Pastor, author, and noted podcast co-host J. T. English has been named associate professor of Christian Theology at Southern Seminary.
An alumnus of SBTS, English currently serves as lead pastor of Storyline Church in Arvada, Colorado, a role he will continue while teaching at the seminary. English formerly served as chief of staff to seminary President Albert Mohler.
English possesses a significant background in theological education in service of the local church, having previously served as an adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and as founder of the Village Church Institute, which offers discipleship and theological training through the local church.
“J. T. English combines a deep theological scholarship with a very keen understanding of the culture and contemporary challenges of ministry,” Mohler said. “He is a leader in shaping thought and in influencing pastors in his generation.
“J. T. is a proud son of Southern Seminary, and we are very proud to welcome him to the Southern Seminary faculty. It was my honor to work with J. T. when he served as chief of staff in my office, and it will be a joy to be teaching colleagues together.”
English is thrilled to join the work of SBTS in equipping the next generation of graduates to love and serve local churches.
“I’ve given my life to being a pastor-theologian in the context of the local church,” English said. “Now I hope to be part of raising up the next generation of faithful pastor-theologians, missionaries, and ministers at Southern.”
Because of its emphasis on the wedding of academics to practical church ministry, English says Southern is the ideal institution for students to train for faithful ministry.
“I believe that SBTS is the premier place to be trained for faithful ministry and I am excited to be part of what God is doing there. I look forward to being in the classroom, while continuing my pastoral responsibilities at Storyline.”
English earned his PhD from SBTS in 2015 and is the author of Deep Discipleship: How the Local Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Jesus (B&H, 2020). He is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and is also co-host of the widely known Knowing Faith, a podcast exploring the Christian story and Christian belief.
Hershael York, dean of the School of Theology at SBTS, says English brings profound skills as a communicator to the classroom, and he believes students will benefit from the addition of English’s mind and heart to the faculty.
“Thousands of people have already been touched by the faithful preaching and teaching of J. T. English, and now a new generation of pastors, missionaries, theologians and teachers will be even more deeply shaped by his vibrant ministry,” York said. “He combines a theologian’s mind and a pastor’s heart with an incredible ability to communicate biblical truth.”