NOBTS Launches Tentmaker Degree Pathway for Bi-Vocational Ministry Training
Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary approved a new degree pathway on October 7, 2026, offering a Bachelor of Science degree and a new business major to train students for bi-vocational and co-vocational ministry contexts. The program responds to rising demand from churches across the Southern Baptist Convention for pastors and planters equipped with both theological education and secular vocational skills.
Trustees Approve Tentmaker Pathway for Bi-Vocational Training
The newly established curriculum, designated as the “Tentmaker Degree Pathway,” allows students to take specialized business and leadership classes directly through the seminary. Alternatively, enrollees can transfer up to 45 credit hours of accredited vocational study from external institutions. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees voted to adopt the program during their October meeting, providing a structured academic route for individuals entering fields that require secular employment platforms, such as international missions and domestic church planting.
NOBTS President Jamie Dew stated that the initiative directly addresses recurring staffing requests from local associations and state conventions. “A lot of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, specifically in the South, are going to need somebody that is co-vocational or bi-vocational to pastor their church,” Dew said. Dew added that secular employment platforms are frequently necessary for International Mission Board personnel operating globally.
Structure of the Bachelor of Science and Dual-Degree Tracks
The approved academic framework introduces a dedicated Bachelor of Science degree featuring four distinct majors: Biblical Studies, Ministry and Marketplace, Intercultural Studies, and Theology. Alongside these options, Leavell College established a Bachelor of Arts major in Business and Leadership.
Students seeking accelerated education can enroll in the BS+MDiv degree track. This combined option enables participants to complete both their undergraduate and master’s level seminary education in as little as five years. Leavell College Dean Greg Wilton noted that the curriculum draws inspiration from the apostle Paul’s tentmaking trade in Acts 18, framing the coursework as a modern mechanism to establish legitimate marketplace platforms for gospel ministry.
Leavell College Pursues Community College Partnerships for Vocational Credits
Seminary administration has initiated preliminary discussions with local community colleges to formalize future educational partnerships under the Tentmaker initiative. However, the overarching structural goal remains flexible, allowing any qualifying college student to transfer vocational credits from other accredited institutions directly into Leavell College curriculum requirements.
By blending community college vocational certifications with standard seminary instruction, the four-year program aims to deliver dual qualifications. Officials anticipate that graduates of this pathway will fill immediate administrative and pastoral vacancies in churches requiring leaders capable of sustaining themselves through marketplace employment.