An Ecclesial Conservatism: An Overview

Christians can no longer view the Church as an afterthought or an addendum to the Christian life.

My apologies for the late delivery of this substack. I considered skipping this week since so much of my week has been consumed with music and theology. Finding a little time between meetings, teaching, and fellowship has been a bit complex, but I didn’t want to mess with the consistency of this endeavor. So, I am publishing my whole talk at the American Moment in Washington, D.C., delivered earlier this year. The banquet included Senatorial staff and representatives from various nationwide religious institutions like the Religious Broadcasting Network. The talk was not recorded, but I am placing here my entire talk on Ecclesial Conservatism to Perspectivalist supporters. It is over 3,500 words and offers a longer rationale for my case for a conservative theology rooted in the Church.

American Moment Banquet, 2023

Thank you so much for the invitation. It's a joy to be here, making new friends and re-acquainting myself with old ones. When I attended the National Conservative Conference in Miami this past year, I realized something unique was taking place. There was a renewed vision for American interest when our country has spent most of the last 50 years entangling itself in foreign affairs. Hearing people discussing real issues impacting the well-being of our country was refreshing. And then, hearing of organizations, such as the American Moment, energized me even further to consider the kinds of things that were talked about and to add my voice from the perspective of a clergyman to the conversation. And I do approach this evening's talk from a distinctly pastoral perspective.

My task is to offer an ecclesial vision that is conservative and whose conservatism is built on the ecclesial. First, I want to lay out the problem as I see it and then conclude with five theses that develop a response to the problem.