Gospel Depth is a nonprofit ministry that has come into existence to house and support Vic Gordon in his calling from God for this next stage in his life to serve as “a theologian for the Church”. Vic, after graduating from Stanford University in 1973 and receiving an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1975, earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Theology in 1979 (with Dr. George Eldon Ladd as his mentor). A highlight in his pastoral and theological development was spending three months in London in 1982 studying with John Stott. Vic was ordained in the ABC in 1975, and has served as a Pastor for over 40 years (he began his first full-time pastoral position on April 1, 1973 as a Youth Pastor), oftentimes serving simultaneously as a Professor of Theology and/or Biblical Studies. He always saw being a resident theologian for his congregation as a necessary and vital part of his pastoral ministry. Out of this depth of experience, he has sensed Godʼs strong call to invest his full time and full energy in the vocation of being a theologian for the broader Church.
Vicʼs calling is based on a number of things beyond the experience of his long pastoral career. A major force driving Vic is the great need of the contemporary Church for greater theological awareness, understanding and depth. Both John Stott and J.I.Packer, major leaders of the late 20th and early 21st century Church, have been quoted as saying:
The American Church is a mile wide and an inch deep.
Few with any knowledge of the overall picture of the Church in the U.S. will argue with this observation. It is also widely agreed that the biggest need of the global Christian movement is theological development of leaders. Thus, Vic wants to focus his time and energy on this strategic need of Christʼs movement in the U.S. and globally as God leads.
In addition, Vic has discovered in his long experience as a pastor and teacher that both his greatest strength and his greatest joy in ministry is serving God and His Kingdom as a theologian. In short, he has learned that discerning, articulating and implementing Godʼs truth for His Church is his sweet spot and his passion. It seems obvious this is the direction the Lord is now leading Vic. Many friends and colleagues in ministry have affirmed him in this direction. To be sure of this calling he and Sue took a six month sabbatical to listen carefully to God for His guidance, being especially open to other directions He might call them in. Christ has confirmed to them that Gospel Depth is His vocation for them at this point in their lives. This has remained obvious in the past several months as they have proceeded with the launching of Gospel Depth.