{"id":74413,"date":"2018-10-18T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=74413"},"modified":"2026-09-23T05:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T09:12:34","slug":"ct-pastors-j-todd-billings-and-stephen-shaffer-the-loneliness-of-the-pastor-theologian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=74413","title":{"rendered":"(CT Pastors) J Todd Billings and Stephen Shaffer–The Loneliness of the Pastor-Theologian"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many congregations, the discipline of theology is simply not valued<\/strong>. Congregations may like having a \u201csmart pastor,\u201d but they are unsure how his or her interest makes a difference in the church\u2019s ministry. Theological study is often viewed with suspicion, a particular brand of nerdiness\u2014the Baptist minister is a Spurgeon fan, the Catholic priest roots for Aquinas, and the Reformed pastor wears Jonathan Edwards t-shirts. Theology is all well and good\u2014as long as it does not keep pastors from more important tasks.<\/p>\n

In fact, with so many people to care for, sermons to write, skills to master, who can justify the slow work of reading theology (let alone reflecting or writing theologically)? There is no room for the church father Athanasius when marriages are falling apart, people are on hospice, and membership is shrinking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no wonder that so many pastors who feel the tug of theological reflection abandon it after a few months or a few years in the pastorate. So how can those with a vision and sense a calling to do theological work keep this vision and calling alive as they serve the local church?<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a> (my emphasis).<\/p>\n

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(CT pastors) 'In many congregations, the discipline of theology is simply not valued. Congregations may like having a \u201csmart pastor,\u201d but they are unsure how his or her interest makes a difference in the church\u2019s ministry. Theological study is often viewed with suspicion, a\u2026<\/p>\n

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) September 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n