The Pastor Theologians Podcast

CPT Fellow Eric Redmond rejoins the podcast to discuss the recent guilty verdict rendered against Derek Chauvin in the George Flloyd murder trial.  We discuss the response of conservative evangelicals, as well as the different historical perspectives of white and black Christians on police violence. What are the biblical and theological dynamics at play in these discussions? How do we as Christian...

This episode features a presentation from our 2019 conference on technology, given by CPT Fellow Dan Brendsel. Dan joins Zach Wagner to reflect on his talk in a now post-Covid world. Technology is like a road, a tool that is formed with pre-determined purpose and utility that separates us from something naturally vital to reality. A path on the other hand is different. A path is a way of moving th...

We continue our conversation with CPT fellow Paul Morrison, a pastor in the Cleveland area who holds a PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Paul reflects on the history of race and racism in the Southern Baptist Convention and reflects on its implications for contemporary tensions and debates. We go on to discuss the work of the Ohio Theological Institute, an exciting and innovative...

CPT fellow Paul Morrison joins the podcast to discuss his story of life, education, and becoming a pastor theologian. Paul serves as a Pastor at the Church at West Creek in Ohio and is a co-founder of the Ohio Theological Institute. Join us at the CPT Conference

CPT co-founder and board chair Gerald Hiestand joins the podcast to discuss some of the recent history of the CPT and how his transition from an associate pastor to senior pastor role affected his research and theological reflection. What are the challenges and advantages of doing theology from a pastoral post? Is it possible to live out the historic vision of the pastor theologian in today's...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with award-winning author Carolyn Weber. We discuss her story of life and her academic career, including balancing her witness while engaging fruitfully in her discipline. How should Christians and aspiring pastors think of cultivating their writing and word-craft? How can faithful Christian thinkers maintain a posture of humility and openness to new i...

We are joined on this episode by Carolyn Weber, professor of English and the award-winning author of Surprised by Oxford and Sex and the City of God . We talk with Dr. Weber about her story of life and faith, including her conversion while studying English literature at the University of Oxford. Join us at the CPT Conference

Beginning in Fall 2021, the CPT will partner with the Wheaton College Graduate School in offering an M.A. in Theology with a concentration in Ecclesial Theology. This program is designed for students interested in studying theology with a specific orientation toward ministry in the local church. On this episode, CPT staff are joined by Marc Cortez, a Professor of Theology at Wheaton, to discuss th...

Is there a liturgical renewal movement in low-church evangelicalism? How can pastors and worship ministers rehearse the story of redemption through the liturgy of worship every week? How can we view music and preaching not as separate parts of the worship service, but as synchronized ways of embedding the gospel in our hearts? Listen now to our interview with Paul van der Bijl, Director of Worship...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with CPT President Todd Wilson about his new book,  The Enneagram Goes to Church: Wisdom for Leadership, Worship, and Congregational Life.  How can the Enneagram help us cultivate pastoral wisdom and relational, emotional intelligence? What self-knowledge can it offer pastors? What insight can it give in to the insecurities and compulsions that drive u...

Why did a trained New Testament scholar and longtime pastor become so interested in the enneagram? On today's episode, CPT President Todd Wilson shares his journey of discovering the enneagram and discusses many of the common objections and questions about it within evangelical circles. What are the theological convictions undergirding its "appropriation" for pastoral and formationa...

On today's episode, we are joined by CPT Fellow Jennifer Powell McNutt. She serves as the Dyrness Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College and is an ordained minister in the PCUSA. We discuss her story of family, faith, and education, including discerning a call to ministry as a woman. We also explore some of her research on the Enlightenment, Calvin, and Reformed traditio...

What are some of the distinctives of Anglican worship forms? What does a liturgy that is both historically rooted and culturally and linguistically responsive serve God's people? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these forms? This week, we continue our conversation with CPT Fellow, John Yates. We discuss these and other questions, including what to make of the recent trend towards...

We begin our conversation with CPT Fellow John Yates, who serves as the Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, NC. In this episode, we discuss growing up in a ministry home, and John's story of education, including his experience serving as a study assistant for John Stott in London. Join us at the CPT Conference

We continue our conversation with CPT fellow Trygve Johnson on pastoring in an academic institution and corporate spiritual formation.  What are the key issues and challenges facing college-age Christians? How do liturgical rhythms form us into competent Christians, able to move out into the world on mission, empowered by the truth of the Gospel? Join us at the CPT Conference

Why is the call to leadership in Christian institutions so important? How have our institutions fallen into neglect in recent history? What are the modernist assumptions that underlie our mistrust of institutions? Listen to part 1 of our interview with CPT fellow Trygve Johnson, Dean of Chapel at Hope College in Holland, MI. Join us at the CPT Conference

This episode features a conference talk by CPT Theological Mentor Kevin Vanhoozer. The public theologian ministers the reality of the gospel to the time and place of their congregational life. Pastors work in a place , a particular community making disciples and teaching them how to live out the life and work of God in them as citizens in the city of God. How does the act of preaching relate to th...

As the pandemic continues, how can pastors and Christians cope with the feelings of weariness, isolation, and depression in these unique circumstances? What challenges has the length of the crisis raised for pastors and churches? How can we be attuned to our embodiment and the ordinary means of grace as we tend to our emotional and spiritual health? CPT fellow Ryan Davidson joins again for this ep...

Podcast host and CPT President Todd Wilson is joined by Zachary Wagner and Joel Lawrence to discuss the fallout from recent events at the US Capitol. What has gone wrong in the church and in our nation to lead to such a deep ideological divide? Where do we go from here? Join us at the CPT Conference

On a special midweek episode, we share a sermon by CPT co-founder and board chair Gerald Hiestand. This sermon was preached at Calvary Memorial Church outside Chicago on Sunday, January 10, 2021, in response to the deadly assault on the US Capitol by pro-Trump conservatives. Join us at the CPT Conference

CPT Podcast co-hosts Todd Wilson and Zachary Wagner are joined by CPT Executive Director Joel Lawrence. We discuss the year that was and what its implications are for pastoral ministry and the role of theology in the local church. Join us as we look back on some of the most listened to moments from the podcast in 2020. Join us at the CPT Conference

How can parents and pastors find a balance between emphasizing the theological significance of Christmas alongside the cultural trappings associated with the holiday? How can this season be an opportunity for discipleship and catechism of children? On this episode, we are joined by CPT fellow Dillon Thornton, author of Give Them Jesus: Raising Our Children on the Core Truths of the Christian Faith...

Is Advent merely an extended Christmas season? What is the function of this season in the liturgical calendar? What is lost when we rush past the penitential season of Advent into the celebratory season of Christmas? CPT fellow Benj Petroelje joins the podcast to discuss the significance of the season of Advent in the church's life – particularly in a year like 2020. How can pastors make the...

We continue our conversation with CPT fellow Tim Fox on his story of life, education, and ministry. Tim discusses ministry in obscurity,  avoiding pastoral burnout, reading widely, and the story the the birth of his daughter and her diagnosis with downs syndrome. Join us at the CPT Conference

CPT fellow Tim Fox joins the podcast to share his story of becoming a pastor theologian. Tim Pastor of Christ the King Presbyterian in Austin, TX. We discuss the importance of focused research on the biblical text, the way a love of reading connects to a love of theology, and the significance of staying connected with a local church during academic studies. Tim earned his PhD in New Testament from...