Monday afternoon in Minneapolis I led a seminar at DG’s 2013 conference for pastors. My topic: The Pastor and His Reading: Why You Are the Key to Building a Church That Loves Books.
This seminar provided me the opportunity to review a basic theology of literacy (as I understand it), and to press a little deeper into the message of Lit! in three new areas.
First, I was able to press a little deeper into why I think literary pleasure is connected to Christ’s glory. There’s still much more work that needs to be done here, but I hope to have advanced the conversation by suggesting the revelation of Christ in the gospel brings with it a reorientation of all our affections around his truth, goodness, and beauty. Which means the glory of Christ brings with it a recalibration of the literary palate.
Second, I was able to look more closely at why and how Bible-centered pastors already inherently provide counter-cultural models of literacy for the men and women in their own churches. That’s not something I’ve pointed out very well in the past but hoped to accomplish in this seminar (with the goal of encouraging these faithful pastors).
Third, I was able to press deeper, think harder, and expand my list of practical suggestions for pastors to a list of 14. So many other things can be done to encourage literacy in our local churches. You’ll find this expanded list in the final pages of my notes.
I was honored to lead the session, enjoyed the questions and answer time, and came away deeply grateful for all the friends who attended. Anyone interested can download the seminar manuscript here (PDF).
Tony Reinke 
Great; really great. Enjoyable reading. This will go in my “reading” file, to be pulled out and re-read often. Thanks!
What about audio? Was it recorded?
Would that pastors would follow C.S. Lewis’ advice on reading : to never allow yourself another new book until you have read an old one; if you do not have time for both, read the old.
[…] The pastor and his reading Reading guru Tony Reinke has a link in this article to the address he gave at the Desiring God National Conference. He lists 14 ways a pastor can build a reading church. […]
This was very helpful Tony. I read a lot of Christian non-fiction and theology. Do you have some top secular books you would recommend a pastor to read?