The Center for Pastor Theologians Journal
The Center for Pastor Theologians Journal (formerly the Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology) is published bi-annually by the Center for Pastor Theologians. The essays contained within the CPTJ are drawn from the papers presented at the Center’s theological symposia for pastors. As such, each volume of the CPTJ focuses on a single theological theme relevant to ministry and the life of the church. Spanning a wide ministry context (rural, urban, small church, mega church) and the breadth of evangelical denominational affiliations (Baptist, Anglican, Wesleyan, Reformed, Lutheran, Independent, etc.), the majority of our contributors are evangelical theologians and scholars whose primary vocation is pastoral ministry. It is our aim that the CPTJ models robust ecclesial theology — theology that is born out of a parish context and driven by parish questions and concerns.
Views of the contributors are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by the editorial staff or the Center. The CPTJ does not accept essay contributions outside the Center’s pastoral fellowships.
Print editions of the CPTJ are available for purchase at GlossaHouse and on Amazon. Free digital downloads of CPTJ essays are available below. Indexing available in Christian Periodical Index, owned by the Association of Christian Librarians and produced by EBSCOHost.
Current Volume
Essays on a theology of the Spirit
Volume 13.1 | 2026
The Holy Spirit has ever been at the center of ecclesial identity. From his outpouring at Pentecost onward, it has been the Spirit who empowers believers to boldly proclaim the gospel, identifies leaders, and directs church councils. Furthermore, in the Holy Spirit the church is unified and gifts are given for the building up and equipping of believers for their work of witness in the world. The Spirit opens avenues for ministry and closes others. The Spirit leads disciples of Christ to understand truth. The Spirit gives life. As the late John Webster puts it, “the Holy Spirit animates the church” (John Webster, Holiness [Eerdmans, 2003], 3).
Because this is so, the Holy Spirit is also central to the identity of the pastor theologian. The nature of the pastor theologian’s work is to shepherd the church. Not only does that calling come at the behest of the Spirit, those called to the labor also depend on the Spirit’s ongoing work to fulfill the task appointed them. It is the Holy Spirit who builds the temple of new covenant. Unless he builds, pastor theologians labor in vain; because he builds, they labor in hope.
Only by the working of the one who gives life will the church be equipped to fulfill its calling the world. Only by relying on the Holy Spirit will pastor theologians shepherd the church in that calling. We, the editors, recommend these articles to you as explorations of what it means to serve the body of Christ in dependence on the Holy Spirit.
