A lot of good thoughts here. Not sure I’ll address all your questions, but here goes…

I do think sermons can qualify as ecclesial theology. However, I’m not certain a sermon can (or even should) try to address all of the theological topics that exist within the larger rubric of ecclesial theology (church history, soteriology, philosophy, soteriology, ecclesiology, eschatology, etc.). So I think you have a fair point, but I wouldn’t want to limit ecclesial theology to what can be contained in a sermon. Frankly, I think there are some things that theologians need to discuss that the average lay person doesn’t need to be burdened with.

And I agree that publication can be a tricky business, particulary in the larger, more respected publishing houses. But those who have a gift for writing, a sense of calling, and are disciplined enough to stick with it generally find their way, even if in a journal, or a smaller publisher.

The irony of the SAET asking its fellows for an advanced degree is not lost on us. The board spent some time discussing this. In the end we concluded that an advanced degree is a helpful way for the SAET to vet those who have a gift and calling to write high level theology. Generally, the person who pursues a ThM or PhD enjoys reflection and writing. And we’re not anti-academy. I’m certain all of the SAET fellows would very much affirm the value of our time at University or in Seminary. But please do note that an advanced degree is not a firm requirement for membership in one of our Fellowships. It’s only one of four qualifications that reflect an “ideal” candidate. Probably only a third of our guys meet all four requirements. A few of our guys (self included) do not have advanced degrees, but instead have a demonstrated publishing record, thus showing a commitment to a writing ministry. So an advanced degree is not a wooden requirement.

And finally, I think you are probably right that my definition of the term “pastor-theologian” is too narrow. I’m thinking through that. Perhaps it’s better stated that the SAET is looking to support and advocate for a particular kind of pastor-theologian – the kind who has a heart to write ecclesial theology. I’m working on a follow-up post for my Taxonomy series that will address this.

Thanks again for your helpful feedback.

I think that most people would be surprised at how much of the published writing of many of the “writing pastors” has its origins in sermons. Lloyd-Jones has already been mentioned, and TONS of his writings were basically transcribed sermons; similarly with Stott. So much of R.C. Sproul’s stuff is the same, though it derived from his teaching ministry rather than a preaching ministry.

But the question of publication is an important one. The definition of “Pastor-Theologian” that you seem to be implying, Gerald, is that one must publish in order to be considered one. Why is that? Especially when the majority of today’s publishing industry is, by far, controlled by questions of profitability (on an economic basis), which begs the question of whether Kingdom-mindedness or the advancement of the Church EVER enters the equation. Should we let the secular accountants be the gatekeepers of whether someone qualifies as a “Pastor-Theologian”?

For example, I know at least three guys who have been trying to get their PhD dissertations published for nearly a decade. The trouble is, every publisher tells them that its not publishable– but not because the writing is inferior or the ideas unimportant. It’s because the subject is too narrow a niche, or the potential purchasing audience is too few. Now, I’ve read some of these dissertations, and believe the work to be quite valuable indeed– I wish it were published for the sake of the Church. Meanwhile, these guys have had a difficult time advancing their academic careers because colleges and seminaries tell them that without a published dissertation then they aren’t as appealing. Two of these men have settled into teaching high school.

The take-away is this: if the measure of good theological work is publication, then everyone who is serious about measuring up will move to the general, the safe, the acceptable. Only the elite few– the Carsons and Pipers, who have published so much and banked so much that any publisher will give them free reign– will have the capacity for new ideas, innovation, or niche topics.

I feel similarly about the SAET requirement for advanced degrees to be a “fellow”. The implication is that a pastor with an M.Div., who otherwise might be quite a potential “Pastor-Theologian”, is inherently disqualified by lack of academic degree. The irony is thick: you want to re-align the place of the academic in theological work, but only after those in the SAET have mined the academy for its value…?

Why not throw off the boundaries? Why not simply state, “THIS is the level of work that we all want to strive for– THIS is who and what we want to be” and let all who are able attain it with you?

“So it may be that he is a pastor-theologian, but not mentoring people into pastoral-theologians, just local-theologians- but good ones.”

I think this is exactly correct. And I think that’s what separates the SAET from 9 Marks and TBI and other organizattions and pastors who advocate for the pastor-theologian model. They’re after local-theologians, which is great. We’re just doing something a bit more focused on writing.

And yes, I do think there is a robust market for this sort of writing. At present, guys like you and I often have to choose between popular theology that is relevant to the life of the church but not always as robust as we need, and academic theology which is intellectually robust, but not always as relevant to the life of the church. Ecclesial theology marks a third way.

In truth, the SAET vision is for a narrow group of pastors. Not every pastor is called to pursue the sort of theological engagement being advocated by the SAET. But some should and do.

Does this mean that the true pastor-theologian must write for other pastors or to the academic community?

I guess it depends how one defines “pastor-theologian”. If we mean by pastor-theologian the sort of pastor every pastor should be, then certainly not.

But if we mean by pastor-theologian, that particular pastor who has a theological ministry to the wider church, than yes, I think so. Though I’m not sure I would see the academic community as the primary target. I would rather such pastor-theologians write to the theological center of gravity within the ecclesial community.