Christian Formation Workshop 2024
A Crisis Among Us: The Problem of Christian Immaturity
May 16-18, 2024
Global Leadership Center
Westmont College, Santa Barbara
Registration is now closed. If you have additional questions, please contact us at martininstitute@westmont.edu.
A Crisis Among Us
Are Christians failing to develop spiritually and morally in ways that are reasonable to expect given the claims of Christianity? Is there or has there been a widespread problem of Christian immaturity? To the degree that there is a problem, what are the best diagnoses of it and what might be done to help Christians mature? These and related questions are at the heart of the MARTIN INSTITUTE CHRISTIAN FORMATION WORKSHOP 2024.
The workshop will bring biblical scholars, theologians, historians, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and ministry leaders into conversation around three central questions:
- What degree of spiritual and moral maturity is expected of Christian persons and what is the value of such maturity?
- What evidence do we have of Christian maturity both historically and in contemporary contexts?
- What are the most plausible explanations for the absence of Christian maturity?
The workshop's goal is to seek consensus on these matters in order to consider actionable steps toward fostering greater spiritual and moral vitality among Christian individuals and groups. The workshop is organized by Steve Porter and Rebecca DeYoung.
Schedule & Invited Participants
8:30am – 10:00am Light Continental breakfast | Global Leadership Center (GLC) Keller Plaza
All participants
10:00am – 10:20am Steve L. Porter | Westmont College
Opening Comments
10:20am – 11:35am Nijay Gupta | Northern Seminary
The Expectation of Christian Maturity
- Commentator: James Samra – Calvary Church (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Chair: Holly Beers – Westmont College
11:45am - 1:00pm Lunch on-campus | Global Leadership Center (GLC) Keller Plaza
All participants
1:00pm – 2:15pm Dan Speak | Loyola Marymount University
The Value of Christian Maturity
- Commentator: Charity Anderson – Baylor University
- Chair: David Vander Laan – Westmont College
2:30pm – 3:45pm Dave Wang | Fuller School of Psychology
The Empirical Evidence of Christian Maturity/Immaturity
- Commentator: Tyler Greenway – Calvin University
- Chair: Pete Hill – Biola University
4:00pm – 5:15pm Christian Miller | Wake Forest University
Assessing the Evidence of Christian Maturity/Immaturity
- Commentator: Brandon Rickabaugh – Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Chair: Jason Baehr – Loyola Marymount University
5:45pm – 7:30pm Dinner on-campus | Magnolia Lawn
Invited participants only
Scroll to schedules for Friday and Saturday via tabs at the top of the schedule.
7:30am – 9:15am Breakfast available | Dining Commons on-campus
Included for invited participants; registered participants can purchase meal at entrance for $13.50
7:30am – 9:00am Breakfast available | Mar Monte Fireside Room
Invited hotel guests only
9:30am – 10:45am Vince Bantu | Fuller School of Theology
Racial/Ethnic Injustice and the Problem of Christian Immaturity
- Commentator: Estrelda Alexander – William Joseph Seymour Foundation
- Chair: Brandon Paradise – Rutgers University
11:00am – 12:15pm Kristen Johnson | Western Theological Seminary
Diagnosing the Problem of Christian Immaturity: A Theological Perspective
- Commentator: Kyle Strobel – Biola University
- Chair: Trey Clark – Fuller School of Theology
12:15pm – 1:45pm Lunch available | Dining Commons on-campus
Included for invited participants; registered participants can purchase meal at entrance for $16
2:00pm – 3:15pm Bruce Hindmarsh | Regent College
Diagnosing the Problem of Christian Immaturity: A Historical Perspective
- Commentator: Helen Rhee – Westmont College
- Chair: Alister Chapman – Westmont College
3:30pm – 4:45pm Lisa McMinn | George Fox University
Diagnosing the Problem of Christian Immaturity: A Sociological Perspective
- Commentator: D. Paul Sullins – Catholic University of America
- Chair: Felicia Song – Westmont College
5:00pm Shuttles leave from GLC at Westmont for Cold Spring Tavern
6:00pm - 8:00pm Dinner at Cold Spring Tavern (please take shuttles)
Invited participants only
8:00pm - 8:30pm Shuttles return to hotel and Westmont GLC
Scroll to schedules for Thursday and Saturday via tabs at the top of the schedule.
7:00am – 8:00am Hot Continental breakfast | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
All participants
8:00am – 9:15am Brent Slife | Brigham Young University
Diagnosing the Problem of Christian Immaturity: A Psychological Perspective
- Commentator: Nicholas Gibson – independent scholar
- Chair: Jeff Schloss – Westmont College
9:20am – 10:35am Michael Austin | Eastern Kentucky University
Diagnosing the Problem of Christian Immaturity: A Philosophical Perspective
- Commentator: James K. A. Smith – Calvin University
- Chair: Gregg Ten Elshof – Biola University
10:45am – 11:15am Rebecca DeYoung | Calvin University
Closing Comments
*This concludes the workshop portion of our gathering. Pastoral Fellows and representatives of partner organizations continue with the Ministry Leaders Colloquium.
Ministry Leaders Colloquium (Invited Ministry Leaders Only)
Addressing the Problem of Christian Immaturity in Ministry Contexts
- Facilitators: Gary Moon and Mimi Dixon
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch | President's Patio, Kerrwood Hall
1:00pm – 5:30pm Colloquium | Hieronymus Lounge, Kerrwood Hall
5:45pm – 7:00pm Dinner | President's Patio, Kerrwood Hall
Sunday
7:00am-9:00am Breakfast | Dining Commons
Scroll to schedules for Thursday and Friday via tabs at the top of the schedule.
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
This is a limited list of hotels in the Santa Barbara area. Inquire regarding possible discounts for Westmont. The list does not include all of the hotels in the Santa Barbara area. Prices as of Summer 2021 and are subject to change.
| Name | Address | Phone |
| Bath Street Inn (B&B) | 1720 Bath St, Santa Barbara | (805) 682 - 9680 |
| Beach Bunny Cottage | 310 W Yanonali St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | (805) 968-1905 |
| Best Western Beachside Inn | 336 W. Cabrillo, Santa Barbara | (805) 965 - 6556 |
| Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn | 4558 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria | (805) 684 - 0473 |
| Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn | 3850 State St, Santa Barbara | (805) 687 - 5511 |
| Brisas Del Mar, Inn at the Beach | 223 Castillo St, Santa Barbara | (805) 966 - 2219 |
| Casa Del Mar (B&B) | 18 Bath St, Santa Barbara | (805) 963 - 4418 |
| Cheshire Cat Inn | 36 W. Valerio, Santa Barbara | (805) 569 - 1610 |
| Hotel Santa Barbara | 533 State St, Santa Barbara | (805) 957 - 9300 |
| Inn By the Harbor | 433 W Montecito St, Santa Barbara | (805) 963 - 7851 |
| Inn on Summer Hill | 2520 Lillie Ave, Summerland | (805) 969 - 9998 |
| Lavender Inn By the Sea | 206 Castillo St, Santa Barbara | (805) 963 - 4317 |
| Montecito Inn | 1295 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara | (805) 969 - 7854 |
| Pacifica Suites | 5490 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara | (805) 683 - 6722 |
| The Upham Hotel | 1404 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara | (805) 962 - 0058 |
| Villa Rosa Inn | 15 Chapala St, Santa Barbara | (805) 966 - 0851 |
CAMPUS MAP
An interactive map is located here.
CAMPUS ENTRY
Entry kiosks are located at each of Westmont's two campus entrances. If the gate is down, a staff member will greet you and assist you with entering campus for the conference.
PARKING
Reserved lots will be indicated. For special parking needs, contact (805) 565-6050 for assistance.
FROM NORTH
Directions to campus: Take 101 South to the Coast Village Road exit. Turn left onto Coast Village Road, and at the roundabout, turn right onto Hot Springs Road. At the stop sign, turn left onto Sycamore Canyon Road and continue for 1.25 miles. Turn right onto Cold Spring Road (you will see the fire station on your left), and continue half a mile to Westmont's Main Entrance.
FROM SOUTH
Directions to Campus: Take 101 North to the Olive Mill exit, and turn right on Olive Mill Road. Take the first left onto Hot Springs Road. At the stop sign, turn right onto Sycamore Canyon Road and continue for 1.25 miles. Turn right onto Cold Spring Road (you will see the fire station on your left), and continue half a mile to Westmont's Main Entrance.