Reclaiming the Pastoral Call: An Analysis of Warner Pacific University’s 2026 Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies

by Rev. Dr. Douglas Balzer and Dr. Marlo Waters

Abstract

The launch of Warner Pacific University’s (WPU) Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies in Fall 2026 represents a strategic and mission-driven Warner Pacific University’s (WPU) Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies response to the growing shortage of pastoral leadership in the Pacific Northwest, Western United States, and Western Canada. Rooted in the theological heritage of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana),the program seeks to integrate academic rigor, spiritual formation, and practical ministry experience within a 48-credit upper-division curriculum. This white paper analyzes the degree’s pedagogical framework, strategic partnerships, and emphasis on experiential learning, demonstrating how these elements address contemporary challenges in ministry formation. Particular attention is given to the program’s capacity to cultivate culturally aware, spiritually grounded, and missionally engaged leaders for a rapidly changing ecclesial and social landscape. The study concludes that WPU’s initiative represents a viable and forward-looking model for pastoral education that bridges the Church of God’s movement identity with contextual responsiveness.

INTRODUCTION

Warner Pacific University, located in Portland, Oregon, has historically embodied a commitment to Christ-centered higher education in an urban, culturally diverse context. Founded within the theological stream of the Church of God (Anderson), WPU has long emphasized holiness, unity, and mission as core components of a Christ-centered institutional identity. The introduction of the Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree in 2026 marks a significant development in this trajectory, aligning the university’s academic offerings with the Church of God commitments, Wesleyan Holiness Movements, and contemporary ministry needs.

The broader ecclesial context in which this program emerges is marked by what many scholars describe as a “crisis of leadership.” Across the United States and particularly in the Pacific Northwest, churches face declining pastoral pipelines, increasing cultural complexity, and shifting patterns of religious affiliation. The Northwest, often characterized by high levels of religious disaffiliation, presents unique challenges for traditional ministry models. In this environment, the demand for leaders who are both theologically grounded and culturally adaptive has intensified.

WPU’s Pastoral Studies degree seeks to address this crisis not merely by increasing the number of trained pastors but by reimagining pastoral formation itself. The program targets a diverse student population, including traditional undergraduates, bi-vocational ministers, and second-career individuals, all of whom bring varied experiences and vocational aspirations. These students are described as “spiritually curious and rooted,” “community-engaged,” and “culturally aware,” reflecting a shift toward holistic and contextually sensitive ministry preparation.

This paper argues that WPU’s program represents a strategic reclamation of the pastoral call, one that integrates theological fidelity with innovative educational practices. By examining its curriculum, partnerships, and practical training components, we can assess its potential to address the leadership gap in the region while maintaining continuity with its Church of God and Wesleyan heritage.

Pedagogical Framework

At the core of the Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies is a carefully structured 48-credit curriculum, designed to balance academic depth with practical application. The program requires 30 credits in residence and consists entirely of upper-division coursework, signaling a commitment to advanced theological and ministerial formation.

Integration of Biblical Studies

The curriculum begins with a robust foundation in Biblical Studies, including courses such as Old Testament I and II and New Testament I and II. These courses provide a comprehensive engagement with the biblical canon, emphasizing historical context, literary analysis, and theological interpretation. The stated learning outcomes include the ability to “interpret Scripture faithfully using sound hermeneutics for preaching, teaching, and leadership”.

This emphasis reflects a classical approach to ministerial education, rooted in the historical-grammatical method of interpretation. Students are trained not only to understand Scripture but to apply it within contemporary ministry contexts. The integration of biblical knowledge with pastoral practice ensures that graduates are equipped to engage Scripture as both a theological resource and a formative narrative for the Church.

Hermeneutics and Theological Method

The inclusion of a dedicated course in Hermeneutics (TH 435) underscores the program’s commitment to interpretive rigor, equipping students to engage Scripture with both historical awareness and methodological precision. This course explores the development of biblical interpretation, from early church exegesis to modern critical approaches, fostering a nuanced understanding of how Scripture has been read and applied across time. Importantly, this interpretive training is complemented by a full year of systematic theological study through Christian Theology I (TH 420) and Christian Theology II (TH 425), ensuring that students are not only skilled interpreters of Scripture but also theologically grounded thinkers. Together, these courses provide a cohesive framework in which biblical interpretation and doctrinal reflection mutually inform one another, forming students who can faithfully articulate and apply the Christian faith within contemporary ministry contexts.

This approach is particularly significant in a pluralistic and postmodern context, where competing interpretations of Scripture often shape theological discourse. By grounding students in both historical and contemporary hermeneutical practices, the program prepares them to navigate complex theological conversations with clarity and confidence.

Pastoral Ethics and Formation

Equally central to the curriculum is the emphasis on pastoral ethics, exemplified in courses such as Pastoral Ethics and Legal Issues (PMIN 345) and Christian Ethics (TH 310). These courses address the moral and ethical dimensions of ministry, including accountability, integrity, and legal responsibility.

The integration of ethics with practical ministry training reflects an awareness of the challenges facing contemporary pastors, including moral failure, burnout, and institutional mistrust. By emphasizing ethical formation alongside theological education, the program seeks to cultivate leaders who are not only competent but also trustworthy and resilient.

Holistic Formation

The curriculum also includes courses such as “Sustaining a Whole Life in Ministry” (PMIN 400), which addresses the personal and spiritual dimensions of pastoral leadership and emphasizes rhythms of health, resilience, and long-term vocational sustainability. Complementing this formational focus is “Church Administration and Leadership” (PMIN 340), which provides an intentional and practical framework for navigating the organizational realities of ministry. This course equips students with essential competencies in governance, policy development, staff and volunteer relations, facilities oversight, and conflict management—dimensions of pastoral work that are often learned informally yet are critical for effective leadership. Together, these courses reflect the program’s commitment to holistic formation, developing leaders who not only demonstrate “visibly improved character” and “established habits for spiritual vibrancy” but are also prepared to lead amid the structural and administrative complexities of contemporary church life.

In sum, the pedagogical framework of WPU’s Pastoral Studies degree reflects a comprehensive approach to ministerial education. By integrating biblical studies, hermeneutics, theology, and ethics, the program provides a well-rounded foundation for pastoral leadership in a complex and evolving ministry landscape.

Strategic Partnerships

A distinguishing feature of the WPU Pastoral Studies program is its emphasis on strategic partnerships, particularly with Mid-America Christian University (MACU) and the Leadership Focus initiative. These collaborations enhance the program’s academic and practical dimensions, extending its reach beyond the confines of a single institution.

Collaboration with macu

The partnership with MACU provides opportunities for curricular alignment, resource sharing, and potential pathways for advanced study. By collaborating with another institution within the broader Christian higher education landscape of the Church of God, WPU strengthens its academic offerings while maintaining its distinctive identity.

This partnership also reflects a broader trend in higher education toward inter-institutional collaboration, particularly in specialized fields such as ministry training. By leveraging shared resources and expertise, WPU offers a more comprehensive and competitive program.

Leadership Focus Initiative

The Leadership Focus program represents another key partnership, emphasizing practical leadership development within ministry contexts. This initiative aligns closely with the program’s emphasis on missional leadership and cultural engagement.

According to the program materials, the degree is “strengthened through church and ministry partnerships that support mentoring, internship placements, and leadership development”. The primary goal of these partnerships is not merely logistical support, but the intentional formation of students within a living ministry ecosystem. By embedding students in relational networks with experienced pastors, ministry leaders, and local congregations, the program cultivates a context in which learning is both guided and embodied. These partnerships function as formative bridges between the academy and the church, ensuring that students are shaped through mentorship, practical engagement, and real-time feedback, ultimately preparing them to enter ministry with both competence and contextual awareness.

Church of God Movement Alignment

Importantly, these partnerships do not dilute the program’s connection to the Church of God (Anderson). On the contrary, courses such as “Church of God History and Theology” (TH 430) ensure that students remain grounded in the movement’s theological distinctives, including holiness, unity, and biblical authority.

This balance between collaboration and identity is crucial. By engaging external partners while maintaining denominational commitments, WPU models a form of theological education that is both rooted and open, capable of adapting to new contexts without losing its core convictions. This commitment is further reinforced through the curriculum development process itself, which has included the active involvement of Church of God (Anderson) pastoral leaders and practitioners. Their input ensures that the program is not developed in abstraction, but is shaped by the lived realities, theological commitments, and missional priorities of the movement. As a result, the curriculum reflects both academic integrity and ecclesial authenticity, offering reassurance that graduates will be formed in alignment with the doctrine, culture, and practical expectations of the Church of God while remaining equipped to engage a rapidly changing ministry landscape.

Practical Application

The practical dimension of the WPU Pastoral Studies program is most clearly demonstrated through its integrated sequence of ministry-focused courses, culminating in supervised field experience. The required Internship in Ministry (PMIN 490) serves as a capstone, intentionally bridging classroom learning with real-world application in local church and ministry contexts. This experiential component is reinforced by courses such as Evangelism and Missional Leadership (PMIN 405), which equips students with the theological vision and practical strategies necessary to engage in evangelism, lead outreach initiatives, and navigate mission within contemporary cultural settings. Additionally, Preaching (PMIN 305) provides focused training in sermon preparation and delivery, cultivating the essential pastoral skill of communicating Scripture with clarity, relevance, and theological depth. Together, these courses form a cohesive practical framework in which students not only learn ministry concepts but actively practice and refine them, ensuring they graduate with both competence and confidence in key areas of pastoral leadership.

experiential learning

Internships provide students with opportunities to engage directly in ministry settings, under the guidance of experienced mentors. These experiences allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts, developing skills in preaching, pastoral care, leadership, and community engagement.

The importance of such experiential learning cannot be overstated. In a field where relational and contextual competencies are essential, classroom instruction alone is insufficient. Internships bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling students to develop the practical wisdom necessary for effective ministry.

Formation of Holistic Leaders

The program’s emphasis on internships aligns with its broader goal of forming “holistic” leaders, individuals who integrate spiritual, intellectual, and practical dimensions of ministry. What distinguishes this program, however, is its intentional and sustained focus on developing concrete ministry competencies alongside theological formation. The curriculum is structured to ensure that students not only understand ministry in theory but are also equipped with demonstrable skills in areas such as preaching, leadership, evangelism, administration, and pastoral care. This emphasis is reflected in the program’s learning outcomes, which include the ability to “apply learning in supervised internship settings through reflection and evaluation”. In this way, the internship experience functions not simply as an add-on but as a culminating environment in which practical skills are tested, refined, and embodied, reinforcing the program’s distinctive commitment to forming ministry-ready graduates.

Moreover, internships expose students to the complexities of contemporary ministry, including cultural diversity, social challenges, and organizational dynamics. By engaging in these realities firsthand, students are better prepared to lead in diverse and often unpredictable contexts.

Community Engagement

Given WPU’s urban setting, internships often take place in diverse community environments, including churches, non-profits, and outreach organizations. This emphasis on community engagement aligns with the program’s target student profile, which highlights a commitment to justice, reconciliation, and service.

Through these experiences, students learn to navigate the intersection of faith and culture, developing the skills necessary to engage effectively with both church and society. This is particularly important in the Pacific Northwest, the Western United States, and Western Canada, where traditional forms of religious engagement are often met with skepticism.

Student Body

One crucial question that arose during curriculum development was whether the program would be open to students from faith traditions other than the Church of God (Anderson). After deliberation, the resounding agreement was that the program would be open to all who genuinely seek to learn and wish to participate. However, the program will be clear and unapologetic regarding its commitment to the theology and mission of the Church of God (Anderson) movement; all program courses will be taught from this viewpoint. Additionally, any student who wishes to pursue credentialing within the Church of God (Anderson) movement will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Church of God (Anderson) commitments and theology.

Conclusion

The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies at Warner Pacific University represents a significant and timely response to the challenges facing the Church in the Pacific Northwest, Western United States, and Western Canada. By combining theological depth, ethical formation, and practical training, the program addresses the pressing need for well-equipped pastoral leaders.

At the same time, the program remains firmly rooted in the theological heritage of the Church of God (Anderson), ensuring continuity with a tradition that emphasizes holiness, unity, and mission. This balance between tradition and innovation is a defining feature of the program, enabling it to respond effectively to contemporary challenges while maintaining its identity.

In the long term, the impact of this program is likely to extend beyond the university itself. By forming a new generation of pastors and ministry leaders, WPU contributes to the revitalization of the Church of God movement and the broader Christian witness in the regional areas. Graduates of the program are equipped not only to serve existing congregations but to engage new contexts, fostering spiritual renewal and social transformation.

In a time marked by uncertainty and change, the reclamation of the pastoral call is both a theological and practical necessity. Warner Pacific University’s Pastoral Studies degree offers a compelling model for achieving this reclamation through education that is rigorous, relational, and rooted in God's mission and Christ-centered.