The religious landscape of Virginia is one for the history books. Virginia is where the struggle for political freedom began and where the fight for freedom of religion soon followed, led by Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
Their campaign to eradicate an official religion and de-establish the Church of England’s Anglican Church as the colony’s official religion led to the passage of the landmark Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1786, which granted citizens the right to practice their own religious beliefs. (It also served as a model for what would become the Constitution and the Bill of Rights just three years later.)
The Mother of States, the Birthplace of a Nation… Virginia’s monikers speak to the state’s roots in religious and political independence and its influence in shaping what would eventually become the United States of America.
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Today, Christianity and religion in Virginia remain strong, with echoes of its celebrated past visible in its sizable Protestant communities of Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists (the large evangelical dissenters of the Church of England).
According to the Pew Research Center, 73% of adults in Virginia identify as Christians. Of those, 58% are Protestant and 12% are Catholic. There are also small Mormon and Orthodox Christian communities here, with about 2% and 1% of adults representing these faiths, respectively.
Your unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and your personal calling to serve the Lord will always be welcome in Virginia, the birthplace of religious freedom. With the right education and experience, your passion for spreading the Good News can become a rewarding, lifelong career in the church.
Here are the steps you’ll want to take to turn your dream of ministry into reality and learn how to become a pastor in Virginia:
Steps to Become a Pastor in Virginia
Step 1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministry, Pastoral Studies or Other Similar Major in Virginia
A bachelor's degree in an area like Christian studies, Christian leadership, religious studies, or pastoral ministries serves as the foundation off which any number of careers in the church can be built. Missionary work, ministry, outreach, education… careers in the church often begin with a four-year Christian bachelor's degree, which prepares you to preach the Gospel and serve as a competent and trusted religious worker.
These programs are focused on practical topics like ministry practice, Christian worship, ministerial ethics, and general pastoral ministry, as well as on core foundational areas like Scripture, biblical history, and biblical languages. Many programs also include a selection of courses in the liberal arts as to prepare students to become well-rounded graduates.
For students with career goals that include graduate study, these programs also serve as excellent precursors to the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and similar graduate degrees.
Step 2. Look for Ministry Jobs and Gain Experience Serving the People and Churches of Virginia
Once you've earned a bachelor's degree, you'll be qualified to assume any number of roles in the church, including deacon, Bible studies teacher, missionary, youth pastor, administrator, outreach director, and more.
In Virginia, there are plentiful opportunities to begin making a difference and serving the Lord. For example, you may lead the children, youth, frontline men, or veteran's ministries at the New Life Outreach Church in North Chesterfield. Or you may find exciting opportunities through an organization like SBC of Virginia, a fellowship of more than 800 local churches that organizes disaster relief, church planting, children's ministry, and missionary work programs throughout Virginia.
Explore Ministry Jobs with One of Virginia's Many Churches
You'll find plenty of opportunities to put your Christian bachelor's degree and your passion for serving others to good use in some of the largest churches in Virginia. Just a sampling of some of the Commonwealth's largest churches where exciting pastor jobs and ministry jobs await include:
- Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria
- Antioch Baptist Church, Fairfax Station
- Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, Virginia Beach
- Bethel Temple Assembly of God. Hampton
- Blue Ridge Community Church, Forest
- Calvary Revival Church, Norfolk
- Christian Fellowship Church, Ashburn
- Colonial Heights Baptist Church
- Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg
- Fairfax Community Church
- Faith Landmarks Ministries, Richmond
- First Baptist Norfolk
- Grove Church, Portsmouth
- Harvest Life Changers World Ministries, Woodbridge
- Highlands Fellowship, Abingdon
- Immanuel Bible Church, Springfield
- Korean Central Presbyterian Church, Centreville
- Lifepoint Church, Fredericksburg
- McLean Bible Church
- New Life Providence Church, Virginia Beach
- Open Door Presbyterian Church, Herndon
- Reston Bible Church
- Reston Bible Church, Dulles
- Richmond Outreach Center
- Saint Paul's Baptist Church, Richmond
- Spotswood Baptist Church, Fredericksburg
- The Rock Church International, Virginia Beach
- Tree of Life Ministries, Lynchburg
- Waters Edge Church, Yorktown
- Wave Church, Virginia Beach
- West End Assembly of God, Richmond
Salary Expectations for Church Ministry Jobs in Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), religious workers in Virginia earned an average salary of $35,830 as of May 2020. Those with extensive experience and/or those working with larger churches and religious organizations earned salaries that were closer to the top 10% of the pay scale, which was about $52,100 during this time.
Step 3. Earn a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or Similar Graduate Degree in Virginia and Establish Your Role in Christian Leadership
Are you ready to take your career in the church to the next level? For many with career aspirations of ordained ministry or church leadership, study at the graduate level is a natural step.
The MDiv and similar master’s programs provide students with the theological and practical training necessary to learn how to become a pastor and assume a wide range of ministry leadership careers in the church.
Christian graduate degrees include in-depth study into the Scriptures, biblical languages, and interpretation. Practical theology, liturgy, history, and ethics are all topics often studied in these programs. Many programs also allow students to choose an area of concentration or specialization as to design a program that best meets their personal interests and professional goals. Areas of specialization often include Church History, Christian Theology, Chaplain Ministry, Biblical Languages, and Missiology.
The MDiv and similar degree programs are often offered through a partially or fully online course of study. An online Master of Divinity degree allows students to continue meeting their professional and personal obligations while studying via a distance-based course delivery. These programs, which feature the same, rigorous curriculum as on-campus programs, are often rich in collaboration and interaction to ensure a well-rounded course of study.
Salary Expectations for Pastor Jobs in Virginia
According to the BLS, pastors in Virginia earned an average salary of $50,730 as of May 2020, while those at the top of the pay scale (top 10%) earned about $82,230 during this time.
Directors of religious activities and education in Virginia earned an average salary of $57,740, while the highest earners (top 10%) earned about $103,810.
Step 4. Consider Forming a Christian Ministry of Your Own in Virginia
For some, a career in the church culminates with planting their own church. Starting your own ministry is a personally and spiritually fulfilling venture that allows you to grow the church community by reaching new legions of followers.
Along with your passion for spreading the Gospel, planting your own church requires meeting specific state and federal requirements. In Virginia, this includes completing the following with the State Corporation Commission:
- Reserving a new business name (SCC631)
- Forming a Virginia nonstock corporation (SCC819), which includes establishing Articles of Incorporation
You’ll then need to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Once you have an FEIN, you’ll apply for a tax-exempt status through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by seeking status as a charitable organization under Section 501 (c)(3).
If you plan to solicit charitable contributions on behalf of your church, you’ll need to register with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, which is part of the Division of Consumer Protection, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job market trends for Religious Workers, Church Directors, and Clergy based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2022.
Christian Colleges in Virginia
Ascent College
Bachelor’s in Ministry Leadership (campus)
- Ministerial
- Biblical Studies
- Intercultural Studies
- Worship and Worshipping Arts
- Christian Counseling
Union Presbyterian Seminary
Master of Divinity (campus)
- MDiv-MA Christian Education
- MDiv-MA Public Theology
Master of Theology
MA in Christian Education-MA in Public Theology
MA in Public Theology
MA in Christian Education (Global Format)
MA in Public Theology
Virginia Beach Theological Seminary
Master of Divinity (campus)
Master of Theology (campus)
Master of Theological Studies (campus)
Master of Biblical Studies (campus)
Virginia Union University Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology
BA in Religious Studies (campus)
Masters of Divinity (campus)
Virginia University of Lynchburg
BA in Religious Studies (campus)
Masters of Divinity (campus)
Online Christian Universities in Virginia
Bluefield University
BA in Christian Studies (online, campus)
- Biblical & Theological Studies
- Ministry Leadership
Bachelor of Ministry Leadership (online, campus)
Eastern Mennonite University
Major in Bible, Religion and Theology (online, campus, hybrid)
Master of Divinity (online, campus, hybrid)
- MDiv-MA in Conflict Transformation
- MDiv-MA in Counseling
MA in Christian Leadership (online, campus, hybrid)
MA in Religion (online, campus, hybrid)
Hampton University
BA in Religious Studies (online)
Master of Divinity (campus)
MA in Theological Studies (campus)
MA in Worship Studies (campus)
MA in Pastoral Counseling (campus)
Liberty University
BA in Biblical Studies (campus)
BS in Camp and Outdoor Adventure Leadership (campus)
- Youth Ministry
BS in Christian Leadership and Church Ministries (campus)
- Biblical Studies
- Camp and Outdoor Adventure Leadership
- Global Studies
- Technical Studies
- Theology and Apologetics
- Women's Leadership
- Worship
BS in Music and Worship (campus)
- Biblical Studies
- Business
- Open Electives
- Pastoral Leadership
- Women's Leadership
- Worship Technology (Audio)
- Youth Ministries
BS in Pastoral Leadership (campus)
BS in Religious Studies (campus)
- Biblical Languages
- Global Studies
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Theology and Apologetics
BA in Theology and Apologetics (campus)
Bachelor of Music (campus)
- Worship Leadership
BS in Youth Ministries (campus)
- Biblical Studies
- Camp and Outdoor Adventure Leadership
- Christian Leadership
- Global Studies
- Pastoral Leadership
- Sport Outreach
- Technical Studies
- Theology and Apologetics
- Women's Leadership
- Worship
BS in Applied Ministry (online)
BS in Biblical & Education Studies: Theological Studies (online)
BS in Christian Leadership & Management: Business Management (online)
BS in Religion (online)
- Apologetics
- Biblical and Theological Studies
- Christian Counseling
- Christian Leadership
- Christian Ministries
- Evangelism
- Global Studies
- Next Generation Ministries
BS in Worship Studies (online)
Master of Divinity (campus, online)
- Biblical Languages
- Biblical Studies
- Christian Apologetics
- Christian Leadership & Church Ministries
- Christian Ministries
- Christian Thought
- Church History
- Church Ministry in the Digital Age
- Discipleship Ministries
- General
- Global Studies
- Homiletics
- Leadership
- Pastoral Counseling
- Professional Chaplaincy (Community, General, Healthcare, Military)
- Theology
- Youth and Family Ministry
MA in Biblical Exposition
MA in Biblical Languages
MA in Biblical Studies
MA in Christian Apologetics
MA in Christian Ministry
MA in Music and Worship
MA in Pastoral Counseling
MA in Religion
Master of Religious Education
MA in Sports Chaplaincy
MA in Theological Studies
MA in Worship Studies
Regent University
BA in Biblical and Theological Studies (online, campus)
BA in Christian Ministry (online, campus)
Bachelor of Music (campus)
BS in Professional Studies (online, campus)
BA in Leadership Studies (online)
Master of Divinity (online, campus)
- Biblical Languages
- Chaplain Ministry
- Christian Discipleship
- Christian Theology
- Church History
- Church and Ministry
- Church Planting
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Marketplace
- Missiology
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Online Ministry
- Spiritual Formation
- Worship and Media
MA in Apologetics and Cosmogony
MA in Christian Discipleship
MA in Christian Ministry (Church & Ministry, Interdisciplinary Studies, Marketplace Ministry, Missiology, Worship & Media)
MA in Church Leadership
MA in Church Planting
MA in Evangelism and Mission
MA in Human Services (Biblical Counseling, Christian Counseling)
MA in Online Ministry
MA in Pastoral Counseling
MA in Spiritual Formation
Master of Theological Studies (Biblical Languages, Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Church History)
M.Ed in Christian School Administration
