Report from the "Christian Maturity" Workshop at Westmont College (May 2024)

"A Crisis Among Us: The Problem of Christian Immaturity"

"A Crisis Among Us: The Problem of Christian Immaturity"

The Martin Institute at Westmont College hosted a Christian Formation Workshop May 16-18, 2024, entitled “A Crisis Among Us: The Problem of Christian Immaturity.” About 150 scholars, pastors, and other Christians leaders gathered to study Christian formation and maturity from a variety of disciplines and perspectives including Scripture, theology, psychology, sociology, ethics, history, and philosophy. About a dozen scholars prepared major presentations with an academic respondent for each. There were also special times set aside for practical discussions. It was a thought-provoking and fruitful time, and I hope we will continue to build on the work we have done. I presume the papers will be published in some form, but that decision has not been finalized. My presentation was called: “To Be a Christian Grown-Up: Formation as Goal, Not Just a Practice” (with a focus on Paul’s use of telos language for Christian formation). Some of this material will be integrated into my forthcoming book tentatively titled Paul for the World (Brazos, 2026).

Here’s the group. My favorite presentations were from Dr. Brent Slife (psychology), Dr. Kristen Johnson (theology), Dr. Rebecca DeYoung (philosophy), Dr. David Wang (psychology), Dr. Vince Bantu (black church studies), and Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh, and Dr. James K.A. Smith (theology). [A full list of invited participants is at the bottom of this post]

The response to my paper came from Rev. Dr. Jame Samra (DPhil, Oxford), who developed my work especially in the direction of OT models and figures. My good friend Holly Beers admirably served as chair.

I got the unexpected privilege of meeting and spending time with one of my pastoral heroes, John Ortberg. He was a gracious and wise presence at the workshop.

I am not part of the glasses club, but I am one of the beard bro! Pictured here is Dr. Sameer Yadav (theology, recently hired at Baylor) and Dr. Kurtley Knight (spiritual formation, Portland Seminary). As a non-white scholar, I often feel like a misfit at academic meetings, so spending time with these gentlemen was precious!

It was great to hang out with Dr. Caleb Maskell “in the flesh”! Caleb is Associate National Director of Theology and Education for Vineyard USA, and I got to hear the amazing things that are happening in the Vineyard Church. Notice, above his shoulder it says “First Class”—Caleb, you ARE first class.

If you’re gonna have a 3-day workshop, there are worse places than this.

And to cap it all off, I bumped into this guy at the airport on the way home: Sam Richardson, comedian and actor known for his roles in The Afterparty and Ted Lasso. Nice guy, great actor, very humble and down to earth, just what you hope.

The full list of invited participants included the following:

ACADEMIC PARTICIPANTS:

• Nijay Gupta - New Testament, Northern Seminary

• James Samra - New Testament, Calvary Church

• Holly Beers - New Testament, Westmont College

• Dan Speak - Philosophy, Loyola Marymount University

• Charity Anderson - Philosophy, Baylor University

• David Vander Laan - Philosophy, Westmont College

• Dave Wang - Psychology, Fuller School of Psychology

• Tyler Greenway - Psychology, Calvin University

• Pete Hill - Psychology, Biola University

• Christian Miller - Philosophy, Wake Forest University

• Brandon Rickabaugh - Philosophy, Palm Beach Atlantic University

• Jason Baehr - Philosophy, Loyola Marymount University

• Vince Bantu - Black Church Studies, Fuller School of Theology

• Estrelda Alexander - Sociology, William Joseph Seymour

• Brandon Paradise - Law, Rutgers University

• Kristen Johnson - Theology, Western Theological Seminary

• Kyle Strobel - Theology, Biola University

• Trey Clark - Theology, Fuller School of Theology

• Bruce Hindmarsh - Spiritual Theology, Regent College

• Helen Rhee - Church History, Westmont College 

• Alister Chapman - History, Westmont College

• Lisa McMinn - Sociology, George Fox College

• D. Paul Sullins - Sociology, Catholic University of America

• Felicia Song - Sociology, Westmont College

• Brent Slife - Psychology, Brigham Young University

• Nicholas Gibson - Psychology, Independent Scholar

• Jeff Schloss - Biology, Westmont College

• Michael Austin - Philosophy, Eastern Kentucky University

• James K. A. Smith - Philosophy, Calvin University

• Gregg Ten Elshof - Philosophy, Biola University

• Rebecca DeYoung - Philosophy, Calvin University

• Steve Porter - Spiritual Formation, Westmont College

MINISTRY LEADERS:

Renovaré

• Miriam Dixon 

• Carolyn Arends 

• Siang Yang Tan 

• Kurtley Knight

Vantagepoint3

• Rob Loane

• Wesley Kouba 

Center for Christianity and Public Life

• Michael Wear

• Phebe Meyer 

Dallas Willard Ministries

• John Carroll

• Jan Johnson

• Keith Matthews

Leadership Transformations Inc.

• Rick Anderson

Christian Alliance for Orphans

•  Rachel Medefind 

From Platform to Table

• Sara Di Fuccia

PASTORAL FELLOWS:

• Steve Doerksen - White Rock Community Church (White Rock, B.C.)

• Matt Robbins-Ghormley - Trinity Presbyterian Church (Tacoma, WA)

• Daniel Kim - The Well Church (Yorba Linda, CA)

• Bryce Hales - Trinity Church (San Louis Obispo, CA)

• Ashley Hales - Trinity Church (San Louis Obispo, CA)

• Daniel Long - Grace Church of Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) 

• Caleb Maskell - Vineyard USA

• Rachel Palmbush - New Community (Menlo Park, CA)

• Dave Peterson - New Community (Menlo Park, CA)

• Marcus Robinson - Purpose Church (Pamona, CA)

• Bryan Shuler - Lifepoint Church (Delaware, OH)

• Jenny Warner - Valley Presbyterian Church (Portola Valley, CA)

WESTMONT COLLEGE/MARTIN INSTITUTE

• Gayle Beebe - Westmont College

• Eff Martin - Martin Institute Advisory Board Chair

• Patty Martin - Westmont Board of Trustees

• Gary Moon - Martin Institute

• Mariah Velasquez - Martin Institute

• Mike Di Fuccia - Martin Institute

• Beth Cook - Martin Institute

• Scott Lisea - Westmont College

• John Ortberg - Martin Institute Senior Fellow

• Phil Aronson - Friend of the Martin Institute

• Susan Aronson - Friend of the Martin Institute

• Joel Lawrence - Center for Pastor-Theologians

• Richard Bollinger - John Templeton Foundation 

• Joe Gorra - Fieldstead and Company