Why Western Seminary?

In our increasingly post-Christian world, our churches need leaders who can communicate biblical truth with clarity and compassion. That’s why our programs are designed to equip students for strategic ministry roles wherever God leads them. Here are five reasons to consider Western Seminary for graduate-level education:

1. Experience Gospel-Centered Transformation

We keep the biblical gospel at the center of every class and degree program - not just for Bible and theology classes. All members of the Western Seminary community are united in trusting that God has spoken authoritatively in the inspired words of Holy Scripture. All confess, “Jesus is Lord,” and live as faithful disciples of this gospel.

Western Seminary does not impart a particular doctrinal system or denominational creed to our students. Instead, we train our students to develop their own statement of faith which is grounded in the Bible. With this approach, our classes provide a stimulating learning environment in which students from diverse evangelical traditions wrestle together through theological issues, some of which are essential to our faith and others are matters on which we can agree to disagree.

2. Learn to Do Ministry in a Post-Christian Context

Now more than ever, Christians need to be able to provide credible, biblical answers to difficult theological questions. Whether you study at one of our West Coast locations in Portland or San Jose, at one of our partner churches in a cohort; or anywhere around the world via our Global Campus, we will prepare you for life and ministry in a world that desperately needs Jesus.

3. Get a Rigorous Education with Practical Application

At Western, learn from experienced ministry practitioners who care just as much about your discipleship as your education. Our theologians, biblical scholars, and pastoral ministry faculty stay at the forefront of their respective disciplines because they’re deeply engaged in the life of the church. Our counseling professors have already tested their material in the field, as most of them have their own private practices.

We are committed to the idea of not preparing students for ministry later, but helping them do ministry now. At Western, we want to prepare you with a biblical theology of hope and redemption that you can take with you into the real life of ministry. That's when seminary can be life-changing.

Gerry Breshears, PhD
Professor of Theology

4. Train for Ministry Without Leaving Your Ministry

We recognize many of our students are already serving in full-time ministry. Rather than pull you out of your church to come to seminary, we want to come alongside your local church to provide training for your context.

Our theology programs provide accessible scheduling options that include fully online degrees, intensives, night classes, and cohort-model programs that only require you to come to campus once a month.

5. Be Ready to Serve in the Real World

Since 1927, Western Seminary has been training men and women for service in a variety of roles in the church and marketplace. Our students become pastors, counselors, chaplains, coaches, educators, and missionaries who are marked by ministry effectiveness and love for Jesus.