This October, the CPT community will gather for our 11th Annual Pastor Theologians Conference, “Finding Church: Ecclesial Identity in a Time of Cultural Crisis.”
But why dedicate a conference to the identity of the church? Certainly, there are many pressing issues facing the church today that we could focus on: Wouldn’t it be better to focus on the rise of and growing resistance to AI? Or the fundamental question of what it means to be human in this inhuman age? Or, in a time of war, questions of violence and peace, militarism and pacifism? With so many pressing cultural questions, isn’t a conference on the identity of the church naval gazing while the world burns? Isn’t this a wasted opportunity?
Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly convinced that the American evangelical church is caught in a crisis. But the crisis isn’t what we might think. It’s not a political crisis. It’s not a moral crisis. It’s not an ethical crisis. It’s an identity crisis.
All the other crises shaking the church today are the fruit of this foundational crisis. Political polarization, confusion about what it means to be human, the struggle to navigate the rise of AI, all grow out from the reality that we aren’t rooted in our identity as the people of God. Or, to put it bluntly: The American evangelical church doesn’t know what it means to be the church.
The CPT was founded to address the crisis of pastoral identity. The original, and ongoing, conviction that drives the CPT is that pastors are the theologians of the church. As theology was outsourced to the academy, and the church was no longer viewed as the primary location of theological formation, pastors have become deeply confused about our identity.
Who are we? Are we entertainers? Corporate managers? Media personalities? Leadership gurus? Counselors? In a culture of growth, attraction and influence, will we be more “successful” by replicating the personas of our politicians, celebrities, and influencers, or will we fulfill our calling as pastors by learning from people like Paul and Timothy?
But as the CPT grew, it became apparent to us that the pastoral identity crisis is not a stand-alone crisis; it is rooted in the church’s identity crisis. Pastors don’t know who we are because the church doesn’t know who she is. Because of this, we realized that if we are going to achieve our mission of forming pastor theologians, we must also engage the ecclesial identity crisis that is subverting the mission of the church.
“Pastors don’t know who we are because the church doesn’t know who she is.”
Over the years, the CPT has hosted conferences on the pressing issues of our complex world: Racial injustice, human sexuality, politics, and technology. As an organization, we are committed to equipping pastors to engage the complexities of our age that they might shepherd the church to be faithful to Christ in our complex time. But at this moment, I am convinced that we need to give our time and attention, our heart, soul, and mind, to the question of the identity of the church.
The church, and her pastors, will be much better equipped to navigate the challenges of our time only if we are deeply rooted in our fundamental identity as the Body of Christ, who are sojourners on the way to the city with foundations, “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,” called to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are living in an age that is designed to keep us in the shallows. Our moment is constructed to lock us in a reactionary posture. But if Pastor Theologians are going to faithfully shepherd the church toward maturity in Christ, we must press out beyond the waves breaking upon the shores, and commit to rediscovering the deeper reservoirs of the church’s identity. We must be the leaders who shepherd the church to live out her calling as the people of God.
Our conference in October is going to be a wonderful gathering of pastors and ministry leaders from across the United States, and the world, to come together to do this deep work. If you haven’t been to a CPT conference, I strongly encourage you to do so! It is worshipful, prayerful, thoughtful gathering of shepherds who love the church and long to see her grow to maturity. I would love to see you there!
Read more from Joel on his Substack.
(PhD, University of Cambridge) is the President of the Center for Pastor Theologians. He previously served as the Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church in St. Paul, MN and as a Professor of Theology at Bethel Seminary.
