Presiding bishop to speak at National Episcopal Preaching Conference

April 19-22 event co-sponsored by Kanuga and the Episcopal Preaching Foundation

February 03, 2010 [Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will join other keynote speakers in April as part of the National Episcopal Preaching Conference, an inaugural event aimed to inspire, inform and empower clergy and seminarians.

"For me, the most important aspect of the presiding bishop's participation is her interest and commitment to excellence in preaching," said the Rev. Dr. William Brosend, coordinator of the event co-sponsored by Kanuga and the Episcopal Preaching Foundation. "There are almost limitless opportunities to listen to fine preachers and teachers of preaching, but opportunities to actually work on one's preaching are rare. This conference allows participants to grow by hearing and doing."

Other conference speakers during the April 19-22 conference include:

• the Rev. Dr. William Willimon, bishop of North Alabama for the United Methodist Church;
• the Rev. Dr. Thomas Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta;
• the Rev. Martin Smith, senior associate rector at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.;
• Dr. Lauren Winner, assistant professor of Christian spirituality at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina; and
• the Rev. Dr. William Brosend, associate professor of Homiletics at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

The Rt. Rev. Frank Griswold, 25th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will serve as conference chaplain. Christine Brosend, an adjunct professor of voice and church music at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee, will provide music.

"Our speakers are all passionately committed to the proclamation of the gospel and known for their gifts and ability to inspire," Brosend said. "Each one will have his or her own take on the theme 'Preaching Jesus' and explore different dimensions of the preaching tasks in the 21st century."

A key part of this event involves each participant sharing one of their favorite sermons for feedback and critique by a small preaching group led by faculty of the Foundation's annual Preaching Excellence Program.

"Everyone will bring a sermon to preach in their small group of 10 or so preachers," Brosend said. "The conference theme, 'Preaching Jesus,' is intended to be more than a catchy phrase. It is what we are called to do and what will focus the presentations and sermons offered in the preaching groups."

The Rev. Dr. Michael Morgan, executive director of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation, added that Kanuga is a perfect location for this type of training to take place.

"This conference will blend worship, lecture, discussion and fellowship with free time in the peaceful setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains," Morgan said. "We are thrilled to have such a distinguished group of homiletics experts who will interact with participants. It promises to be a challenging and worthwhile enterprise."

The Episcopal Preaching Foundation describes its  mission as supporting and improving the quality of preaching in the Episcopal Church. Since it began in 1981, the foundation has sponsored the acclaimed Preaching Excellence Program each year for seminarians, and provided resources and encouragement to preachers at all levels throughout the church.

Further information is available here.