Vanguard University

So just an announcement that NATO, the inaugural RAF champion.

Huge pickup for Division II, Vanguard University in California.

The university is less than five miles from the beach.

Congrats to NATO.

Part of the Nicene Creed involves, I believe, in one holy Catholic apostolic...

And in the book, you tell a wonderful story about a prof, I think at Vanguard University, who would talk to his students and start by asking, what's wrong with the church? Yeah, he would say to

them, his name is Bill Doctrum, a wonderful guy, just retired recently.

And he would say, okay, what do you think is wrong with the church? And they, you know, get their list going.

[gentle music] Today's conversation came through a connection from my college years.

Lisa's husband, Chip, was one of my professors, and he made a lasting impact on both me and my husband during our time at Vanguard University.

When Lisa reached out and shared a little bit about her story, I immediately knew this was a conversation I wanted to have.

Lisa has walked through some incredibly difficult seasons, including her son Chandler's devastating bike accident, caring for aging parents, and facing her own cancer diagnosis.

Thank you, Zahra, for pointing out that knowing is the first step to resisting and that by resisting, we stand up not only for Afghan women's rights, but for women's rights everywhere.

Here at the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University, advancing the global status of women is our mission.

Listeners, if you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you check out our website.

at endinghumantrafficking.org. We have tons of in-depth show notes and other resources.

Yeah.

And so that church, um, it was on the campus of a school called Vanguard University now.

And so, I mean, I grew up with professors and their children in my Sunday school classes, so, like, I just knew th- like, this was the only Christian school that I knew existed.

And so I'm like, [laughs] "Well, I'm gonna go there because I need to be a pastor," and so that's where you go.

... of going from custodian to college professor.

Yeah, where were you teaching? In Cal- yeah, where, what were you-

At Vanguard University.

Okay.

And I mean, I'm not in the church right now.

I'm going to Bible college, but I'm getting my degree at Vanguard University in psychology.

And what does God do? He sets me up with these amazing teachers.

This one man, Dr. Grieve, he had 20 years experience pastoring, 20 years experience counseling, who took me under his wing and helped me to understand what happened, what God's call was.

[gentle music] Welcome to The Contemplative Pastor.

In today's conversation, I sit down with Bill Docterum, an emeritus professor at Vanguard University, spiritual director, a pastor of pastors who has walked alongside ministry leaders across Southern California and the United States for decades.

We explore the weariness that so many pastors carry, the difference between the gospel of sin forgiveness and the fuller gospel of the Kingdom of God, and the practices that make Jesus' yoke actually easy and his burden light.

So as we enter this time, I take a moment to slow down and make room, to breathe, to settle, to notice God's presence here with me.

Spirit of God, gather my attention and quiet my hurry.

May this conversation become a place of encounter where my heart is awakened, my mind renewed, and my life gently formed in the way of Jesus.

You will be known to many people listening, but also new to some, and you are a, uh, emeritus professor at Vanguard University as of this last month.

You are a pastor of pastors, a spiritual director.