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Available Modules
Training
This page summarizes the training seminars and workshops we offer to those responsible for the in-service training of preachers, ordained and lay, in dioceses, districts, synods and similar bodies.
Training for Groups
The modules set out below can be used both for public events open to all preachers, and for training intended for specific groups, for example ordinands, readers or local preachers.
The modules as described are intended for one day seminars or workshops (about 5 hours of tuition), but the material can be adapted for longer or shorter events.
Our standard fee is £300 per tutor day, but we are able to reduce this rate if the request is for more than one tutor at the same training event or for more than one event. We also charge tutors` reasonable travel expenses at cost.
Please note that, from the beginning of 2008 we will be offering on line learning material, complementary to these modules, from our website. More information about this service will be available early in 2008.
We are always pleased to discuss any particular training needs and how we might help to meet them. Please contact us at
The Administrator,
The College of Preachers,
Chester House,
Pages Lane,
Muswell Hill
London N10 1PR
tel. 020 8883 7850
email.
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Modules
1. Skills for Effective Preaching
Aim
To encourage and equip preachers through an overview of the key skills that preaching demands.
Intended Participants
Those at a fairly early stage of a preaching ministry, or who preach infrequently, or who have had inadequate preaching training. Will tend to be more suitable for lay preachers than clergy / ministers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Outline a simple framework for sermon preparation, e.g. involving listening to the voices of text, church/liturgy, congregation and culture
- Evaluate their own preaching for its theological authenticity, appropriate use of Scripture, connectedness to today's world, accessibility to their regular congregation, style and structure, and effective delivery.
Content
- Input on the range of skills required for preparing and delivering a message.
- Some sharing of participants' experiences of preaching to ensure input is 'connecting'.
- Practical exercises, e.g. in discerning connections between Scripture and today, in using expressive language, and/or in aspects of delivery.
Associated Reading
- Charles Chadwick and Philip Tovey, Developing Reflective Practice for Preachers (Grove, 2001)
- David Day, A Preaching Workbook (Lynx, 1998)
- David Schlafer, Playing with Fire: Preaching Work as Kindling Art (Cowley, 2004)
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2. Refreshment for Experienced Preachers
Aim
To offer a variety of insights or angles on preaching which go beyond the familiar and 'standard', in order to renew participants' vision of the preaching ministry and give them fresh ideas.
Intended Participants
Those who have been preaching regularly for at least five years. Suitable for clergy/ministers as well as lay preachers who preach regularly.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State two or three fresh ideas they have gained to put into practice in their preaching.
Content
- Input on two or three of a range of possible areas, according to the group's needs and the tutor's expertise, for instance: new developments in biblical studies or theology; responding to the challenges of contemporary thought and culture; varieties of sermon form; undertaking 'congregational exegesis'; understanding the influence of personality on preaching.
- Opportunity for sharing in small groups some of the stresses, challenges and joys of preaching ministry. * Practical exercises as appropriate to the input.
Associated Reading
- R.E.C. Browne, The Ministry of the Word (SCM, 1958 / 1976 / 1994)
- Fred B. Craddock, As One Without Authority, revised ed. (Chalice Press, 2001)
- David Day, Jeff Astley and Leslie J. Francis, A Reader on Preaching: Making Connections (Ashgate, 2005)
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3. Voice Workshop (or 'Bodytalk')
Aim
To develop participants' skills and confidence in the use of their voice and the projection of themselves as people in preaching.
Intended Participants
Preachers of any level of experience who want to develop or refresh these skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Use their voice and project themselves with confidence in preaching
- Formulate specific aims for continued development in this area
Content
- Input on key aspects of voice use and personality projection in preaching
- Practical exercises
- Video recording and personal coaching by tutor if numbers allow
Associated Reading
- Colin Morris, Raising the Dead: The Art of the Preacher as Public Performer (Fount, 1996)
- Sue Page, Away with Words (Lynx, 1998)
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4. Connecting with Contemporary Culture
Aim
To open up the challenge of preaching in a way that connects with trends and expressions of contemporary culture and offer models and examples of such preaching.
Intended Participants
Preachers of at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State the theological rationale for preaching which relates the gospel to today's culture.
- Identify key aspects of the cultures in which we live.
- Discern expressions of these cultures which could be incorporated somehow in preaching and begin to formulate ways in which they could be addressed by the gospel.
Content
- Input on the principle of relating gospel to culture
- Overview of aspects of our cultures
- Examples of preaching which connects with culture
- Exercise in groups on developing sermon ideas connected with different elements of contemporary culture – e.g. films, advertisements, books, art – followed by plenary feedback
Associated Reading
- Martyn Atkins, Preaching in a Cultural Context (Foundery Press, 2001)
- Walter Brueggemann, Texts under Negotiation: The Bible and Postmodern Imagination (Fortress Press, 1993)
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5. Apologetics in a Pluralist Society
Aim
To outline the task of defending Christian faith in today's society and offer practical approaches to specific 'hard questions' which the preacher needs to tackle from time to time.
Intended Participants
Clergy/ministers; lay preachers of at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Describe the challenge of Christian witness in a pluralist, post-Christendom society
- Outline approaches to addressing some key questions
Content
- Input on appropriate forms of Christian 'defence' in a pluralist context
- Input on helpful lines of approach to such issues as other faiths/philosophies, science and faith, the problem of suffering
- Exercise in groups on constructing a sermon on one of these issues, linked to a set text
Associated Reading
- Alister McGrath and Michael Green, Springboard for Faith (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1993)
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6. One Family one Word - 'Preaching' among all ages
Aim
To give preachers confidence in the appropriate handling of all-age occasions.
Intended Participants
Preachers in the early years of their ministry, and others who lack confidence in this area.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Prepare a 'talk' which has something for all ages and stages.
Content
- (We are revising and extending the content of this module to include involvement of the congregation and use of audio/visual material; please email us if you would like more information.)
Associated Reading
- College of Preachers Journal 119 (July 2005)
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7. Preaching and Personality
Aim
To demonstrate how the dynamics of the preaching event are conditioned by the personality of both preacher and hearer, and to suggest ways in which this fact can be used to advance effective preaching.
Intended Participants
Preachers who have some familiarity with the study of personality via an approach such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator ® but who have not in their previous training explored its relevance to preaching.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Identify key ways in which personality affects the preaching and hearing of a message.
- Develop a sermon with different types of hearer in mind.
Content
- Input on one or more approaches to understanding personality difference and/or learning style and its/their relevance to preaching and listening to sermons
- Exercise in groups on preparing or adapting a sermon to appeal to different types of hearer
Associated Reading
- Angela Butler, Personality and Communicating the Gospel (Grove, 1999)
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8. Varieties of Narrative Preaching
Aim
To give an overview of some of the key types of narrative preaching and offer participants the chance to work together on producing a narrative sermon.
Intended Participants
Clergy and ministers; lay preachers with at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State what is meant by 'narrative preaching'
- Outline some different types of narrative preaching
- Prepare a sermon of one of these types
Content
- Introduction to the concept, demands and rationale of narrative preaching
- Overview of types of narrative preaching, with examples, in particular: the 'Lowry loop' (i.e. a sermon where the 'narrative' is the underlying structure but not necessarily obvious as such – as described in Lowry's The Homiletical Plot); the four types of sermon on a biblical story as described in Lowry's How to Preach a Parable; first-person narrative as discussed e.g. in Standing's Finding the Plot; telling a contemporary story with biblical echoes (or vice versa)
- Workshops in which participants prepare a short narrative sermon of one of these types, followed by presentation to the whole group
Associated Reading
- Eugene L. Lowry, The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form, revised ed. (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)
- Eugene L. Lowry, How to Preach a Parable: Designs for Narrative Sermons (Abingdon Press, 1989) Roger Standing, Finding the Plot (Paternoster, 2004)
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9. Preaching and the News
Aim
To communicate the importance of reflecting topical concerns in preaching and to outline principles and methods for doing so.
Intended Participants
Any preachers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State theological reasons for the importance of connecting preaching with 'the news'.
- Discuss the challenges of interpreting contemporary events in the light of the gospel.
- Prepare a sermon which connects a biblical text appropriately with a contemporary event or matter of concern.
Content
- Introduction to the idea of 'prophetic preaching' and the theological importance of discernment of contemporary events and trends – for signs of grace as well as signs of judgement
- Examples of different ways of dealing with this task in a sermon that remains anchored in Scripture (whether from a lectionary or not)
- Workshops in which groups work at sermons connecting Scripture to contemporary issues, followed by presentation to the whole group.
Associated Reading
- Mary Catherine Hilkert, Naming Grace: Preaching and the Sacramental Imagination (Continuum, 2000)
- J. Philip Wogaman, Speaking the Truth in Love: Prophetic Preaching to a Broken World (Westminster John Knox Press, 1998)
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10. Using the Bible in preaching
Aim
To refresh participants in awareness of principles of using the Bible in preaching, taking account of a variety of theological perspectives and contemporary scholarship in biblical studies and hermeneutics.
Intended Participants
Clergy and ministers; lay preachers with at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Articulate the way in which they currently use the Bible in their preaching and suggest ways in which it could be adjusted
- State some different models for understanding the relationship between the Testaments
- Appraise preaching for the appropriateness of its handling of the Bible.
Content
- Overview of some actual examples of preaching, with opportunity for participants to draw out the principles for the use of the Bible which are at work and to relate these to their own practice
- Overview of contemporary approaches to interpreting the Bible as canonical Scripture for the Church
- Workshop groups on ways of preaching particular texts, with feedback
Associated Reading
- Stephen C. Barton, Invitation to the Bible (SPCK, 1997)
- Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, Reclaiming the Bible for the Church (T. & T. Clark, 1995)
- I. Howard Marshall, Beyond the Bible: Moving from Scripture to Theology (Baker / Paternoster, 2004)
- Stephen I. Wright, Preaching with the Grain of Scripture (Grove, 2001)
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11. Working with the congregation in preaching
Aim
To communicate the importance of congregational involvement in the preaching process and suggest strategies for making it happen.
Intended Participants
Any preachers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State the rationale for preaching as a corporate event
- Outline several ways in which this reality can be given effective expression
- Plan a specific strategy for making preaching more of a genuinely corporate event in their own context
Content
- Introduction to the theological basis for seeing preaching as a corporate event
- Outline of various ways of engaging with the congregation before and after the preaching event itself
- Opportunity for participants to discuss what would work in their setting and formulate a plan
Associated Reading
- David Schlafer, Playing with Fire: Preaching Work as Kindling Art (Cowley, 2004)
- Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art (Fortress, 1997)
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12. Preaching at occasional services
Aim
To outline principles for preaching at 'occasional' services when many 'non-regulars' are present, especially initiation/dedication services, marriages and funerals, and to offer a range of practical suggestions.
Intended Participants
Clergy and ministers; lay preachers who are called on to take such services sometimes.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State principles for preaching at occasional services
- Appraise some examples of actual preaching on these occasions
- Identify two or three key learning points to put into practice.
Content
- Introduction to the theological and sociological dynamics of 'special occasion' preaching as a pastoral and missiological opportunity
- Examples of such preaching – whether on video, in print or 'enacted' live – with discussion
- Identification of some key practical pointers, with opportunity for individuals to translate these into key resolutions for their own practice
Associated Reading
- David Schlafer, What Makes this Day Different? Preaching Grace on Special Occasions (Cowley, 1998)
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13. Visually speaking: image and word in preaching
Aim
To share the potential of using a variety of ways of 'visualizing' the Word in preaching.
Intended Participants
Any preachers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State reasons for the importance of 'visualizing' the Word for today's society and culture
- Use more visual language in their preaching
- Identify helpful ways of using other visual elements in preaching, e.g. video clips, 'Powerpoint'®
Content
- Overview of sociological and homiletical reasons for 'speaking visually'
- Exploration of use of imagination to create more 'visual' language for preaching – perhaps involving Ignatian meditation exercise on a biblical story
- Exploration of the dynamics of incorporating other visual elements in preaching and the use of technology, with introduction to appropriate resources
Associated Reading
- Jolyon P. Mitchell, Visually Speaking: Radio and the Renaissance of Preaching (T. & T. Clark, 1999)
- Roger Standing, Preaching for the Unchurched (Grove, 2002)
- Thomas Troeger, Imagining a Sermon (Abingdon, 1990)
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14. Facilitating appraisal of preaching
Aim
To offer a resource for those who have a role in the appraisal of preaching, whether formally on behalf of a denomination or informally as a mentor, coach etc.
Intended Participants
Any who fulfil such a role.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Outline some key principles of preaching appraisal
- Identify specific criteria for appraising sermons
Content
- Introduction to the principles on which preaching, as a spiritual and theological 'act', can nevertheless be 'appraised'
- Overview of some key criteria for appraising sermons and yardsticks for measurement
- Examination of specific sermon appraisal schemes and identification of what would be useful in individuals' own setting
Associated Reading
- Charles Chadwick and Philip Tovey, Developing Reflective Practice for Preachers (Grove, 2001)
- David Schlafer, Surviving the Sermon: A Guide to Preaching for those who have to listen (Cowley, 1992)
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15. Preaching as a part of liturgy
Aim
To explore the connection between preaching and worship and to suggest ways of integrating them more effectively.
Intended Participants
Any preachers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Describe theological and sociological ways in which preaching and worship are interrelated
- Identify key factors in the relationship between preaching and worship in their own context
- State ways in which preaching and worship could be integrated more effectively in their own context.
Content
- Introduction to the theological and sociological significance of preaching-within-worship
- Exploration of practical implications for different traditions (depending on traditions represented among participants)
- Opportunity for participants to discuss patterns of regular worship in their own setting and identify areas for greater integration.
Associated Reading
- Neville Clark, Preaching in Context: Word, Worship and the People of God (Kevin Mayhew, 1992)
- Paul J. Grime and Dean W. Nasady (eds.), Liturgical Preaching: Contemporary Essays (Concordia Publishing House, 2001)
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16. The use of the lectionary in preaching
Aim
To communicate principles for preaching in churches where a lectionary provides the regular Sunday readings, and illustrate these principles with actual examples of preaching.
Intended Participants
Any preachers, primarily those in churches which use the lectionary, but also possibly those in some Free Churches who do not yet do so but are considering it. Especially suitable for local preaching teams to do together.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State some key principles for the use of the lectionary in preaching
- Evaluate some examples of preaching using the lectionary
- Identify two or three fresh ideas or adjustments for their own practice or that of the team in which they preach
Content
- Brief overview of the principles on which the Revised Common Lectionary is based
- Discussion of specific challenges and opportunities raised by lectionary-based preaching, e.g. how to focus on one reading while allowing echoes of the other(s); the use of the OT and its relationship with the NT; following a series; preaching through a Gospel; 'biblical theology'; the connection of certain readings with particular feasts etc.
- Opportunity for sharing of specific issues arising for participants, and/or working together on particular lectionary 'combinations'
Associated Reading
- Andrew F. Gregory, Four Witnesses, One Gospel? (Grove, 2005)
- Philip Tovey, Preaching a Sermon Series with Common Worship (Grove, 2004)
- F. West, Scripture and Memory: the Ecumenical Hermeneutic of the Three-Year Lectionary (Liturgical Press, 1997)
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17. Preaching sermon series
Aim
To give an overview of the dynamics of preaching a series of sermons, whether as an individual preacher or in a team, and suggest practical possibilities.
Intended Participants
Any preachers, particularly those operating as part of a team.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- Describe the opportunities and challenges of preaching a sermon series, whether on their own or as part of a team
- Identify suitable series based either on topics or on Scripture (lectionary passages and otherwise)
Content
- Overview of the opportunities and pitfalls associated with 'series' preaching
- Discussion of some actual examples of sermon series based on topics and on Scripture
- Sharing of ideas for series among participants
Associated Reading
- Philip Tovey, Preaching a Sermon Series with Common Worship (Grove, 2004)
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18. Preaching difficult texts
Aim
To show how a variety of 'difficult texts' of Scripture can be preached in a creative and helpful way.
Intended Participants
Clergy and ministers; lay preachers with at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State some principles for handling 'difficult' texts
- Prepare a creative sermon on a 'difficult' text
Content
- Why are some texts 'difficult'?: an introduction to the hermeneutical issues
- Suggestion of a range of practical options for handling such texts – including preaching 'against' the grain of the individual text but 'with' the grain of the gospel
- Workshop groups preparing sermons on specific 'difficult' texts with presentation to the whole group following
Associated Reading
- Elizabeth Achtemeier, Preaching Hard Texts of the Old Testament (Hendrickson, 1998)
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19. Preaching through the year
Aim
To refresh preaching which is related to the annual cycle of events in the Church calendar, through highlighting theological issues and sharing fresh ideas.
Intended Participants
Any preachers.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State the theological rationale for the message to be preached on or during one or more regular occasions or seasons in the Church's life
- Identify two or three fresh ideas which they can put into practice in their preaching
Content
- Introduction to the importance of seasons and particular observations in the Church year
- Discussion of the theological/doctrinal/sociological issues associated with one or more days or seasons (e.g. Christmas, Epiphany, Mothering Sunday…)
- Sharing among the whole group (as well as by the tutor) of practical ideas for preaching on these occasions
Associated Reading
- David Schlafer, What Makes this Day Different? Preaching Grace on Special Occasions (Cowley, 1998)
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20. Preaching a specific part of Scripture
Aim
To open up issues associated with the use of a particular Scriptural genre (e.g. prophecy, wisdom literature, Gospels, epistles).
Intended Participants
Clergy and ministers; lay preachers with at least 5 years' experience.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the day participants will be able to
- State some of the main theological and hermeneutical challenges associated with using a particular genre of the Bible
- Suggest creative and practical ways for bringing this part of the Bible alive today
Content
- Overview of the biblical genre concerned with reference to recent scholarly insights regarding its contemporary interpretation
- Exploration of the specific challenges and opportunities the genre raises for preaching, with examples of actual preaching
- Workshop session in groups on developing sermon ideas on a specific text or book, with feedback all together
Associated Reading
- Thomas G. Long, Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible (Fortress, 1989)
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