The Pastor Theologians Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Neil Martin | Becoming a Pastor Theologian Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

We're joined on this episode by CPT Fellow Neil Martin, who serves as Ministry Assistant at Oxford Presbyterian Church and as the Director of B Less Oxford. Neil tells the story of growing up, studying at Cambridge, and beginning a promising career in marketing design in London. A sudden, unexplained illness debilitated Neil, setting him on a new trajectory for his life.

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What's the Deal with Bavinck? (Part 2) | Gayle Doornbos & Gray Sutanto Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

We continue our conversation about Herman Bavinck with Gayle Doornbos and Gray Sutanto. How did Bavinck's intellectual curiosity show in his writing? How did he work to produce and rearticulate Reformed theology for his own context? How did he wed orthodox theological confession with modernist and scientific movements of his day? What can pastors and theologians learn from how Bavinck on how to engage with others' ideas and writing? How can pastors unfamiliar with Bavinck's work begin to explore what he's written?

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What We're Reading | March 2022 (feat. Paul Morrison) Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

Our March bonus episode on books we're reading. We are joined by CPT fellow Paul Morrison. We discuss the following:

Dale Allison – The Resurrection of Jesus (2021)
Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart (1958)
Adonis Vidu – The Same God Who Works All Things (2021)
Michael Budde – Foolishness to Gentiles (2022)

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What's the Deal with Bavinck? (Part 1) | Gayle Doornbos & Gray Sutanto Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

We discuss the life and thought of Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck in part 1 of this conversation with CPT fellows Gayle Doornbos and Gray Sutanto. What was Bavinck's ecclesial context? How did political dynamics in the Netherlands influence his life, and how do these movements related to the broader Reformed movement, Calvinism, and its popular understanding within American evangelicalism? Gayle serves on the faculty of Dordt University and Gray serves on the Faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary.

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The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches | Preston Hill Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

We are joined on this episode by Dr. Preston Hill, Assistant Professor of Integrated Theology at Richmont Graduate University. Preston discusses his work on trauma, abuse, and trinitarian theology, as well as his soon-to-release co-authored book, Dawn of Sunday. How is the Trinity foundational for our understanding of human relationality? How can pastors create trauma-safe spaces for community and healing in their congregations? All this and much more on this week's episode.

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Marketing, Branding, and the Church | Emily Hill Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

We are joined on this episode by Dr. Emily Beth Hill, who serves in the ministry of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. She tells the story of switching careers after working for 10 years in business marketing and analysis. What are the theological assumptions about human beings built into capitalistic marketing strategies? What things should churches consider when having conversations about branding? How do market-based approaches to ministry subtly put our faith in things other than the Spirit's work among God's people?

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Andrew Ray Williams Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

On this episode we hear CPT fellow Andrew Ray Williams's story of becoming a pastor theologian. Growing up in a Foursquare pentecostal tradition provided Andrew with unique challenges and opportunities in his theological journey. What is the theological identity of pentecostalism? What should a pentecostal view of the sacraments look like? What is the relationship our experience of God and our theology and ministry practice? All this and more on this week's episode.

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American and Global Evangelicalism | Michael Bird Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

We are joined this week by on the podcast by Dr. Michael Bird, a Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. We discuss how Dr. Bird selects and pursues his various research interests. He also shares his thoughts on how American evangelicalism is distinct from global expressions of evangelical Christian faith. What is the influence, for better or worse, of American evangelicalism on the rest of the world? How can American Christians benefit from expanding their perspective beyond their borders?

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What We're Reading | February 2022 (feat. Gerald Hiestand) Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

Our February bonus episode on books we're reading. We are joined by CPT co-founder Gerald Hiestand. We discuss the following:

Krister Stendahl: Paul Among Jews and Gentiles (1976)
John Meyendorff: Christ in Eastern Christian Thought (1975)
Colson Whitehead: The Underground Railroad (2017)
Eric Nelson: The Theology of Liberalism: Political Philosophy and the Justice of God (2019)

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Pastors, Historians, and Culture | Kristin Kobes Du Mez Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Historian and author Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins the podcast to talk about her book, Jesus and John Wayne. How have books shaped our theological and ecclesial imagination in American Evangelicalism? What is the proper relationship and distinction between pastoral ministry and the academic discipline of history? How do the idiosyncrasies of the subculture we inhabit create challenges for discipleship and pastoral ministry?

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