Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Pastoral degree

Posted by Alvin Smith on November 23rd, 2022

A degree in pastoral studies concerns the study of theology along with the development of ministerial skills. Pastoral theology aims at teaching its students the practical aspects of Church ministry along with a deeper insight into theology. Read further to know the top ten things about a pastoral degree. 

If you are keen on developing a career in the ministry of the Church, then a master of arts in pastoral studies is highly recommended for you. Apart from serving in the Church ministry, you can also explore other career opportunities associated with pastoral studies. With the help of a pastoral degree, you can learn about leadership, pastoral care, and preaching and worship. Here are the top ten things you need to know about a pastoral degree. 

Top ten things you need to know about a pastoral degree 

1. Pastoral studies view the Bible as three-dimensional: Nowadays, no one is interested in a one-dimensional Biblical story, as it is not relatable to the human world. However, a three-dimensional Bible gives us a deeper understanding of the various aspects of human life, such as relational dynamics, difficulties arising out of various circumstances in the human world, and self-perception. 

2. Pastoral studies give us a three-dimensional perspective regarding human life: With the help of pastoral studies, we can acquire a three-dimensional perspective of human life, that is, we can get a deeper understanding of how our choices can impact our relationships with other people, and how our past experiences can change our future assumptions. You can join an online pastoral degree course to know more about the Bible three-dimensionally. 

3. You have the potential to serve people in trouble: With the help of a pastoral studies degree online, you will learn that when you listen to a troubled person’s struggles, then instead of holding yourself back, you should offer them help, by addressing their issues. 

4. You must know your limitations: As a pastoral counselor, you may come across people dealing with situations and relationships, you have little to no knowledge about. In such cases, you must approach them with humility. With humility, you will be able to recognize your limitations when it comes to wisdom. As a result, you can be well aware that you may not be capable of solving every kind of situation.

5. Become a good listener: Instead of diving straight into the Scripture, you must first become a good listener and try to understand the depth of people’s problems. If you join a pastoral studies online course, then you will understand your need to listen before you speak or act. 

6. Focus on worshipping Christ: As a pastoral counselor, you will understand that it’s important to get to the core of a problem than trying to solve it at the surface level. As a result, with the help of an online pastoral degree, you will be able to rekindle the love for Christ in people’s hearts and guide them towards worshipping God. 

7. Everyone can seek help through counseling: Everyone may need some guidance while struggling with tough times in life. As a pastoral counselor, you can help people sail through life, by reconnecting them to their hearts.  

8. Not everyone needs counseling: Some people know to respond correctly to the various complex situations in their lives. These people do not need the help of a counselor because their hearts and minds are clear. As a result, seeking counseling should not be made a universal solution for all Christians. 

9. You don’t need to attend counseling sessions forever: Once your heart’s responses to your problems get better, you will find that you no longer need counseling. As a result, you can attend a limited number of counseling sessions, until you gain a broader perspective, as far as your problems are concerned. 

10. Hope lasts forever: Asa counselor, it is your primary responsibility to instill the idea into people’s minds that hope remains, even in the toughest of situations. As a result, no matter how complex your problems are, you will always find a way out of them. 

If you want to pursue a pastoral degree and become a pastoral counselor, then you should be well-acquainted with the above-mentioned things. Knowing them will help you understand the true vision of counseling, and as a result, you can flourish as a counselor in the Church. There are various institutes that offer courses on pastoral studies. However, before enrolling in a course, don’t forget to do some research on the best courses available. St. Bernard’s offers the best master of arts in pastoral studies.