Christian Formation Workshop 2026
Practice Unto Virtue: The Role of Christian Practices in Virtue Formation
May 27-29, 2026
Westmont College, Santa Barbara
You may view last year's recorded sessions of our Christian Formation Workshop 2025 on our Conversatio webpage.
Practice Unto Virtue: The Role of Christian Practices in Virtue Formation
Christianity is an overall way of salvific life that has as its central aim the transformation of persons into the likeness of Christ. Christians have understood spiritual practices—such as prayer, fasting, and service—to be essential for life with Christ and for virtue formation (e.g., humility, patience, love). The question arises, what role do spiritual practices play in generating and strengthening Christlike virtues?
Although the Christian tradition insists that practices appropriate God’s transformational grace, there are different models of grace, its relation to nature, how practices appropriate grace, and how grace facilitates virtue development. In light of these models, this workshop gathers biblical, theological, philosophical, and psychological evidence to refine Christian understandings of the role of spiritual practices in virtue formation and considers implications for assessing the effectiveness of spiritual practices for virtue formation. Throughout, we are concerned to make practical applications to Christian life and ministry.
Practice Unto Virtue: The Role of Christian Practices in Virtue Formation
The annual Martin Institute Christian Formation Workshop brings together academics and ministry leaders for integrative learning and application leading to real-world impact. The overall goal of each workshop is to help establish knowledge of Christian formation to further spiritual maturity among Christians. This year’s workshop is co-organized by Steve Porter (Westmont College) and Rebecca DeYoung (Calvin University) with funding from the Science of Religious and Spiritual Exercises initiative of the Templeton World Charity Foundation.
7:15 am - 8:00 am Breakfast | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
8:00 am - 8:10 am Welcome | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
Introduction
8:10 am - 8:40 am Opening Comments: The Import of Our Topic and Developing a Community of Integrative Inquiry | Steve Porter | Co-workshop organizer | Westmont College
8:40 am - 8:50 am Visio Divina
Part One: Biblical Understandings of Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
8:50 am – 10:00 am Session 1: Jesus' Teaching Regarding Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
Chair: Holly Beers | Westmont College
Presenter: Jonathan Pennington | Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Commentator: Jeannine Brown | Bethel Seminary
10:00 am – 10:20 am Break | Coffee & Refreshments on GLC Patio
10:20 am - 10:30 am Ministry Spotlight | Rob Loane | VantagePoint3
10:30 am – 11:40 am Session 2: Pauline Understandings of Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
Chair: Lisa Igram | Biola University
Presenter: Joshua Jipp | Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Commentator: Nijay Gupta | Northern Seminary
11:40 am - 1:40 pm Lunch | Ministry Leader Focus Lunch (please find a seat at your designated table from 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm)
Part Two: Theoretical Models of Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
1:40 pm – 2:50 pm Session 3: Augustinian Models
Chair: William Mattison | University of Notre Dame
Presenter: Joseph Clair | George Fox University
Commentator: Kent Dunnington | Biola University
2:50 pm – 3:05 pm Break | Coffee & Refreshments on GLC Patio
3:05 pm - 3:15 pm Ministry Spotlight | Caleb Maskell | Vineyard USA
3:15 pm – 4:25 pm Session 4: Thomistic Models
Chair: Angela Knobel | University of Dallas
Presenter: Andrew Pinsent | Athenaeum of Ohio
Commentator: Adam Pelser | U.S. Air Force Academy
4:25 pm - 4:35 pm Testimony of Transformation | Daniel Kim | The Well OC
4:35 pm - 4:45 pm Benediction
5:00 pm Vans leave for Dinner-on-the-Town | Please make your way to your assigned restaurant from the GLC parking lot or the Van Kampen (VK) lot
5:30 pm - 6:45 pm Dinner-on-the-Town | Local restaurants have been assigned based on submitted survey responses and are designated in your folder
Advance to Thursday's program via tabs at the top of the schedule
7:15 am - 8:00 am Breakfast | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
8:00 am - 8:05 am Welcome | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
8:05 am - 8:15 am Testimony of Transformation | Helen Rhee | Westmont
8:15 am - 8:20 am Visio Divina
8:20 am – 9:40 am Session 5: Interpersonal-Contemplative Models
Chair: Douglas E. Christie | Loyola Marymount
Presenter: Bruce Hindmarsh | Regent College
Commentators: Helen Rhee | Westmont College and Trey Clark | Fuller Theological Seminary
9:40 am – 9:55 am Break | Group Photo | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
9:55 am – 11:05 am Session 6: Psychological Models
Chair: Carmel Saad | Westmont College
Presenter: Pamela King | Fuller Theological Seminary
Commentator: Charlotte VanOyen Witvliet | Belmont University
11:05 am – 12:15 pm Session 7: Philosophical Models
Chair: Robert Garcia | Baylor University
Presenter: Sabrina Little | Ohio State University
Commentator: Jason Baehr | Loyola Marymount
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch | Global Leadership Center (GLC)
Part Three: Measuring Christ-shaped, Spirit-Formed Virtue
1:30 pm – 2:40 pm Session 8: Insights from Empirical Research on Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
Chair: David Wang | Fuller Theological Seminary
Presenter: Brittany Tausen | Baylor University
Commentator: Jesse Fox | Stetson University
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm Break | Coffee & Refreshments on GLC Patio
3:00 pm – 4:10 pm Session 9: New Methods for Measuring Spiritual Practice and Virtue Formation
Chair: Justin Barrett | Blueprint 1543
Presenter: Miguel Farias | University of Coventry
Commentator: Elizabeth Hall | Biola University
4:10 pm - 4:20 pm Testimony of Transformation | Chuck Gschwend | Eden Project
Conclusion
4:20 pm - 4:50 pm Closing Comments: Solidarities, Differences, Emerging Questions, and Ministry Implications | Rebecca DeYoung | Co-workshop organizer | Calvin University
4:50 pm - 5:00 pm Benediction
5:10 pm Vans leave for Cold Spring Tavern
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dinner at Cold Spring Tavern (please take shuttles)
8:00 pm - 8:30 pm Shuttles return to hotel and Westmont GLC
*This concludes the workshop portion of our gathering. Pastoral Fellows and representatives of partner organizations continue with the Ministry Leaders Colloquium.
Invited ministry partners/leaders only
This applied portion of the workshop is for pastors and ministry leaders of partner organizations. If you wish to stay for the applied sessions, please contact the Martin Institute.
Part Four: Ministry Leaders Applied Session
7:30 am - 8:00 am Breakfast | Kerrwood Hall Patio
8:00 am – 10:30 am Ministry Application Session #1 | Hieronymus Lounge, Kerrwood Hall
10:30 am - 10:45 am Break | Kerrwood Hall Patio
10:45 am - 12:15 pm Ministry Application Session #2 | Hieronymus Lounge, Kerrwood Hall
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch | Kerrwood Hall Patio (optional)
Academic Participants:
- Holly Beers, Westmont College
- Lisa Igram, Biola University
- William Mattison, Notre Dame
- Angela Knobel, University of Dallas
- Douglas E. Christie, Loyola Marymount
- Carmel Saad, Westmont College
- Robert Garcia, Baylor University
- David Wang, Fuller Seminary
- Justin Barrett, Blueprint 1543
- Jonathan Pennington, SBTS
- Joshua Jipp, TEDS
- Joseph Clair, George Fox University
- Andrew Pinsent, Athenaeum of Ohio
- Bruce Hindmarsh, Regent College
- Pamela King, Fuller Seminary
- Sabrina Little, Ohio State University
- Brittany Tausen, Baylor University
- Miguel Farias, University of Coventry
- Jeannine Brown, Bethel Seminary
- Nijay Gupta, Northern Seminary
- Kent Dunnington, Biola University
- Adam Pelser, U.S. Air Force Academy
- Helen Rhee, Westmont College
- Charlotte VanOyen Witvliet, Belmont University
- Jason Baehr, Loyola Marymount
- Jesse Fox, Stetson University
- Elizabeth Hall, Biola University
- Jim Taylor, Westmont College
- Tom Crisp, Biola University
- Eileen McQuade, Westmont College
- Nathan King, Whitworth University
- Jeff Schloss, Westmont College
- Michael Brady, University of Glasgow
- Dan Speak, Loyola Marymount
- Doug Daugherty, Biola University
- Kyle Strobel, Biola University
- Aaron Sizer, Westmont College
- Gregg Ten Elshof, Biola University
- Jennifer Abe, Loyola Marymount
- Tim Steenbergh, Indiana Wesleyan
- Aaron Cobb, Wake Forest University
- Lynn Underwood, Case Western Reserve
Ministry Leaders/Partner Organizations:
Dallas Willard Ministries
Vineyard USA
The Eden Project
WellSpring
Renovaré
Vantagepoint3 Ministries
Center for Christianity and Public Life
Christian Alliance for Orphans
From Platform to Table
CRU
The Well Church OC (Fullerton, CA)
Practicing the Way
Global Network of RSHM Schools
Churches for the Sake of Others
CHORD
Yale Center for Faith and Culture
Christ Presbyterian Church
Science for the Church
Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality
Congar Institute for Ministry Development
Training the Church
The Apprentice Institute, Friends University
New Life Fellowship Church
Westmont College/Martin Institute
- President Gayle Beebe, Westmont College
- Eff and Patty Martin
- Gary W. Moon, Founding Director
- Steve Porter, Executive Director
- Mariah Velasquez, Associate Director
- Mike Di Fuccia, Director of Research
- Mark Nelson, Dallas Willard Research Center Director
- Beth Cook, Administrative Assistant
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.
Thank you to our workshop co-organizers and planning team:
Rebecca DeYoung, Steve Porter, Elizabeth Lewis Hall,
Jennifer Herdt, Jesse Fox and Miguel Farias
This workshop has been generously sponsored by:
Aronson Family Foundation, Stephen and Lauren Baker,
David and Shelly Goodnight, Grace Griffin, John Templeton
Foundation, Kingdomworks SDG Foundation, Eff and Patty
Martin, Paul and Joanne Poelstra, Bill and Joanie Tankersley,
Willard Family, Templeton World Charity Foundation,
and Clayton and Angi Tuffnell