In this summer replay episode, Joel Lawrence and Matt Kim talk with pastor, lawyer, and theologian K. Edward Copeland about how the gospel shapes the church’s engagement with today’s social and political tensions. Ed shares his unique journey—from overcoming a childhood speech impediment to decades of ministry and justice work—and offers a compelling vision of the gospel as God’s reconciling work for people, systems, and the whole cosmos. Drawing on the African American preaching tradition and the posture of exile, he explains how preaching can form Christians who discern cultural idols, process societal events theologically, and live faithfully amid fractured times. The result is a conversation full of wisdom, hope, and clarity for pastors and congregations navigating the complexities of modern life.

This summer replay episode features a conversation with Joey Sherrard about his new book The Augustinian Pastor, exploring how the life and theology of Augustine can shape modern pastoral ministry. Drawing from his own journey—especially rediscovering Augustine during COVID—Sherrard highlights how Augustine’s work as a hands-on pastor was itself the outworking of and context in which he did his theological reflection. Key themes include the importance of pastoral friendship, the ongoing struggle with pride and sin, and the cultivation of humility through dependence on God. Pastors should see their ordinary work not as a barrier to theological depth, but as the very place where rich, enduring theology is formed.

In this episode of the CPT Podcast, we welcome Dr. Matt O’Reilly, lead pastor of Christ Church, Birmingham, and a leader in the Global Methodist Church, to talk about what it means to be an ecclesial theologian. O’Reilly describes the ecclesial theologian as a pastor who provides theological leadership from within the local church. Rather than simply translating academic theology for laypeople, ecclesial theologians engage in constructive theology that shapes every aspect of church life—from preaching and discipleship to finances, property, staffing, and mission.  

The conversation explores O’Reilly’s leadership in the emerging Global Methodist Church, including his role in drafting unified Articles of Faith and chairing the Doctrine and Sacraments Committee for the denomination’s General Conference in Johannesburg. O’Reilly argues that theological study is not a distraction from pastoral ministry but an essential part of it—one that can deepen a pastor’s leadership, renew the mind, and become an act of worship

In this Summer Replay episode, CPT Fellow Matt Erickson reflects on his journey into pastoral ministry and the experiences that led him to write The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry. Drawing on biblical images of planting, tending, and growth, Matt offers a vision of pastoral ministry rooted in patience, community, and dependence on God rather than performance or control. The conversation explores how pastors can cultivate a deep life with God, empower others for ministry, and faithfully plant for fruit they may not live to see.scription here

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In this episode of the Pastor Theologians Podcast, we invite Heather Joy Zimmerman, a member of CPT's St Irenaeus fellowship, to share how profound personal suffering shaped both her faith and her calling. Reflecting on the loss of a close friend, her father's battle with cancer, and her journey through lament, Heather explains how God used Scripture—especially Romans 8 and the Psalms—to deepen her understanding of God's goodness and inspire a lifelong passion for helping others faithfully navigate suffering. 

Heather also traces her path from Moody Bible Institute to Dallas Theological Seminary and Wheaton College, where her academic work on the Psalms of lament and preaching emerged from her own spiritual journey. She discusses her passion for theological education, forming faithful preachers, and bridging the gap between the academy and the local church. The conversation offers a compelling vision of the Pastor Theologian—one whose scholarship is rooted in personal faith, pastoral ministry, and a deep love for Christ and his people.

In this episode of the Pastor Theologians Podcast, we invite CPT fellow and Wesleyan pastor Ben Espinoza to talk about his new book, The Good News About Self-Care: How Nurturing Your Soul, Yourself, and Your Sanity Honors God. Ben shares his journey into ministry, theological formation, and the experiences that shaped his understanding of Christian self-care.

Ben reflects on how ministry pressures, ambition, and the COVID-19 pandemic exposed unhealthy patterns in his own life. He explains that self-care is not a secular pursuit of comfort, but a theological practice rooted in honoring the image of God within us. The conversation explores Sabbath, limits, vocation, and spiritual health, with Ben encouraging pastors and leaders to embrace rest, prayer, boundaries, and accountability so they can faithfully serve others.Cole reflects on how intentional spaces, hospitality, and deep relationships create opportunities for spiritual growth, and how his experience pastoring in a walkable, close-knit town has shaped his understanding of the pastor theologian’s calling. We explore questions of place-making, community, discipleship, and what the church can learn from the environments where ministry happens.

In this episode of the Pastor Theologians podcast, we invite Jeff Hubing to share his journey into pastoral ministry, shaped by personal tragedy, a deep love for Scripture, and a desire to connect theology with everyday life. He reflects on how his father’s faith influenced his calling, his theological studies, and his work leading a network of house churches in Chicago. Jeff discusses a vision of church leadership centered on family, discipleship, and raising up others—not simply gathering crowds, but equipping and releasing people for the work of ministry.

Ben reflects on how ministry pressures, ambition, and the COVID-19 pandemic exposed unhealthy patterns in his own life. He explains that self-care is not a secular pursuit of comfort, but a theological practice rooted in honoring the image of God within us. The conversation explores Sabbath, limits, vocation, and spiritual health, with Ben encouraging pastors and leaders to embrace rest, prayer, boundaries, and accountability so they can faithfully serve others.Cole reflects on how intentional spaces, hospitality, and deep relationships create opportunities for spiritual growth, and how his experience pastoring in a walkable, close-knit town has shaped his understanding of the pastor theologian’s calling. We explore questions of place-making, community, discipleship, and what the church can learn from the environments where ministry happens.