Here are the two major problems on the SAET radar:

1. The local church in North America is—in the main—theologically anemic.

2. Evangelical theological reflection is—given its location in the academy—often disconnected from ecclesial concerns.

Does anyone really dispute either of these? Evangelical theology is not about to run off the cliff of ecclesial irrelevance. Nor is the evangelical local church on its last theological breath. But I think most of us concerned about both would agree that the dough of evangelical theology could stand a little more ecclesial yeast, and that the local church would benefit from a more theologically substantive pastorate.

Solution? The pastor-as-ecclesial-theologian (i.e., a pastor who writes robust, ecclesially-sensitive theology). The ecclesial-theologian  simultaneously addresses both of the above problems by at once returning a strong theological presence to the pulpit of the local church, and by influencing broader evangelical theological reflection toward ecclesial concerns.

It is self-evident that a theologian in the pulpit will go a long way toward addressing the theological anemia of a local church. Further, it is clear that a theologian’s pastoral vocation will influence his theological writing toward ecclesial concerns, thus returning a distinctly ecclesial voice to evangelical theology. Thus the pastor-as-ecclesial-theologian kills two birds with one stone.

Without a significant body of respected ecclesial theologians, the pastoral office will continue to be seen as a largely non-theological vocation; the local church will remain theologically anemic. And without the ecclesial theologian, theological reflection will continue to remain—at some level—disconnected from ecclesial concerns.

And having made the above argument, one can go on to point out that the pastor-as-ecclesial-theologian model is more than just a good idea; it’s detailed for us in Scripture.

Thoughts?

-Fellowship Prospectus
-Fellowship Application

SAET Overview
The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology (SAET) is an organization dedicated to assisting pastor-theologians in producing biblical and theological scholarship for the renewal of the local church.

Operating within the historic evangelical tradition, the SAET believes the contemporary bifurcation between the pastoral calling and theological formation has resulted in the loss of a distinctly ecclesial voice in orthodox theology. The SAET seeks to resurrect this voice. In an age that has rightly emphasized the relationship between social location and theological formation, our vision is to bring together a unique kind of pastor-theologian—not simply those particular pastors who desire to pursue a theologically informed parish ministry—but even more, pastors and priests who feel called to function as writing theologians to the broader ecclesial community.

Armed with the conviction that pastors can—indeed must—once again serve as the church’s most important theologians, it is the aim of the SAET to provide a context of theological engagement for those pastors who desire to make ongoing contributions to the wider theological/scholarly community for the renewal of orthodox theology, for the renewal of the church.

Fellowship Overview
Toward this end, the SAET hosts two Fellowships—each representing a small nucleus of pastor-theologians from nearly every major Protestant tradition: Lutheran, Pentecostal, Episcopal, Baptist, Messianic Jewish, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Free Church, and independent Bible church traditions.

The majority of our SAET Fellows are young pastors who have—or are completing—terminal degrees from some of the finest theological institutions in the world (Cambridge, Oxford), and all are committed to bringing the strengths of their respective traditions into conversation with the Great Tradition, with a view to being shaped by, and shaping, the theological reflection of the broader ecclesial theological community.

The Fellowship Symposia
Each Fellowship meets annually for a three-day working symposium (Sunday evening through Tuesday lunch) at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois, near Chicago, O’Hare. The Symposia bring together a diverse body of both pastor-theologians and ecclesially sensitive academic theologians, with a view to establishing collegial relationships and collaborating on theological projects relevant to the life of the church. Meals, lodging, and travel expenses (as needed) are covered by the SAET.

Fellowship Benefits
Fellowship benefits include:

• The opportunity for Fellows to have their work peer-reviewed by a diverse group of ecclesial and academic theologians.
• An all-expense paid, three-day theological symposium with noted academic and ecclesial theologians (includes lodging and meals, and travel as needed).
• A robust network of scholarly, ecclesially diverse relationships.
• Opportunities for publication.
• Additional interaction with other Fellows via quarterly conference calls.

Fellowship Responsibilities
The SAET Fellowship strives to balance the demands of parish ministry and the theological calling. Fellowship responsibilities include:

• Submission of one chapter length essay for review and critique every other year at a Fellowship Symposium.
• Reading and critiquing Fellowship papers prior to symposium.
• Regular attendance at an annual three-day Fellowship Symposium. The First Fellowship meets Columbus Day Weekend; the Second Fellowship meets the last weekend in May.
• Participating in quarterly conference calls as able.

Ideal Candidates
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for membership to one of our SAET Fellowships. The ideal candidate is:

• A vocational pastor who views the writing/publication of ecclesial theology as a significant ministry calling.
• Has a ThM or PhD.
• Has a demonstrated publishing record in ecclesial theology.
• Is a young(er) pastor who is in the early years of his pastoral and writing ministry.

Each Fellowship is limited to eight-teen Fellows. Applicants who do not fit the “ideal” description are nonetheless encouraged to apply if strength in one qualification offsets a deficiency in another. For instance, the applicant who does not have a ThM or PhD, but does have a demonstrated publishing record, is encouraged to apply.

To apply to one of our SAET Fellowships, please download a Fellowship application. For general inquiries, please contact Gerald Hiestand at ghiestand [at] saet-online.org.

The SAET however, is primarily concerned to further the pastor’s ability to serve as an ecclesial theologian to the broader theological community. We encourage writing not primarily because the pastor is lacking (or even his local church), but because orthodox theology is lacking. Orthodox theology itself is most fundamentally in need of the pastor-theologian.