor God has for you. Seek His guidance, trust in His standards, and prioritize prayer over paperwork. You just might find that the leader your church needs has been right in front of you all along.