Center for Pastor Theologians
On Christ and Masculinity | Casey Hough

Casey Hough joins us to talk about his recent book,When Poets Were Warriors: Retrieving a Biblical Vision of Masculinity (B&H Publishing, 2025). “Masculinity” is an increasingly popular subject for public discourse. Drawing on his experiences as a pastor and father, Hough argues that Christians ought to return to the complex and challenging example of Jesus, instead of relying on cultural stereotypes, to form our vision of masculinity. If we consider Jesus Christ to be a model for masculinity, how do we then think about femininity, and any differences or similarities between the two? What should pastors consider as they shape their discipleship ministries? This and more on today’s episode!

On Christ and Masculinity | Casey Hough
Center for Pastor Theologians
Culture and Christians | Dennis Greeson

What is culture, and what is our relationship to it as Christians? Dennis Greeson joins the podcast today to talk about his recent book The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life (Lifeway 2024), coauthored with Benjamin T. Quinn. In the book, the authors provide a framework for knowing one’s time in God’s story, one’s place in creation, and following wisdom. He also shares about the Alexandrian Institute, a cohort-based model for theological education focused on engaging Scripture and confessional traditions and the wisdom of previous generations of Christians, and sending students to engage their context. 

Culture and Christians | Dennis Greeson
Center for Pastor Theologians
Owned by God | James Arcadi

This week, James Arcadi joins the podcast to talk about his latest book, Holiness: Divine and Human (2023). He also shares about his dual calling to both pastoral ministry as a full-time Anglican rector, and to academic theology as a guest professor at Wheaton College. What is the relationship between abstract ideas and practical application? What does it mean for something to be "consecrated" or "holy"?  This and more on today's podcast!

Owned by God | James Arcadi
Adam Copenhaver
Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Adam Copenhaver

On the podcast this week, Adam Copenhaver shares with us about his early ministry caring for an older congregation, and his education and research on Colossians. He also tells us about his current pastoral context leading a church in a small, migrant farm town which had previously been led by an abusive pastor. He previews the breakout topic he will lead at the 2025 CPT Conference, Good Shepherds: Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church. How can our churches become both helpful and welcoming to those who are suffering abuse or oppression? How can pastors identify and eliminate harmful tendencies in themselves that could lead to abuse later? 

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Adam Copenhaver
Center for Pastor Theologians
Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Ben Burkholder

This week we are joined by CTP Fellow Ben Burkholder. Ben shares how he developed an interest in learning how people grow as disciples. Reflecting on his time as a student, Ben also shares insights about the relationship between psychology and spiritual formation. This and more on today’s podcast! 

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Ben Burkholder

Institutional Failure (and Signs of Hope) in the SBC | Danny Slavich

Institutional Failure (and Signs of Hope) in the SBC | Danny Slavich

CPT Fellow and Souther Baptist pastor Danny Slavich joins the podcast to discuss recent events and turmoil in the Southern Baptist Convention. We begin by discussing some of Danny's story of faith, education, and ministry, including his time serving as a pastor at a majority black church and the formative impact this had on him. We then pivot to discuss the recent report on sexual abuse and cover up in the Southern Baptist Convention. Danny helps us understand the mechanics of church polity in the SBC and where the institution has fractured and caused these grievous failures. Danny also offers some reason to hope for the future of the largest Protestant denomination in America.

House Church Theology | Hannah Nation

House Church Theology | Hannah Nation

What can pastors in America and in the West learn from house church pastors in China? What place does the sermon hold in the history of theological reflection? What are the unique challenges and opportunities of ministry in the Chinese setting? Hannah Nation serves as the Managing Director of the Center for House Church Theology, an organization that publishes pastors and leaders in China’s urban house churches for the benefit of the global church. Hannah shares on this episode a bit about her story and how she became passionate about this work.

On Suffering and the Problem of Evil | Mark Talbot

On Suffering and the Problem of Evil | Mark Talbot

How is God at work in our stories and our suffering? How does human will relate to divine will? Dr. Mark Talbot, Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College, joins the podcast to share his story, including suffering a major, paralyzing accident as a young man and going on to study philosophy as a Christian. Dr. Talbot also discusses his book When the Stars Disappear, the first in a four-book series on suffering and the Christian life.

Hope and Lament | Steven Sandage

Hope and Lament | Steven Sandage

On this episode we are joined by Steven Sandage, Professor of Psychology of Religion and Theology at the Boston University School of Theology. Dr. Sandage consulted with the CPT for a meeting of one of our ecclesial theologian fellowships on virtue formation and hope. In this conversation we discuss the relationship between hope, lament, and pastoral ministry.

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Neil Martin

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Neil Martin

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.

What's the Deal with Bavinck?

What's the Deal with Bavinck?

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.

The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches

The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches

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.

Marketing, Branding, and the Church | Emily Hill

Marketing, Branding, and the Church | Emily Hill

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?

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Andrew Ray Williams

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Andrew Ray Williams

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.