Bishop Ward and Dr. Jerusha Neal talk about the Preaching WELL event, which offered clergy a time for reflection and learning.
Bishop Ward: Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ. We just experienced a wonderful event, Preaching Well. Dr. Jerusha Neal, Professor of Homiletics at Duke Divinity School was our leader. Thank you.Dr. Neal: It is so exciting to be at preaching/teaching trainings that are so focused on relationship. Not just relationship with the text, that’s critical, foundational, important but also relationship with the text in relationship with each other and in relationship with Christ.Video Text: Preaching Well is a Center for Leadership event that grew from a desire to support transformation in preaching. Preachers develop sermon series that span the lectionary season. This group generative process is an acknowledgment that we were intended to be in community and that preachers don’t need to plan in isolation.Dr. Neal: I think that’s what struck me so much about this time together was the level and depth of relationships in connection I saw around biblical text stretching for all of next year right? I mean these are lectionary texts all for next year this planning has happened. It’s really exciting.Bishop Ward: We are grateful for all the ways that our Conference connects with others to offer opportunities for growth and spiritual leadership to clergy and laity.