One of the congregational vitality goals within the Matthew 25 initiative is Spirit-inspired worship. In the Reformed tradition, the central aspect of worship is the preaching of the Word as it points to the scriptures, which point to Jesus Christ. To this end, the Synod is offering several opportunities to train and strengthen preachers.
Workshops For Frequent Preachers
If you are a regular preacher and would like to strengthen aspects of your preaching, you might find helpful a series of monthly zoom workshops. Coordinated by Synod Executive Chip Hardwick (Ph.D., Homiletics/Preaching, Princeton Theological Seminary), this series of one-off workshops will include preaching scholars from across the country. Each zoom will be held the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend live.
April 5, 2023: No Workshop due to Holy Week. God bless you as you preach!
May 23, 2023
Caring for the Preacher’s Soul
Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes
President Emeritus, Princeton Seminary
June 7, 2023
Acceleration, Amplification, Accumulation, Alienation: Preaching in Times Like These
Rev. Dr. Wes Avram, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church (AZ)
July 5, 2023: No Workshop due to Independence Day. God bless you as you preach!
August 2, 2023: Rev. Dr. Aimee Moiso, Associate Director, Louisville Institute , Ph.D. in Homiletics, Vanderbilt University “More Details Coming Soon”
September 6, 2023 “Exploring the Themes of Advent 2023” Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick Executive, the Synod of the Covenant
October 4, 2023 Rev. Dr. Cleo LaRue, Princeton Theological Seminary
“More Details to Come!”
November 1, 2023 “Preaching Exilic Hope in the Climate Crisis” Rev. Dr. Jerusha Neal, Duke University Divinity School
December 6, 2023 No Workshop due to Advent. God bless you as you preach!
Workshops For Frequent Preachers
If you are a regular preacher and would like to strengthen aspects of your preaching, you might find helpful a series of monthly zoom workshops. Coordinated by Synod Executive Chip Hardwick (Ph.D., Homiletics/Preaching, Princeton Theological Seminary), this series of one-off workshops will include preaching scholars from across the country. Each zoom will be held the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend live.
January 4, 2023: “Exploring the Themes of Lent 2023,” Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick, Executive, the Synod of the Covenant
February 1, 2023: “Post-Pandemic Preaching,” Rev. Dr. Peter Henry, Pastor, Davidson College Presbyterian Church (NC)
March 1, 2023: “Preaching about Racism in an Era of CRT Bans,” Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel, Blair Monie Associate Professor of Homiletics, Austin Presbyterian Seminary
April 5, 2023: No Workshop due to Holy Week. God bless you as you preach!
May 3, 2023: To Be Determined
June 7, 2023: Rev. Dr. Wes Avram, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church (AZ) “More Details Coming Soon”
July 5, 2023: No Workshop due to Independence Day. God bless you as you preach!
August 2, 2023: Rev. Dr. Aimee Moiso, Associate Director, Louisville Institute , Ph.D. in Homiletics, Vanderbilt University “More Details Coming Soon”
September 6, 2023 “Exploring the Themes of Advent 2023” Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick Executive, the Synod of the Covenant
October 4, 2023 Rev. Dr. Cleo LaRue, Princeton Theological Seminary
“More Details to Come!”
November 1, 2023 “Preaching Exilic Hope in the Climate Crisis” Rev. Dr. Jerusha Neal, Duke University Divinity School
December 6, 2023 No Workshop due to Advent. God bless you as you preach!
Past Offerings
March 1, 2023: “Preaching about Racism in an Era of CRT Bans,” Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel, Blair Monie Associate Professor of Homiletics, Austin Presbyterian Seminary
February 1, 2023: “Post-Pandemic Preaching,” Rev. Dr. Peter Henry, Pastor, Davidson College Presbyterian Church (NC)
January 4, 2023: “Exploring the Themes of Lent 2023,” Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick, Executive, the Synod of the Covenant
November 2, 2022: “Preaching in the Valley of Dry Bones,” Luke Powery, Duke University
October 5, 2022: “Exploring the Themes of Advent 2022,” The Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick, Executive, Synod of the Covenant
September 7, 2022: “Sunday’s Sermons for Monday’s World,” Rev. Dr. Sally Brown
August 3, 2022: “When Good News is Harder to Find: Preaching in the Wake of Trauma,” The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner
November 2, 2022: “Preaching in the Valley of Dry Bones,” Luke Powery, Duke University
October 5, 2022: “Exploring the Themes of Advent 2022,” The Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick, Executive, Synod of the Covenant
September 7, 2022: “Sunday’s Sermons for Monday’s World,” Rev. Dr. Sally Brown
August 3, 2022: “When Good News is Harder to Find: Preaching in the Wake of Trauma,” The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner
June 1, 2022: “O Say Can You See: Images and Illustrations in a Virtually Saturated World,” The Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Candler School of Theology at Emory University
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/o-say-can-you-see-images-and-illustrations-in-a-virtually-saturated-world/
May 4, 2022: “Preaching Jokes to Power,” The Rev. Dr. Jake Myers
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/preaching-jokes-to-power/
April 6, 2022: “Preaching in Polarized Times,” Rev. Dr. Angela Dienhart Hancock
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/preaching-in-polarized-times/
March 2, 2022: “Stretching into Prophetic Preaching,” Chip Hardwick, The Synod of the Covenant
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/stretching-into-prophetic-preaching/
February 2, 2022: “Getting Helpful Listener Feedback,” Chip Hardwick, The Synod of the Covenant
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/getting-helpful-listener-feedback/
January 5, 2022: “Performing the Word…Online,” Jana Childers, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/performing-the-word/
December 1, 2021: “From/To: Preaching that Accords with Covenant and Commission,” Tim Slemmons, Homiletics Professor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/from-to-preaching-that-accords-with-covenant-and-commission/
November 3, 2021: “The Peoples’ Sermon: Preaching as a Ministry of the Whole Congregation,” Shauna Hannan, Homiletics Professor at Lutheran Pacific Theological Seminary
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/the-peoples-sermon/
October 6, 2021: Exploring the Themes of Advent 2021, Chip Hardwick, Synod Interim Executive
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/exploring-the-themes-of-advent-2021/
September 1, 2021: “What Poets Can Teach Preachers About Surviving, Thriving, and Talking About What We Do,” Anna Carter Florence, Homiletics Professor at Columbia Theological Seminary
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/anna-carter-florence-workshop/
August 4, 2021: “Opening Your Listeners to New Perspectives,” Chip Hardwick, Synod Interim Executive
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/opening-your-listeners-to-new-perspectives/
July 7, 2021: “Preaching Justice and Hope in Turbulent Times,” Kenyatta Gilbert, Homiletics Professor at Howard University School of Divinity
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/preaching-justice-and-hope-in-perplexing-times/
June 2, 2021: “Preaching about Racial Justice without Losing your Conviction or your Job,” Chip Hardwick, Synod Interim Executive
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/preaching-about-racial-justice-without-losing-your-conviction-or-your-job/
Preaching & Teaching: Lifelong Learning: Alma College
If you would like to be on a supply preaching list, Alma College, in Lake Huron Presbytery, is offering a short course called ‘Preaching and Teaching: The art and science of inspiring hearts and minds through spoken words.’ It is designed to help prepare you more thoroughly than the Maumee Valley Presbytery offering. Taught by Denise Anderson, former co-moderator of the PC(USA), Andrew Pomerville, chaplain of Alma College, and Chip Hardwick. Sessions will be held four successive Thursday evenings by Zoom beginning July 8, 2021. For more information or to register, visit Preaching & Teaching: Lifelong Learning: Alma College. Questions? Please contact Andrew Pomerville at pomervillead@alma.edu.
Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop
If you have been wondering about what it might be like to preach in your home church, a two-day workshop coordinated by Maumee Valley Presbytery will be very helpful for you! “Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop” will be held on Saturday May 8 and 22, 9:30 am -12:30 pm via Zoom. Rev. Jeanne Gray, pastor of Collingwood Presbyterian Church, and Synod Interim Executive Chip Hardwick, will be the leaders. Learn more here: Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop (maumeevp.org).
Preaching & Teaching: Lifelong Learning: Alma College
If you would like to be on a supply preaching list, Alma College, in Lake Huron Presbytery, is offering a short course called ‘Preaching and Teaching: The art and science of inspiring hearts and minds through spoken words.’ It is designed to help prepare you more thoroughly than the Maumee Valley Presbytery offering. Taught by Denise Anderson, former co-moderator of the PC(USA), Andrew Pomerville, chaplain of Alma College, and Chip Hardwick. Sessions will be held four successive Thursday evenings by Zoom beginning July 8, 2021. For more information or to register, visit Preaching & Teaching: Lifelong Learning: Alma College. Questions? Please contact Andrew Pomerville at pomervillead@alma.edu.
Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop
If you have been wondering about what it might be like to preach in your home church, a two-day workshop coordinated by Maumee Valley Presbytery will be very helpful for you! “Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop” will be held on Saturday May 8 and 22, 9:30 am -12:30 pm via Zoom. Rev. Jeanne Gray, pastor of Collingwood Presbyterian Church, and Synod Interim Executive Chip Hardwick, will be the leaders. Learn more here: Me? A Preacher?: A Preaching Workshop (maumeevp.org).