Caring for the Preacher’s Soul

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The soul of the faithful preacher is a crucible in which the holy words of God get mixed together with the ordinary words collected all week long through hospital visits, committee meetings, and pastoral counseling, as well as those from the newspapers and social media. The sermon is where this holy conversation becomes a sacred moment. The greatest danger to the sacredness of the sermon is the pastor’s own soul. Sometimes our souls get in trouble because of something going on in the congregation or our relationships. At other times the issue is our own struggle with God. Often, we are just soul weary.

Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes

President Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary

Craig has served as the pastor three Presbyterian congregations and was a professor of pastoral ministry at Pittsburgh Seminary before becoming the president of Princeton Theological Seminary. He retired in January 2023 and continues to speak and write about pastoral leadership. He has nine published books including Pastor as Minor Poet, and Diary of a Pastor’s Soul. He is married to Dawne Hess Barnes. They have three fabulous children, four delightful grandchildren, and a frisbee-addicted Bearded Collie.