The Gospel Coalition (TGC) is an evangelical Christian organization that seeks to promote and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was founded in 2007 by prominent evangelical leaders such as Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, and Don Carson. The coalition’s founding documents outline several key convictions that guide its work:
- The primacy of the gospel – The gospel of Jesus Christ is central to Christianity and should be the focal point of all ministry efforts.
- A commitment to Reformed theology – TGC embraces Reformed theology and its emphasis on the sovereignty of God.
- Cultural engagement – Christians should thoughtfully engage culture and contribute to the common good.
- Complementarianism – TGC believes that men and women are created equal before God but have different roles and responsibilities.
The Gospel Coalition seeks to advance its vision through several key initiatives:
- National Conferences – TGC hosts conferences across the United States aimed at pastors, church leaders, and laypeople.
- Regional Events – In addition to national conferences, TGC coordinates regional events led by the coalition’s speakers and leaders.
- Website and Blog – The coalition maintains a website (thegospelcoalition.org) featuring articles, blogs, podcasts, and other digital media.
- Publishing – TGC has an in-house publishing imprint through Crossway. TGC authors produce books on theology and Christian living.
- International Outreach – The Gospel Coalition has established international affiliates in countries like Canada, Australia, South Africa, Poland, and Spain to promote its vision globally.
The Gospel Coalition sees itself as a fellowship and resource network for evangelical congregations and ministries. Its founding documents state that it is not meant to be a formal organization or denomination. TGC connects leaders, provides resources, and promotes cooperation around its theological convictions and ministry priorities.
The Gospel Coalition has drawn both praise and criticism since its founding. Supporters believe TGC is effectively contending for the gospel of Jesus Christ in the 21st century. Critics argue that TGC promotes a narrow theological agenda and minimizes denominational differences. Some also take issue with TGC’s complementarian view of gender roles. Despite these criticisms, TGC continues to grow in influence across evangelicalism.
The Gospel Coalition is led by a council of 60 evangelical leaders from various denominations and backgrounds. Notable TGC council members include:
- Tim Keller – Redeemer Presbyterian Church pastor and author
- D.A. Carson – Research professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Kevin DeYoung – Senior pastor at University Reformed Church
- Mark Dever – Senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church
- Ligon Duncan – Chancellor/CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary
- Russell Moore – Public theologian and author
- John Piper – Founder of DesiringGod.org
- David Platt – Pastor at McLean Bible Church
In contrast to parachurch ministries like Campus Crusade or Navigators that focus on evangelism and discipleship, The Gospel Coalition primarily targets pastors and church leaders. It aims to exert influence through thought leadership, providing resources, and networking opportunities. Some have characterized TGC as a neo-Calvinist or Reformed evangelical movement, although TGC fellowships with those outside of Reformed theology.
Here are several key theological beliefs and ministry priorities of The Gospel Coalition:
The Gospel
The gospel Coalition emphasizes the gospel or “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ as found in the Bible. The gospel is the announcement that Jesus Christ is Lord and has made a way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to God through his sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.
TGC believes this gospel is revealed in the Bible and needs to be communicated to all people. The gospel transforms lives spiritually, but also brings renewal to people’s ethical, social, and cultural lives. The gospel should impact all of one’s life and thinking. According to TGC’s foundation documents, “A gospel-centered ministry does not just preach the gospel but also shows its implications for life.”
Reformed Theology
The Gospel Coalition embraces Reformed theology, although it fellowships with those from other theological traditions. Reformed theology emphasizes the sovereignty and glory of God, the authority of the Bible, the depravity of mankind, and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Key Reformed doctrines include the five solas of the Protestant Reformation (faith alone, Christ alone, grace alone, Scripture alone, and glory to God alone) and the sovereignty of God in salvation through election and predestination. TGC sees Reformed theology as central to its convictions about the gospel and Christian living.
Complementarianism
TGC adheres to a complementarian view of gender roles based on their understanding of biblical teachings. Complementarians believe that men and women have distinct yet complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and church leadership.
According to TGC, the Bible assigns headship and teaching authority over the church to qualified men. Women have equally important but different roles focused on supporting ministry led by men. While men and women have equal worth before God, he has given them different roles and functions.
This complementarian perspective shapes TGC’s approach to ministry. Preaching, teaching, and leadership is largely male-dominated in TGC circles. Many criticize TGC’s complementarian theology as restrictive toward women.
Cultural Engagement
The Gospel Coalition encourages thoughtful engagement with culture and contribution to the common good. TGC rejects the extremes of full capitulation to or withdrawal from secular culture. It instead promotes faithful presence that avoids compromise while positively contributing to culture.
TGC equips Christians to engage culture through vocations like business, politics, academia, arts, and homemaking. Christians should bring gospel values into their work and fields of influence. TGC also promotes developing a Christian worldview informed by the Bible.
The Gospel Coalition stresses the importance of unity among Bible-believing Christians. Doctrinal differences between denominations like Baptists and Presbyterians should not fracture gospel partnerships. TGC advances cooperation around shared commitments for the sake of gospel witness.
Church Ministry
When it comes to church ministry, TGC emphasizes:
- Expositional Preaching – Preaching that explains the meaning of biblical texts, not just moral lessons or personal anecdotes.
- Gospel-Centered Discipleship – Helping Christians connect gospel doctrine with daily obedience and Christlike maturity.
- Pastor Training – Identifying and equipping the next generation of pastors and church leaders.
- Thought Leadership – Influencing evangelical beliefs and priorities through publications, conferences, blogs, social media etc.
- Church Planting – Planting new churches is crucial for spreading the gospel. TGC advocates church planting strategically.
The Gospel Coalition provides many resources aimed at assisting pastors and local churches. These include published material on theology and ministry, regular conferences/events, fellowships, church planting initiatives, and online media platforms.
In summary, The Gospel Coalition is an evangelical fellowship seeking to proclaim Christ and reform the church around Reformed theology, complementarianism, and cultural engagement. It connects leaders, produces resources, and promotes cooperation around its vision. TGC has grown in influence but also has critics of its theological narrowness and complementarianism.
The Gospel Coalition network is largely Reformed but open to fellowship with non-Reformed evangelicals aligned with its convictions. It focuses mainly on resourcing pastors, leaders, and churches, rather than specialized ministries. TGC has become a prominent voice reinforcing Reformed theology and practice in 21st century evangelicalism.
