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Pilgrim: A Theological Memoir
Follow the faith journey of Tony Campolo, one of the most unique and influential figures in modern evangelical Christianity
Millions of Christians know Tony Campolo as a popular speaker, bestselling author, parachurch leader, pastor, and counselor to a US president. But few know his personal faith journey—how throughout his life, existential encounters and unexplored ideas compelled him to continually reexamine and reform his theology.
As a child, Campolo saw how his parents and the various churches he attended embraced different approaches to faith. Growing up, he wrestled with questions about racism, worldliness, and faith and science. He would go on to write and speak about war and peace, feminism, capitalism, religion and politics, nationalism, homosexuality, and the religious right. A Theological Memoir traces the evolution of Campolo’s theology as he matured as a believer, scholar, and evangelical leader who continually sought to engage thoughtfully with the sociocultural challenges of his time and encourage fellow believers to do the same.
Millions of Christians know Tony Campolo as a popular speaker, bestselling author, parachurch leader, pastor, and counselor to a US president. But few know his personal faith journey—how throughout his life, existential encounters and unexplored ideas compelled him to continually reexamine and reform his theology.
As a child, Campolo saw how his parents and the various churches he attended embraced different approaches to faith. Growing up, he wrestled with questions about racism, worldliness, and faith and science. He would go on to write and speak about war and peace, feminism, capitalism, religion and politics, nationalism, homosexuality, and the religious right. A Theological Memoir traces the evolution of Campolo’s theology as he matured as a believer, scholar, and evangelical leader who continually sought to engage thoughtfully with the sociocultural challenges of his time and encourage fellow believers to do the same.
- GenresMemoir
276 pages, Hardcover
Published February 25, 2025
3 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Tony Campolo
130 books80 followersAnthony Campolo was an American sociologist, Baptist pastor, author, public speaker, and spiritual advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton. Campolo was known as one of the most influential leaders in the evangelical left and was a major proponent of progressive thought and reform within the evangelical community. He also became a leader of the Red-Letter Christian movement, which aims to put emphasis on the teachings of Jesus. Campolo was a popular commentator on religious, political, and social issues, and had been a guest on programs such as The Colbert Report, The Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect and The Hour.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 12, 2025
Tony Camplo is one of the best-known evangelical figures of the last half-century. While I've known about him and heard friends celebrate him, I've never heard him speak or read any of his books, at least that I can remember. Perhaps that's because my youth ministry days were brief, and I didn't attend the conferences where he frequented. Nonetheless, he was a major figure in Christian circles. While always an evangelical, he was considered more liberal than many evangelicals. I offer this preface to my review of Campolo's recently posthumously published memoir "Pilgrim."
Campolo's day job was a professorship in sociology at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. This American Baptist-affiliated university not only served as Campolo's place of work it was also his alma mater. Thus, his entire adult life as a student and career was centered in that space. Campolo recently passed away (November 19, 2024) at the age of 89. While he centered his life at Eastern, he spent a lot of it on the road, speaking to churches and conventions large and small. He focused much of his attention on youth and young adults, especially college students, which explains why I did not intersect with him. This book, the first that I have read by him, was co-written by Steve Rabey, who interviewed Campolo and then provided the written text for Campolo, who had suffered a stroke several years earlier.
Campolo speaks of this book as a theological memoir. This is a good description of a book that speaks to Campolo's life of faith and the theology that developed over the course of time. He divides the book into five parts. Part 1 is titled "When I Was A Child." In the seven chapters in this section, he shares the story of his youth, especially his coming of age in fundamentalist Baptist circles. He had devout parents who made sure he attended church, but he found another spiritual home in a fundamentalist bible study group called the Bible Buzzards. They devoured the Bible. Nevertheless, the extroverted Campolo made lots of friends growing up, some of whom were Jewish, which led to questions about their salvation. We learn that he desired to be an astronomer, something that ran counter to his fundamentalist context, which saw science as the enemy. His lack of skill in math ended that dream but not his openness to science. Finally, there was the moment when the church he grew up in rejected the membership of an African American woman, which led to a crisis of faith. While still a fundamentalist at that point, he was struggling to become something else.
Part 2 is titled "One Who Correctly Handles the Word of Truth." The five chapters in this section take us off to college and seminary and a life of ministry. Here, we read how he sought to discover his calling, believing that he should either be a minister or a missionary. He would spend time as a pastor of several churches, Presbyterian and Baptist. These were the years he got married to Peggy, his lifelong partner with whom he at times had major disagreements --- she was far ahead of him on LGBTQ inclusion. Once again, he encountered the racism often found in churches. As with the church of his youth, one of the churches he served also rejected membership applications, this time from an African American couple. As was true of the pastor of the church of his youth, their decision to reject the membership of the couple led him to resign.
The decision to leave the pastorate led to a moment of transition for him. Thus, in Part Three, titled "Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness." He began to pursue a new career pathway. He was hired at Eastern College to teach sociology, a course of study that he had begun as a seminarian, taking sociology classes at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, which were near the seminary. He would eventually earn his PhD in sociology at Temple University. He would also spend several years teaching sociology at the University of Pennsylvania as well as at Eastern. During this time, he began to discern his beliefs about war and peace, sexuality, and abortion. It was during this period as well that he began his speaking ministry.
Part Four is titled "Public Theologian." He begins here with an account of his run for Congress as a Democrat in 1976, the year of the Evangelical (Jimmy Carter won that year). He lost but learned a lot about the political world. Thus, it opened up new venues as a speaker. As he did so, he continued to develop his theology, always on the run. He raised questions about capitalism and began to make a name for himself, with some accusing him of being a heretic. That led to a heresy trial, though he was "acquitted." He might be radical, but he was still orthodox. This is also the era in which he served as Bill Clinton's spiritual advisor, including the aftermath of Clinton's "affair." We also learn here about the painful disclosure on the part of his son Bart, who had his ministry, that he was no longer a believer. This proved to be a difficult moment as Campolo struggled with his own identity. He would come to terms with his son's decision, but it was difficult. Then, there is a chapter on the founding of the Red Letter Christians movement, which was led by Campolo and several of his former students.
Finally, we come to Part Five, titled "The End of the Road." Campolo's identity was wrapped up in his teaching, writing, and, perhaps most of all, his speaking career. He had grown used to speaking to large crowds, but then a stroke hit, and that world came to an end. While he could still speak, he was no longer able to travel. This was a difficult time, as anyone who has lived an active life can imagine. Yet, as he shares in the final chapter, "Sundays at Beaumont," he found a new ministry, leading worship and preaching/teaching a group of seniors at the nursing home where he lived his final years. Like everyone else in the room, he was wheeled in. Yet, he discovered a new audience and a new ministry.
I expect different people will have different experiences with the book. My friends who attended his lectures and speeches at Youth Specialities conventions and read his books will have their own experience getting to know Campolo more deeply than before. Others, like me, may know of him and maybe even read an article in "Christianity Today" but never really interacted with him and will take something different from the book. Ultimately, this is the story of a man who influenced thousands but had his own struggles with his faith. I found it interesting that he saw himself in many ways as an evangelist, inviting people to come to Jesus. He shares that over time, he came forward on many an occasion to recommit. He never left evangelicalism, but it's clear that much of evangelicalism left him.
Campolo's day job was a professorship in sociology at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. This American Baptist-affiliated university not only served as Campolo's place of work it was also his alma mater. Thus, his entire adult life as a student and career was centered in that space. Campolo recently passed away (November 19, 2024) at the age of 89. While he centered his life at Eastern, he spent a lot of it on the road, speaking to churches and conventions large and small. He focused much of his attention on youth and young adults, especially college students, which explains why I did not intersect with him. This book, the first that I have read by him, was co-written by Steve Rabey, who interviewed Campolo and then provided the written text for Campolo, who had suffered a stroke several years earlier.
Campolo speaks of this book as a theological memoir. This is a good description of a book that speaks to Campolo's life of faith and the theology that developed over the course of time. He divides the book into five parts. Part 1 is titled "When I Was A Child." In the seven chapters in this section, he shares the story of his youth, especially his coming of age in fundamentalist Baptist circles. He had devout parents who made sure he attended church, but he found another spiritual home in a fundamentalist bible study group called the Bible Buzzards. They devoured the Bible. Nevertheless, the extroverted Campolo made lots of friends growing up, some of whom were Jewish, which led to questions about their salvation. We learn that he desired to be an astronomer, something that ran counter to his fundamentalist context, which saw science as the enemy. His lack of skill in math ended that dream but not his openness to science. Finally, there was the moment when the church he grew up in rejected the membership of an African American woman, which led to a crisis of faith. While still a fundamentalist at that point, he was struggling to become something else.
Part 2 is titled "One Who Correctly Handles the Word of Truth." The five chapters in this section take us off to college and seminary and a life of ministry. Here, we read how he sought to discover his calling, believing that he should either be a minister or a missionary. He would spend time as a pastor of several churches, Presbyterian and Baptist. These were the years he got married to Peggy, his lifelong partner with whom he at times had major disagreements --- she was far ahead of him on LGBTQ inclusion. Once again, he encountered the racism often found in churches. As with the church of his youth, one of the churches he served also rejected membership applications, this time from an African American couple. As was true of the pastor of the church of his youth, their decision to reject the membership of the couple led him to resign.
The decision to leave the pastorate led to a moment of transition for him. Thus, in Part Three, titled "Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness." He began to pursue a new career pathway. He was hired at Eastern College to teach sociology, a course of study that he had begun as a seminarian, taking sociology classes at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, which were near the seminary. He would eventually earn his PhD in sociology at Temple University. He would also spend several years teaching sociology at the University of Pennsylvania as well as at Eastern. During this time, he began to discern his beliefs about war and peace, sexuality, and abortion. It was during this period as well that he began his speaking ministry.
Part Four is titled "Public Theologian." He begins here with an account of his run for Congress as a Democrat in 1976, the year of the Evangelical (Jimmy Carter won that year). He lost but learned a lot about the political world. Thus, it opened up new venues as a speaker. As he did so, he continued to develop his theology, always on the run. He raised questions about capitalism and began to make a name for himself, with some accusing him of being a heretic. That led to a heresy trial, though he was "acquitted." He might be radical, but he was still orthodox. This is also the era in which he served as Bill Clinton's spiritual advisor, including the aftermath of Clinton's "affair." We also learn here about the painful disclosure on the part of his son Bart, who had his ministry, that he was no longer a believer. This proved to be a difficult moment as Campolo struggled with his own identity. He would come to terms with his son's decision, but it was difficult. Then, there is a chapter on the founding of the Red Letter Christians movement, which was led by Campolo and several of his former students.
Finally, we come to Part Five, titled "The End of the Road." Campolo's identity was wrapped up in his teaching, writing, and, perhaps most of all, his speaking career. He had grown used to speaking to large crowds, but then a stroke hit, and that world came to an end. While he could still speak, he was no longer able to travel. This was a difficult time, as anyone who has lived an active life can imagine. Yet, as he shares in the final chapter, "Sundays at Beaumont," he found a new ministry, leading worship and preaching/teaching a group of seniors at the nursing home where he lived his final years. Like everyone else in the room, he was wheeled in. Yet, he discovered a new audience and a new ministry.
I expect different people will have different experiences with the book. My friends who attended his lectures and speeches at Youth Specialities conventions and read his books will have their own experience getting to know Campolo more deeply than before. Others, like me, may know of him and maybe even read an article in "Christianity Today" but never really interacted with him and will take something different from the book. Ultimately, this is the story of a man who influenced thousands but had his own struggles with his faith. I found it interesting that he saw himself in many ways as an evangelist, inviting people to come to Jesus. He shares that over time, he came forward on many an occasion to recommit. He never left evangelicalism, but it's clear that much of evangelicalism left him.
May 3, 2025
No words can adequately express the significance of Tony Campolo in my life. This book is amazingly eye opening about Tony's life, his history, his struggles, and his evolution from an energetic powerhouse to a preacher-still-preaching while in care. The changes in his views about important issues are inspirational. I am glad to own this audiobook so I can revisit this wonderful book by and about this most important person in my life.
September 21, 2025
Summary: A memoir of Tony Campolo, popular speaker. social activist, and college professor, tracing his theological development.
This is the second “theological memoir” I’ve read of late. In both cases, the authors have passed on by the time the books were published (in Tony Campolo’s case, he died November 19, 2024). The “pilgrim” in the title has finished his pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage traced in this book is indeed a theological pilgrimage from fundamentalist roots, growing up in New Berean Baptist Church and a youth group known as the Bible Buzzards. In addition to regular services, Tony attended weekly Bible studies and preached on street corners as a teen. The first challenge to his theology came from Jewish basketball teammates. He had to wrestle with whether they were going to hell. The next came when he worked for a devout astronomer, Edwin F. Bailey and he was forced to reconcile young earth views with a cosmos billions of years old.
It wasn’t until college at Eastern Baptist College that he learned to think theologically, connecting the bits and pieces of Bible learning into a more coherent whole. It was here that he came to understand the idea of the kingdom of God, and through H. Richard Niebuhr, the idea that God wanted to transform society, and not just individuals. Also, he wrestled with calling, eventually deciding to pursue pastoral ministry. During this time, he met and married Peggy, who would have a major influence on his thinking in many areas. Soon, he was the father of Lisa and Bart. That pastoral journey ended when he confronted racism in his church, resigning when the church refused to accept a Black student into membership.
That led him into the professoriate. Eastern hired him to teach sociology and afforded him opportunities for graduate studies in both theology and sociology, a kind of double vision that enlarged his prospective. Succeeding chapters explore how this helped him address the Sixties search for self, issues of sexuality and abortion, and war. All this led to the launch of the Campolo Center for Ministry, to equip Christian leaders for wholistic ministry.
This, then, resulted in an increasing ministry as a public theologian, including a failed run for Congress. He traces the growth of his speaking and writing ministries. It also led to the first challenge from fellow evangelicals over remarks that some construed to be universalist in character, culminating in a kind of heresy trial at a Chicago O’Hare airport hotel. He became even more suspect as a Clinton confidante, and as part of a pastoral team working with the President and First lady to heal the marriage.
The later part of the book traces further developments, some would say, away from an evangelical faith, which Campolo denied. In his own family, he talks of the pain of children who walked away from faith, and his pride in the integrity of their lives. He addresses the “Red Letter Christian” controversy. Finally, he devotes a chapter to his changing views on homosexuality. He describes the presentations he and his wife gave for many years where they differed, the pain within their marriage this caused, and the reasons that finally led him to joining his wife affirming gay marriage.
The concluding portion of the book discusses his retirement years, following a major stroke. He describes his ministry with other seniors and finishes by summing up his life:
“My earthly pilgrimage has been an amazing journey, and when my life ends, I will be ready to abandon this worn-out body and overtaxed mind and rest in the presence of God for all eternity.”
I heard Campolo speak on one occasion. His impact was electrifying. He never ceased to be an evangelist. This helped me understand his ability to call a generation to give their lives in service to God and humanity. The book reveals an underlying courage through all the development of his thought. He faced challenges on street corners, from racists, and heresy hunters. He also had the courage to change his mind, even when such changes cost him support. Whatever one thinks of Campolo’s views, one must respect the courage that refused to waffle, or kow-tow to financial backers. What is most telling is the voice of this narrative, which seems matter-of-fact, about his times, his ideas, and himself, especially in the account of his children. All this makes for a highly readable and fascinating narrative.
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
This is the second “theological memoir” I’ve read of late. In both cases, the authors have passed on by the time the books were published (in Tony Campolo’s case, he died November 19, 2024). The “pilgrim” in the title has finished his pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage traced in this book is indeed a theological pilgrimage from fundamentalist roots, growing up in New Berean Baptist Church and a youth group known as the Bible Buzzards. In addition to regular services, Tony attended weekly Bible studies and preached on street corners as a teen. The first challenge to his theology came from Jewish basketball teammates. He had to wrestle with whether they were going to hell. The next came when he worked for a devout astronomer, Edwin F. Bailey and he was forced to reconcile young earth views with a cosmos billions of years old.
It wasn’t until college at Eastern Baptist College that he learned to think theologically, connecting the bits and pieces of Bible learning into a more coherent whole. It was here that he came to understand the idea of the kingdom of God, and through H. Richard Niebuhr, the idea that God wanted to transform society, and not just individuals. Also, he wrestled with calling, eventually deciding to pursue pastoral ministry. During this time, he met and married Peggy, who would have a major influence on his thinking in many areas. Soon, he was the father of Lisa and Bart. That pastoral journey ended when he confronted racism in his church, resigning when the church refused to accept a Black student into membership.
That led him into the professoriate. Eastern hired him to teach sociology and afforded him opportunities for graduate studies in both theology and sociology, a kind of double vision that enlarged his prospective. Succeeding chapters explore how this helped him address the Sixties search for self, issues of sexuality and abortion, and war. All this led to the launch of the Campolo Center for Ministry, to equip Christian leaders for wholistic ministry.
This, then, resulted in an increasing ministry as a public theologian, including a failed run for Congress. He traces the growth of his speaking and writing ministries. It also led to the first challenge from fellow evangelicals over remarks that some construed to be universalist in character, culminating in a kind of heresy trial at a Chicago O’Hare airport hotel. He became even more suspect as a Clinton confidante, and as part of a pastoral team working with the President and First lady to heal the marriage.
The later part of the book traces further developments, some would say, away from an evangelical faith, which Campolo denied. In his own family, he talks of the pain of children who walked away from faith, and his pride in the integrity of their lives. He addresses the “Red Letter Christian” controversy. Finally, he devotes a chapter to his changing views on homosexuality. He describes the presentations he and his wife gave for many years where they differed, the pain within their marriage this caused, and the reasons that finally led him to joining his wife affirming gay marriage.
The concluding portion of the book discusses his retirement years, following a major stroke. He describes his ministry with other seniors and finishes by summing up his life:
“My earthly pilgrimage has been an amazing journey, and when my life ends, I will be ready to abandon this worn-out body and overtaxed mind and rest in the presence of God for all eternity.”
I heard Campolo speak on one occasion. His impact was electrifying. He never ceased to be an evangelist. This helped me understand his ability to call a generation to give their lives in service to God and humanity. The book reveals an underlying courage through all the development of his thought. He faced challenges on street corners, from racists, and heresy hunters. He also had the courage to change his mind, even when such changes cost him support. Whatever one thinks of Campolo’s views, one must respect the courage that refused to waffle, or kow-tow to financial backers. What is most telling is the voice of this narrative, which seems matter-of-fact, about his times, his ideas, and himself, especially in the account of his children. All this makes for a highly readable and fascinating narrative.
_______________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
July 4, 2025
I was first introduced to Tony Campolo when he came to speak in chapel at UMHB while I was in college. I don't think I understood or knew what to do with him then, but he is a hero in the faith to me now.
A beautiful memoir that is easy to read and follow. Campolo shares about his ministry, his theological development, and the pushback he received from fellow evangelicals.
I'm grateful we got this book before his death in 2024. The release date of the book ended up being the day of his funeral service. "The Kingdom of God is a party" - and Tony is celebrating well the glory of God.
A beautiful memoir that is easy to read and follow. Campolo shares about his ministry, his theological development, and the pushback he received from fellow evangelicals.
I'm grateful we got this book before his death in 2024. The release date of the book ended up being the day of his funeral service. "The Kingdom of God is a party" - and Tony is celebrating well the glory of God.
September 1, 2025
I have long admired Campolo since the 1980’s. Although the book may not have been written by him, it captures the style of his speaking and storytelling. I feel like I know him at a new level. This speaks of his entire life, as a ministry. I especially liked hearing about his latter years after his stroke.
He sprinkled references to his other books throughout for those who never knew of or those who want to revisit his writings.
He sprinkled references to his other books throughout for those who never knew of or those who want to revisit his writings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
I heard Tony speak several times and always appreciated his stories and humor. He presented faith in a refreshing way that helped many either come to faith or reevaluate their beliefs and actions. His memoir reads much like he spoke and takes the reader from his youngest days to near the end of his life. He explains some of his stances that caused controversy for some.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews