A Conference on Prophetic Preaching

Submitted by stephanie wert ... on February 6, 2009 - 5:00am.

When:  February 6-9, 2009
Where:  Cathedral College of Preachers, Washington, DC
Who:  The Beatitudes Society

Shaping Sermons to Nurture Justice: A Conference on Prophetic Preaching

To APPLY, CLICK HERE

“Preach the Gospel by all means; and if necessary, use words.”

This often-quoted line from St. Francis of Assisi is an important reminder that the pursuit of justice involves “walking the walk,” not just “talking the talk.”  But talk is important too—particularly in the context of Christian worship.  The formation of a faith community both intentional and skilled in Beatitude practice requires sustained and effective preaching.  How do we understand that?  How do we undertake it?

“Prophetic preaching” is frequently characterized (and sometimes undertaken!) as a toxic mixture of guilt-imposing denunciation and doomsday prediction.  Rightly practiced, it is announcing the Beatitudes with insight, clarity, and evocative power—easier said than done!  More is involved than a combination of courage and candor.  Prophetic preaching is daunting—a homiletical challenge, no less than a moral challenge.  While often a lonely undertaking, it cannot be effectively sustained as a solitary task.

If you discern such preaching to be a central part of your vocation, we invite you to apply for participation in a conference to be held February 6-9, 2009 at the Cathedral College of Preachers in Washington DC for seminarian and professional members of The Beatitudes Society.  The conference will focus on a collegial listening of one another into graceful prophetic speech.

·        Participants will be limited to 12, selected on the basis of two submitted sermons and a brief application.  Deadline December 1, 2008.

·        The conference will emphasize peer learning.  Mentors will facilitate group process, and foster skill development. The conference will be collegial, honoring the gifts of each participant.  Imagination and innovation will be encouraged.

·        Participants will bring to the conference the first draft of a sermon they are preparing to preach (or envision preaching) during Lent, Year B—employing one or more of the Scripture lessons in the Revised Common Lectionary for a Sunday in that liturgical season.  This “sermon in process” (a not-ready-for-prime-time sermon) will be shared during the conference, in the hope that the conference will contribute to the sermon’s  further preparation.

·        Facilitators/Mentors will include three seminary professors with extensive experience in the areas of biblical studies, ethics and homiletics, as well as the Executive Director of the Beatitudes Society.

·        Mentors will preach briefly at community worship, and will be available throughout the conference for individual and small group consultation.   

·        All will attend Sunday Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral, and reflect on the sermon preached there.

·        All travel and accommodation expenses will be provided.

To apply:

   1. You must be a student, professional, or faculty member of The Beatitudes Society.  If you’ve ever joined, you’re eligible.  If you’ve not joined yet, JOIN HERE.
   2. Submit via email two sermons (in WORD format) you have preached that in some way address issues of justice—one that you believe “really worked;” the other that you think “didn’t quite”.  Include a paragraph on each, describing why you assess that sermon as you do.

Send, as well, brief response to the following questions:

   1. Describe your past experience with prophetic preaching, as a listener and a preacher. What concerns and questions do you bring to this workshop?
   2. What specific skills or areas of understanding with regard to prophetic preaching would you like to see this conference engage?
   3. How do you see prophetic preaching in your future ministry? What challenges do you face? What hopes sustain you?
   4. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Submit to: Anne@BeatitudesSociety.org. by December 1, 2008.  Decisions will be made and recipients notified by December 15, 2008.

Conference Facilitators/Mentors:

The Rev. Dr. A. Katherine Grieb is Professor of New Testament and is The Beatitudes Society chapter faculty advisor at Virginia Theological Seminary, and teaches at the Servant Leadership School at the Church of the Savior in Washington, DC.  She is the author of The Story of Romans: A Narrative Defense of God's Righteousness and numerous articles.  She is completing a book on Hebrews and commencing a volume on the Sermon on the Mount.  

The Rev. Anne S. Howard -- Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society. An Episcopal priest, she is Preacher-in-Residence at Trinity Episcopal Church Santa Barbara, where she previously served as Associate Rector.  She is the author of the forthcoming “Claiming the Beatitudes: Nine Stories from a New Generation.”

The Rev. Dr. David J. Schlafer has taught philosophy, theology, and homiletics at a number of seminaries in different denominational traditions.  He conducts conference on preaching across the United States and in England.  He has edited or authored eighteen books including Surviving the Sermon, Your Way with God’s Word, Playing with Fire, and Preaching What We Practice (with Timothy Sedgwick).

Dr. Timothy F. Sedgwick -- Vice President and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Clinton S. Quin Professor of Christian Ethics at Virginia Theological Seminary.  He is a representative member of the Episcopal Church on the Anglican Roman Catholic bilateral dialogue, USA.  His books on ethics include Preaching What We Practice: Proclamation and Moral Discernment (with David Schlafer), Faithful Living, Faithful Dying: Anglican Perspectives on End-of-Life Care (with members of the Episcopal Task Force on Bioethics), The Christian Moral Life: Practice of Piety, and Sacramental Ethics.

Strengthening the progressive Christian network for justice, compassion, & peace