Distance Degrees for Executive Pastors, Church Administrators, Church Operations Directors, etc.

As a current or future Executive Pastor, Church Administrator, or Director of Church Operations, your leadership shapes how ministry happens. How you manage staff, design ministry systems, resolve conflict, steward budgets, approach legal matters, and develop strategies for accomplishing the church’s vision matters and must be in alignment with God’s Word. In today’s complex ministry environment, all of that is difficult to do (to say the least)!

Today, it's easier than ever to deepen your theological foundation, leadership acumen, and management skills without having to step away from your role or community. Many Christian universities and seminaries offer fully accredited distance degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

These degrees can help you to:

• Strengthen your biblical and theological foundation for leadership and communication.

• Develop skills in sermon preparation, teaching, and vision casting.

• Communicate effectively across departments, teams, cultures, and generations.

• Integrate organizational leadership, strategic planning, and spiritual formation.

• Lead with integrity, clarity, and confidence rooted in Scripture.

Below is a curated list of Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries offering fully accredited, distance-learning undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to help prepare you for executive ministry. While many educational institutions offer general Christian ministry degrees, the list below includes degrees specifically designed for executive pastors, church administrators, staff managers, church operations directors, etc.

You can also check out the following blog post: Distance Graduate Degrees in Leadership, Management, Data Science, Organizational Psychology, and Human Resources.

***This list will be updated regularly, so check back often to explore new programs and opportunities.

Sections Below

Bachelor’s Degrees

Master’s Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Abbreviations- Degrees

BA: Bachelor of Arts

BS: Bachelor of Science

MDiv: Master of Divinity

MTS: Master of Theological Studies

MMin: Master of Ministry

MML: Master of Ministry Leadership

MTM: Master of Transformative Ministry

MBMM: Master of Business Ministry & Management

MA: Master of Arts

MS: Master of Science

MBA: Master of Business Administration MPA: Master of Public Administration

MLS: Master of Legal Studies

MSL: Master of Strategic Leadership

DMin: Doctor of Ministry

DEdMin: Doctor of Educational Ministry

EdD: Doctor of Education

DSL: Doctor of Strategic Leadership

PhD: Doctor of Philosophy

Bachelor's Degrees

Cornerstone University

BA in Ministry Leadership

Dallas Christian College

BS in Practical Ministries - Ministry Leadership

Faith International University 

BA in Leadership - Church/Nonprofit Administration, Business - Church/Nonprofit Administration, or Religion - Church/Nonprofit Administration

Lee University

BS or BA in Ministry Leadership & Church Administration

Liberty University 

BS in Christian Leadership & Business Management or Applied Ministry

Nelson University

BA in Church Leadership & Church Operations

North Central University 

BS in Church Leadership

Oral Roberts University 

BA in Ministry & Leadership — Church Operations

Regent University 

BS in Christian Leadership & Management or Professional Studies & Christian Ministry

William Jessup University

BS in Strategic Leadership - Ministry Leadership

Master's Degrees

Anderson University (IN)

MA in Christian Ministry - Church Administration 

Asbury Theological Seminary

MA in Leadership - Organizational Leadership

Azusa Pacific University

MA in Pastoral Studies - Church Leadership & Development

Bakke Graduate University

MA in Transformational Leadership: Global Organizational Leadership

Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)

MA in Christian Ministry & Leadership - Leadership focus

Briercrest Seminary

MA in Leadership, Theology, & Systems

***International degree from Canada

Bryan College

MA in Christian Leadership

Campbellsville University

MBA in Church Management

Cairn University

MA in Executive Ministry Leadership

Carolina University (John Wesley School of Leadership & Innovation)

MA in Ministry Administration

Cedarville University

MTS in Biblical Leadership

Colorado Christian University

MA in Executive Leadership in Christian Ministry

Corban University 

MA in Christian Leadership & Non-Profit Leadership

Crown College

MDiv in Church Development or Non-Profit Leadership

MA in Ministry Leadership (Church Development, Leadership Coaching, or Non-Profit Leadership) or Organizational Leadership (Church Development, Leadership Coaching, or Non-Profit Leadership)

Dallas Christian College

MTM - Master of Transformative Ministry

Dallas Theological Seminary

MA in Christian Leadership

Eastern University (Palmer Theological Seminary)

MDiv + MBA Dual Degree Program

East Texas Baptist University (BH Carroll Theological Seminary)

MA in Christian Ministry: Business Leadership or Church Administration

Faith International University 

MA in Leadership Ministry - Interdisciplinary Studies

Grand Canyon University (Grand Canyon Theological Seminary)

MA in Christian Leadership

Hannibal-LaGrange University 

MA in Leadership - Christian Leadership

Hope International University (Pacific Christian College)

MA in Ministry + MBA or MS in Organizational Leadership Dual Degree Program

Hampton University

MDiv in Pastoral Leadership & Executive Ministry

Judson University

MA in Ministry & Leadership

Kentucky Christian University

MA in Christian Leadership - Leadership Studies

Lancaster Bible College

MS in Nonprofit Management

LeTourneau University

MSL - Master of Strategic Leadership

Lee University

MA in Ministry Studies & Leadership Studies

Liberty University 

MA in Executive Leadership or Human Services Counseling: Executive Leadership

Life Pacific University

MA in Strategic Leadership

Luther Rice College & Seminary

MA in Leadership

Manna University

MA in Christian Leadership

Mercer University (McAfee School of Theology)

MDiv + MBA Dual Degree Program

MDiv + MS in Organizational Leadership (Nonprofit) Dual Degree Program

MA in Christian Ministry + MS in Organizational Leadership (Nonprofit) Dual Degree Program

Mid-America Christian University

MA in Leadership & Ministry Leadership

MMin in Ministry Leadership

Milligan University

MBA in Ministry Management

Mount Vernon Nazarene University 

MBA in Ministry Leadership

North Central University 

MA in Strategic Leadership - Church Leadership Track

Oak Hill College (degree awarded by Durham University)

MA in Contemporary Christian Leadership

***International degree from the UK

Pacific Rim Christian University

MA in Christian Leadership

Point University

MTM - Master of Transformative Ministry 

Regent University 

MDiv in Theology & Ministry - Marketplace Ministry

MA in Church Leadership or Organizational Leadership & Servant Leadership

MPA in Nonprofit & Faith-Based Organizations

MLS - Master of Legal Studies in Nonprofit & Church Law

Roberts Wesleyan University (Northeastern Seminary)

MA in Transformational Leadership

Rockbridge International Seminary

MML - Master of Ministry Leadership

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 

MA in Ministry Leadership

Southeastern University

MA in Executive Ministerial Leadership

Southwest Baptist University

MA in Organizational Leadership - Ministry Leadership

MBA in Ministry Leadership

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

MDiv in Ministry Leadership & Administration 

MA in Christian Education: Ministry Leadership & Administration

Trinity Law School

MLS - Master of Legal Studies in Church Administration

University of Northwestern (St Paul)

MDiv in Organizational Leadership

MA in Ministry Leadership - Organizational Leadership

Vanguard University 

MA in Leadership Studies or Theology & Leadership Studies

Warner University

MBMM - Master of Business Ministry & Management

Wheaton College

MA in Leadership (Executive Ministry or Managing Nonprofits)

Doctoral Degrees

Asbury Theological Seminary

DMin in Organizational Leadership

Bakke Graduate University

DMin in Business/Conflict Studies or Leadership

Bethel University (Bethel Seminary)

DMin in Church Leadership or Transformational Leadership

Biola University (Talbot School of Theology)

DMin in Christian Leadership or Growing & Multiplying Churches

EdD in Educational Studies (focus in Executive/Administrative Leadership)

PhD in Educational Studies (focus in Executive/Administrative Leadership)

Dallas Baptist University

PhD in Leadership Studies & Ministry

Dallas Theological Seminary

DMin in Church Health, Leadership & Multiplication or Organizational Leadership

Denver Seminary

DMin in Leadership

Evangel University (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary)

DMin in Contextual Leadership

Faith International University 

DMin in Transformational Leadership

DSL in Organizational Leadership

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

DMin in Leadership in a Changing Church Context

Grace Theological Seminary

DMin in Ministry Leadership

Grand Canyon University (Grand Canyon Theological Seminary)

EdD in Organizational Leadership & Christian Ministry (Qualitative) or Organizational Leadership & Christian Ministry (Quantitative)

Johnson University

PhD in Leadership Studies: Ministry Leadership

The King’s University (The King’s Seminary)

DMin in Executive Leadership

Lancaster Bible College (Capital Bible Seminary)

DMin in Strategic Leadership

Liberty University 

DMin in Leadership or Strategic Christian Ministry

DSL — Doctor of Strategic Leadership

EdD in Christian Leadership & Strategic Christian Ministry

PhD in Christian Leadership & Strategic Christian Ministry

Luther Rice College & Seminary

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Manna University

DMin in Church Leadership or Organizational Leadership

Mercer University (McAfee School of Theology)

DMin in Leadership & Ministry

Moody Bible Institute (Moody Theological Seminary)

DMin in Executive Leadership & Ministerial Management

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Executive Administration

DEdMin in Executive Administration

North Greenville University 

DMin in Christian Leadership

EdD in Educational Ministry Leadership

Oral Roberts University 

DMin in Church Ministries & Leadership

DSL - Doctor of Strategic Leadership

Regent University 

DMin in Christian Leadership & Renewal

DSL in Ecclesial Leadership

PhD in Organizational Leadership - Ecclesial Leadership

Roberts Wesleyan University (Northeastern Seminary)

DMin in Leadership

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Christian Leadership

Southeastern University

DSL in Leadership

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Executive Leadership

DEdMin in Executive Leadership

EdD in Organizational Leadership

Southern California Seminary

DMin in Christian Leadership

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

DMin in Executive Leadership

Tyndale University (Tyndale Seminary)

DMin in Non-Profit Organizational Leadership

***International degree from Canada

Virginia Christian College

DMin in Leadership & Coaching

Wayland Baptist University

DSL in Christian Ministry

Wheaton College

DMin in Innovation, Diversity, & Sustainability or Ministry Leadership