Mission, Vision, and Strategy

Learn more about the Center for Pastor theologians

Who We Are

The Center for Pastor Theologians is an inter-denominational evangelical organization that gathers pastors and church leaders for fellowship, continuing education, and spiritual formation. Our goal is to see a Church that is firmly rooted through pastors who are theologically formed.

Founded in 2007, the CPT has grown to a robust and relationally rich network of hundreds of pastors from around the US. Our annual theology conference in Oak Park, IL, gathers church leaders to engage complex issues of our day from a theological perspective; our dozens of cohorts meet in cities all over the country; and our flagship fellows program provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for emerging theological leaders to grow into their identity as pastor theologians. In all of these programs, our goal is to see the Church flourish and thrive, rooted and ready to face the storms and challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

 

Mission

Forming Pastor Theologians to shepherd the church in our complex world.

 

VALUES

The CPT’s approach to pastoral formation is characterized by our three core values.

Theological. We believe that the wisdom of Scripture and the Great Tradition are essential components of faithful and effective pastoral ministry. Thus, all our meetings and programs seeks to explore the theological riches of our faith and to stir the minds and hearts of participants towards deeper reflection and love of God.

Relational. The glue that holds the CPT together is our commitment to each other and our to the value of relationship itself. It is not enough for us to merely read good books or study the scripture in isolation. We believe that effective theological formation happens in person and in community. Thus we are committed to all of our programs happening in formational groups and only using digital/virtual meetings to supplement in-person gatherings.

Interdenominational. One of our goals as an organization is to provide spaces where Christian leaders can meet, fellowship with, and learn from those in other Christian traditions. This not only combats our tribal tendencies, but also helps us to grow in our kingdom-mindedness and humility.

 

Strategy & Programming

If the church is going to flourish in the 21st century, she will need ministers equal to this task: men and women who can lead with integrity and wisdom––pastors who are empowered by the Spirit of God, well-trained in interpreting and applying Scripture, able to mine the depths of wisdom in the Great Tradition to bring the lessons of our past to bear on the challenges of our future.

The CPT seeks to accomplish its mission primarily through formational gatherings. Each year the CPT hosts dozens of pastoral meetings all over North America. These gatherings include:

  • Fellowships

    • Formational Fellowships: The CPT’s flagship fellowship program, guiding of well-qualified pastors and ministry leaders through a unique six-year process of pastoral formation. Our fellows are strategically positioned for impactful leadership in their own congregations and the broader church.

    • Senior Fellowship: Consisting of long-tenured members of our fellows program, this group’s annual symposium brings together leading pastor theologians to conrtont challenges facing the church today.

  • Cohorts

    • Local Cohorts: Gatherings of pastors serving in dozens of cities and metro areas around the country, led by a CPT fellow, seeking to equip and encourage one another in theological leadership and ministry.

    • Student Cohorts: Gatherings of men and women training for ministry at colleges and seminaries throughout the country, led by CPT fellows and local faculty who share a vision for the centrality of theological in the the life of the church.

    • Church Identity Cohort: Our core curriculum cohort for ministry leaders, exploring the church’s biblical and theological roots.

    • One-Year Learning Cohorts: Year-long accessible formational groups for ministry leaders to dig deeper into topics like technology and the arts.

  • Events

    • Pastor Theologians Conference: Our largest event of the year, bringing together ministry leaders and scholars from across the evangelical world for a one-of-a-kind theological gathering.

    • Pastor Theologian Dinners and Discussion: Special events to gather pastors from a specific city for fellowship, an expert presentation, and discussion on pressing ministry questions.

CPT also seeks to accomplish its mission through producing theological resources. We regularly share resources on our website, including articles, podcasts, book reviews, sermons, and videos. We also publish a bi-annual, peer-reviewed journal and regularly assist pastors in the writing and publication of books on theology, biblical studies, and church life. Check the resources tab above to explore these resources.

If you resonate with our mission and vision for the church, would you consider partnering with us financially? You can donate now to support the work of the CPT by clicking the link below.