Why choose the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry Degree at OCC?
High Quality Education
For over 80 years, OCC has trained men and women for Christian service through deep biblical study. We believe that ministry principles grounded in Scripture provide profound cultural agility regardless of your kingdom calling.
Personal Transformation
Education, at its best, is a process of discipleship, and discipleship, according to Scripture (Galatians 2:20), is the process of transforming you into the hands and feet of Jesus.
Spirit-Centered Community
When you join the master’s program at OCC, you are partnering with God’s Spirit by connecting with Christ’s community represented by fellow kingdom workers across the world.
Who is this degree for?
Anyone who is called to serve God’s kingdom and is in need of broad biblical and pastoral training, especially:
· Campus Pastor · Executive Ministers · Student Ministers · Creative Arts Pastors
Those without a Bible college undergraduate degree are encouraged to pursue this degree program.
Featured Degree Courses
Contextualized Hermeneutics
A critical examination of various principles of interpretation through the book of Acts intentionally engaging in missiological, pastoral, and historical-grammatical contextual analysis. Students will learn both general and specific hermeneutical principles necessary to acquire and apply scriptural insights to various contexts.
Christian Doctrine and Theology
A survey of Christian Doctrine and Theology based on historical, theological, and philosophical inquiry with special emphasis on the first six centuries of the church. Students will learn to navigate theological categories and controversies with special emphasis on the articulation of core Christian doctrine and scriptural contexts.
Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
An examination of the biblical truths that guide how spiritual practices become helpful to the spiritual journey of the individual and groups. Students will learn why spiritual practices are important, how they can be approached healthily and unhealthily, and how to apply certain spiritual practices for specific seasons of the spiritual journey.
Self-Awareness and the Christian Leader
An exploration of the nature of Christian leadership development, which highlights an integration of spiritual leadership, inner life formation, and identity, as found in Scripture. The student will learn how God shapes a leader over a lifetime for His unique purposes and how to partner with this process through various aspects of self-awareness.
Pastoral Counseling
An introduction to pastoral counseling as a practice of ministry and a theological bridge that connects sound theology with the best practices of psychology and counseling. Students will learn specific interventions for the common issues pastors face including (but not limited to): addictions, marital problems, divorce, sexuality issues, trauma and death. Students will learn the solution-focused counseling model with an emphasis on ethical practice, confidentiality, and the skill of referral, with special attention given to the pastor’s own need for self-care in pastoral ministry.
Looking for more course information?
View all course information in our catalog and find courses offered during the next term.
"Having never taken Bible classes before this program, the in-depth look at hermeneutics and contextualization has been incredibly helpful in my personal Bible reading as well as my teaching and preaching and equipping others."Â Â
"I enjoyed all of the readings as well as videos from our professor each week. They combined to leave me with a real appreciation for culture and our role as Christians in engaging with culture in a manner that remains faithful to our call as witnesses for Jesus."
"I really enjoyed the intensive in-person days. It allowed valuable questioning, discussion, and interaction with the class and the professor."
"The portion of this course that I found most valuable was the study of kingdom diversity and what that looks like in a religious organization. I look at diversity from this lens now instead of mixing it up with how the world looks at diversity."
Spring Lincoln Seminary Dates
December 13
Application Deadline
December 20
Acceptance Deadline (all materials turned in)
Just like in our undergraduate program, Lincoln Seminary's faculty set us apart. You’ll learn from practitioner professors—men and women with hands-on experience in their fields—in a distinctively Christ-centered community.
How much is tuition?
Each graduate credit hour at Lincoln Seminary is $490 plus fees.
Are there scholarships available for Lincoln Seminary students?
Yes, the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry can be a fully online, 30-hour degree. Or, choose from three 36-hour concentrations with required on-campus intensives.
In the three 36-hour concentrations, a majority of your coursework will be online.
· 80% of your coursework is personal study on your own schedule (research, writing, online discussion posts, etc.).
· 20% of your coursework is community interaction on a pre-arranged schedule (Zoom, in-person intensives, virtual seats, etc.).
