Ministerial students will find that they have several options to complete requirements for credentials including attending one of our Wesleyan Colleges/Universities, approved seminaries, FLAMA, district extension, Kingswood Extended, or Cross Training courses. Hundreds of people are being called to serve the Kingdom as ministers of the Gospel. Many of them are second-career, non-traditional students who are looking for accessible ways to complete their educational requirements. This page explores several pathways available to complete your academic training for credentialing in The Wesleyan Church.
Equipping for your Calling
If you are completing the Credential Pathway for Ordained/Commissioned/Licensed Ministry, select one of the Ordained/Commissioned/Licensed Education Pathways or Ministry Training Programs below.
Licensed, Commissioned & Ordained Minister Education Pathways
Wesleyan University Degree Programs
These Education Pathways are approved to meet education requirements for the respective Credential Pathways in The Wesleyan Church. Approved education pathways must include Wesleyan History & Discipline and Doctrine of Holiness course electives if they are not already included in the program requirements.
- Houghton University BS or BA Degree with a Theology Major and a concentration of Pastoral Ministry (Fulfills all 24 ordination requirements)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BA Christian Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University AS Christian Ministries plus BSBO (Consult with your Advisor regarding Electives to fulfill ordination requirements)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BA Youth Ministries + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Children’s Ministries + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Worship Ministries or Christian Worship + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Christian Education + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Community Development with a specialization in Ministerial Studies + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Pastoral Counseling and Care + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Indiana Wesleyan University BS Global Ministries + Pastoral Ministries (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline as an elective)
- Kingswood University BA Pastoral Ministry, BA NextGen (Fulfills all 24 ordination requirements (Includes on-line))
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University BA Pastoral Ministry, Biblical and Theological Studies, Worship Arts, Youth Ministry
- Southern Wesleyan University: BA degree with a Major in Religion and all concentration requirements in one of the following: Christian Worship, Christian Ministry, or Youth & Children’s Ministry (Fulfills all 24 ordination requirements)
Approved Seminary Degree Programs
- Wesley Seminary MDIV (must also complete CHST-536 Wesleyan Church History and Polity and THEO-543 Theology of Holiness as electives)
- Wesley Seminary MA- Pastoral Ministry (must ensure completion of CHST-536 Wesleyan Church History and Polity and THEO-543 Theology of Holiness).
- Asbury Theological Seminary MDIV* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline)
- Azusa Pacific Seminary MDIV* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline & Doctrine of Holiness)
- Evangelical Seminary MDIV*(must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline & Doctrine of Holiness)
- Nazarene Theological Seminary MDIV* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline)
- Northeastern Seminary MDIV -Denominational Studies Focus* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline & Doctrine of Holiness)
- Portland Seminary MDIV* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline & Doctrine of Holiness)
- Tyndale Seminary MDIV* (must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline & Doctrine of Holiness)
- Wesley Biblical Seminary MDIV*(must ensure completion of Wesleyan History & Discipline)
*Wesleyan History & Discipline is not included in the MDIV degree. It must be completed as an elective if offered by the institution or through another Approved Education Pathway.
Ministry Training Programs for Education Requirements
Cross Training
An online ordination program offered through Oklahoma Wesleyan for pastors desiring to be ordained in the Wesleyan Church.
Kingswood Extended
Kingswood Extended offers two ordination credit course options for those looking to prepare for effective ministry in the local church: Self-Paced (formerly Correspondence Courses and Virtual Classroom (formerly FLAME) Courses.
Kingswood Learn
Kingswood Learn offers the 7 required courses for licensing in the Wesleyan Church.
FLAMA
FLAMA es un programa académico en Español para preparar estudiantes ministeriales para la licencia ministerial y la ordenación en La Iglesia Wesleyana.
Competency Portfolio
An option that allows an individual to demonstrate mastery of a particular area of academic training standards by documenting extensive experience and/or study such as a combination of related courses, seminars, research and reading.
Course Finder
Looking for a specific course? Please use the course finder to locate non-accredited ordination course offerings.
