Pre-Ministry

Are you sensing a call to Christian ministry? Calvin’s pre-ministry advising program is intended to assist any Calvin student interested in Christian ministry as a possible vocation.

Discern your calling

Being called by God into a career of Christian ministry can be both exciting and daunting. Finding your way through this call requires prayer and introspection as well as conversation in community—with family members, pastors, fellow church-members, friends and professors.

The Congregational and Ministry Studies Department can connect you with mentors to guide you on the journey to ministry. On-campus mentors and guides include:

Todd Cioffi, Congregational Ministry Studies Department
Mary Hulst, University Pastor
Moon Bae Kim, Pastoral Partner and Pastor of Korean Grace Christian Reformed Church
Tarence Lauchiè, Pastoral Partner and Pastor of Grace for the Nations Church
Won Lee, Religion Department
Satrina Reid, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Paul Ryan, Worship Pastor
Laura Smit, Religion Department
Noel Snyder, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Sarah VerMerris, Assistant Director of Discipleship
Joanna Wigboldy, Director of the Ministry Leadership Cohort

If you are hoping to become an ordained pastor in a particular denomination, it is wise to learn early on about the process and ordination requirements of that denomination (check their website or talk to a pastor), as well as to talk with the appropriate people in that denomination about your hopes and goals.

Candidacy Committee
Christian Reformed Church

Discerning your Call
Calvin Theological Seminary

Call Waiting
Reformed Church in America

Preparation for Ministry
Presbyterian Church USA

Ask the Question
United Church of Christ

Vocation and Education
Evangelical Lutheran Church

Explore Calling
United Methodist Board of Higher Education

Advising

The academic concentrations chosen by Calvin pre-ministry students range across the whole breadth of the liberal arts curriculum, with many students majoring in the humanities (e.g., history, religion, philosophy, foreign or classical languages), but other students majoring in the social or natural sciences. The liberal arts core curriculum covers most of the admissions requirements of the majority of divinity schools and theological seminaries. Whatever your major, if you are intending to pursue seminary after college, you should construct a pre-seminary program or line of study that will prepare you for post-university theological study.

The Association of Theological Schools recommends that pre-seminary students develop the ability to think carefully, communicate clearly, and do independent research. Pre-seminary students should also learn about human culture and society, and may find it useful to develop proficiency in Biblical languages, Latin, and modern languages. Pre-seminary students should consult the catalogs of the particular seminaries that they are considering attending for the specific admission requirements of those schools.

Since the admissions requirements of various theological and divinity schools differ slightly from one another, there is no single one-size-fits-all pre-seminary program at Calvin. In consultation with the university’s pre-ministry advisors, students should develop a pre-seminary program that fits their particular vocational aspirations and is in line with the expectations of the seminaries they might attend. Direct any questions to one of Calvin’s pre-ministry advisors. This team of advisors is committed to guiding you through the process of discerning a call to ministry.