Welcome To The Spurgeon Fellowship Journal!

As an extension of the vision of Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, a fraternity of ministers was established in the Fall of 2006 for the expressed purpose of addressing the increasingly daunting expectations of the pastoral office. Out of esteem for the great Baptist preacher of the 19 th century, especially his distinguished commitment to pastors (and men preparing for pastoral ministry), this new “band of brothers” was named: The Spurgeon Fellowship.

During our first season (2006-2007) four meetings were convened. A steadily expanding number of men participated—pastors from diverse locations and various denominations. Now, as the second season (2007-2008) has commenced, our prayer is that this fellowship of pastors would continue moving forward in its efforts to contribute to the reformation and revival of local congregations.

Sensing a further opportunity to encourage pastors (albeit in a different format and encompassing a wider influence), it is our delight to now introduce you to The Spurgeon Fellowship Journal—an online publication designed to be more than just another source of heady information . . . rather, a tool to furnish pastors with the wisdom of classical pastoral theology for contemporary church ministry.

Each season the three issues we publish will focus broadly on the following three categories:

• Fall: The Pastoral Identity (Who are we?)
• Winter: The Pastoral Task (What do we do?)
• Spring: The Pastoral Confession (What do we believe?)

The evangelical church in the United States is floundering, in part due to the prevailing contours of pastoral ministry that have been uncritically borrowed from the latest fads in business or other secular practices. It is the aim of this journal to effect a renewal of pastoral ministry by setting forth a countercultural vision of this high calling—one that is God-exalting, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Scripturally-driven, and missionally-minded.

May the Lord of the Church use The Spurgeon Fellowship Journal to be a means of encouragement to faithful pastors who, under the constraint of the Spirit and by means of Christian love, seek to shepherd His people.