A Gathering of Friends & Colleagues to Reflect on the Viability & Future of Preaching
There is little doubt that the future of preaching is changing. Not only have conventional structures and styles of preaching rightly come into question, but pastors are now faced with the challenge of preaching to an increasing number of people who are often suspect of the church and its teachings and frequently find such teachings difficult to believe in a post-Enlightenment setting.
And as established churches continue to shrink in numbers, the need to connect with potential new participants is felt all the more. Yet many pastors wonder if and how it is possible to meaningfully communicate with established members of the church and at the same time develop sermons that resonate with those outside of the church, including “the nones” (i.e., those with no formal religious affiliation), who comprise the fastest growing religious demographic in the United States.
This gathering, hosted by the Drury University Board of the School of Religion, will allow friends and colleagues to explore these questions together. It is a “workshop in the round,” meaning that it will be more like a conversation among colleagues and less of a presentation by an “expert,” which perhaps serves as one way of imagining the future of preaching, if not the only one. In other words, we look forward to what you have to contribute!
Mid-America Preaching Workshop 