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Lee University’s School of Theology & Ministry (STM), in partnership with the Tennessee Church of God Executive Office, recently hosted the Ministers Resource Conference. 

With the theme “How to Minister in Today’s Cultural Context,” the conference taught ministry students and Church of God state ministers how to effectively conduct their ministry in a rapidly changing world. Leaders from Lee’s STM and the Church of God spoke at the conference. 

“Rarely does the academic world of theology and ministry engage practical issues that pastors face as was done at the Ministers Conference,” said Dr. Terry Cross, dean of the STM and distinguished professor of systematic theology. “It was historic in the sense that it was the first of its kind and, hopefully, will not be the last.” 

Sessions included “How to Read and Understand Today’s Culture for Ministry,” led by Cross and Dr. Kevin Nordby, assistant professor of religion, culture, and philosophy at Lee; “How to Preach in Today’s Culture,” led by Drew Eastes, lead pastor for the Church of God Worship & Ministry Center in Lebanon, Tennessee; “Fostering a Church that is Hospitable to the Cultural Outsider,” led by Dr. Julie Martinez, director of the Intercultural Studies Program at Lee; “Ministering Faithfully in an Age of Diminishing Christianity,” led by Dr. Mark Williams, lead pastor for North Cleveland Church of God; “How to Shepherd in Today’s Culture,” led by Dr. Wayne Dority, state administrative bishop of Tennessee; and “How to Care for Yourself in Ministry,” led by Dr. Steven Hall, associate professor of pastoral ministry at Lee. 

“The Resource Conference was an example of how the expertise of the academy and field need to work together rather than work apart,” said Hall. “As Lee President Dr. Mark Walker stated at the opening of the conference, the School of Theology & Ministry is dedicated to benefiting the local church directly and immediately.” 

According to Hall, with the recent $1.24 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish The Center for Excellence in Pentecostal Preaching at Lee, these kinds of events will become more common. 

“The Tennessee Church of God Executive Office was thrilled to partner with Lee University’s School of Theology & Ministry in pastoral and ministerial training!” said Bishop Scott Hager, youth and discipleship director for the Tennessee Church of God Executive Office. “This two-day training session was beneficial in understanding the climate that we, the church and the minister, are in and how we arrived in this place! It was a relevant, cutting edge, informational, and inspirational time collaborating!” 

Since its inception, the Church of God has become an international church with a membership approaching four million. With its international headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, the Church of God is a grassroots organization with an appeal to and a concern for the common people and their needs. 

The mission of Lee’s School of Theology & Ministry is to train future ministers for service in a complex world. The STM believes the growing issues of today’s world point toward a need for future ministers to be educated in a variety of topics and methods for best serving the advancement of the Kingdom of God, and it seeks to send graduates into the world who are capable of meeting the world’s needs. 

For more information about the Tennessee Church of God Executive Office, visit cogtn.org/. 

For more information about Lee’s School of Theology & Ministry, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/theology-ministry/ or call (423) 614-5080.