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Pastor-Theologian Collective “Not Just Another Networking Event”

By May 30, 2023No Comments

For many pastors, it’s been “quite some time” since they’ve “had the opportunity to sit in a classroom with a gifted theologian and stretch their theological muscles,” says Jeremy Scott, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Verona, Wisconsin.

To address pastors’ need for theological teaching, Jeremy and another pastor founded the Pastor-Theologian Collective in 2022. This day of teaching and fellowship, Jeremy explains, invites “specialized theologians to challenge and deepen the theological wells of pastors and ministry leaders in Wisconsin and northern Illinois” and surrounding areas.

The Pastor-Theologian Collective meets three times a year. At previous gatherings, gifted theologians including Chris Brauns (author of Unpacking Forgiveness), Ed “Mickey” Klink (a pastor and former theology professor), and Jared Compton (an assistant professor of New Testament and Biblical theology) shared their knowledge and insight on topics such as forgiveness, the book of John, and Biblical theology from the book of Hebrews.

Most recently, on May 9 at Memorial Baptist Church, Douglas Sean O’Donnell (senior vice president of Bible editorial at Crossway) presented a seminar on best practices for preaching from the book of Job.

“I realize that I’m no Job and that you’re no Job,” Douglas says. “But I also realize that the substance of Job’s strength should be and can be ours.” Douglas discussed “the under-the-surface theological foundations that made [Job]—and can make us—hold up under duress.”

Greg Linscott, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Rochester, Minnesota, says Douglas’s teaching “was engaging, informative, and practical.”

“I was reminded that everyone grieves, and Job prepares us to navigate through times of suffering. I left with a greater confidence and motivation to share the message of Job with my own congregation.”

The Pastor-Theologian Collective is “not just another networking event, but something where as pastors we could come and be filled together,” one attendee says.

Another says, “As a guy who has been out of the academic classroom for many years, I find it so refreshing to sit in a classroom setting and learn new insights in Biblical thinking. It was worth every moment of my time.”