From Dwarves to Men: The Call of God to the Life of the Mind
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Tim Murray
2w ago
We need to recover the call of God to intellectual service. We need to find a way to do it that resists the diminished framework of academic culture, the short-termism of our churches, and the low bar of our times. We need to stop wrecking the call on the rocks of selfish ambition and individualism. We need the courage and vision to become more than we currently are and to take responsibility for growing into who God is calling us to be. We do not need to become giants, but we must refuse to remain dwarves. The Intellectual Vocation We are all given a mind and God expects us to use it, but in ..read more
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At the Advent Wreath on Christmas Eve
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Andrew Williams
3M ago
Plum and periwinkle waxed high-rises tower over the cedar crown. Into the night, the lucent edifices slowly bend before the lowly one, not yet alight. But tomorrow it's flicker will illuminate the ringlet like a star twinkling over an ancient, crowded homestead teeming with farm animals. Andrew Williams is the Lead Pastor at Family Worship Center in West York, PA. He hold a PhD in Theology at Bangor University. Andrew is the author of Washed in the Spirit: Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Water Baptism and Boundless Love: A Companion to Clark A. Pinnock’s Theology. He is a member of the St. B ..read more
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On Milky Preaching, and Some Reflections on the Center for Pastor Theologians
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Joseph Lear
5M ago
In 2015 I was in a pub called The Bobbin in dark recesses of the north of Scotland where my dear friend Kevin Hargaden and I were eating a pile of salty chips (french fries). In between finger licks, we were discussing the increasing hostility to the humanities generally and to theology in particular in universities across the West. Economics was (and is) winning out. Supposedly, that which is worth studying is only worth it if it’s going to measurably boost the economy. It’s a sad state of affairs. But as with every crisis, there’s also opportunity. Kevin looked at me and said, “it’s time for ..read more
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Introducing New CPT President Joel Lawrence
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Center for Pastor Theologians
5M ago
The CPT Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Joel Lawrence has been named as the new President of the Center for Pastor Theologians, effective October 20, 2023. Dr. Todd Wilson, who has served as CPT President for the past five years, is stepping down to invest more energy in serving pastors through his coaching ministry Integrated Leaders, as well as serve as Special Advisor to the President of Southern Wesleyan University. Dr. Wilson will stay on as an advisor to the CPT through the end of 2023, and then plans to join the CPT board in 2024. On this transition, Dr. Wi ..read more
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A Return to Paganism? – Reconsidering Galatians
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Neil Martin
1y ago
Consider with me an important but under-explored puzzle in Galatians: ‘Why does Paul consistently describe his correspondents’ problem as going back to something they have done before?’ Galatians was written to a group of recently-converted pagans in Asia Minor under pressure to keep the Jewish law. They weren’t just being urged to show up at the synagogue on Saturdays or to revere Moses like the ‘Godfearers’ we read about in Acts. They were being urged to get circumcised – to express exclusive allegiance to the God of Israel. And yet Paul describes all this as going back to something with whi ..read more
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Christ Alone the Locus of Our Hope
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Jon English Lee
1y ago
The insincere smile on her face couldn’t conceal the hurt in her eyes. She sat across from my in my office, recounting the details of her recent discovery. Her husband of over 30 years had been living a lie, building a family in another town, and had concealed his adultery for over three years. What was she to do? And how could she have any hope in that moment? Most Pastors have been there. They’ve had that conversation. They’ve empathized with the pain. They’ve cried with the broken. But what do we say? How do we shepherd them through such horrific trials? One bit of wisdom I have learned is ..read more
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Hope as an Exercise in Worship
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Stephen Campbell
1y ago
It is rightly said that the gathered community that comes together in corporate worship prophetically points toward a hope and future glorious kingdom in Christ. This is gathered worship as an act of hope, perhaps even defiant hope in the face of a world marred by sin. The body of believers gathered for corporate worship is united by the Spirit, and points toward the hope with have in Christ to be with God. But what about looking at things from the other direction: hope as an act of worship? In this brief reflection I want to explore this way of coming at the issue, which recognizes that hope ..read more
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Must I Repent of My Father’s Sins Also? Objective Spirit and The Dissolving Hope of Communion without Community
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Paul Morrison
1y ago
“I will not apologize for something I did not do.” As a facet of forgiveness, we often associate the need for apology with something for which we alone are at fault. I spoke a harsh word in my anger; I should apologize. I took what was not mine to take; I should return what I stole. But is there an obligation for the Christian to repent of sins which they did not commit? Beyond the shame of embarrassment and apology on behalf of someone else, is there room for a genuine and actionable repentance on behalf of another person? Justice can be understood as the right payment of what is owed. It is ..read more
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The Pastor as a Bringer of Hope
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Andrew Williams
1y ago
When Eric Peterson became the pastor of a brand-new church, he quickly turned to his dad for guidance. As a result, pastor, scholar, poet, and author of more than thirty books, Eugene Peterson, began writing letters to his son reflecting on pastoral ministry in all its complexity. In one letter written on November 11, 2001, Peterson shared his experience as a retired pastor living in the aftermath of 9/11: Our own pastor, W____, who I respect immensely, and who could never be accused of being superficial or silly, still has absolutely no sensitivity to what is going on in his parishioners’ li ..read more
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Invisible Hope in a Visual World
The Center for Pastor Theologians – CPT
by Danny Slavich
1y ago
Technological innovations like the Cathode-Ray tube at the end of the 19th century and the first forms LED and touchscreen technology in the 1960s changed our vision of the world. Even before the Covid shutdowns, many people would spend 6-8-12 hours in front of screens, computers and phones at work, and phones, computers, and TVs at home. Screens display our labor and our entertainment. Screens mediate much of our engagement with friends and family and the world itself. Human nature tends to prioritize sight over the other senses. We humans have always wanted to see to believe. Our earliest an ..read more
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