Preaching at Baptisms

Tuesday 14 January, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop Leader: Jennifer Brown

Christians understand the act of baptism to be a profound moment of change – the point at which one not  only becomes part of the Church, but is also made one with Christ. Even for those who are Christian believers and regular church attenders, this can be a difficult concept to grasp. Those attending the ceremony of baptism, often not regular churchgoers, may have little or even no understanding of the spiritual significance of the rite they are witnessing. In this workshop, we will explore ways to communicate the meaning of baptism, drawing on relevant scriptural passages and the symbols used within the baptism service itself. We will also look at how baptism preaching can be evangelistic, an invitation to those present to start their own journey of faith.

The workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Jennifer Brown. Dr Brown is the Director of Training for the College of Preachers and a parish priest in the Church of England's Oxford Diocese, and has more than a decade's experience as a theological educator.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preaching-at-baptisms-tickets-1006649113597. When prompted enter the password Preach141

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 9 January 2025.

Preaching the Story of Holy Week

Tuesday 25 February, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop Leader: Michael Beck

The events commemorated in Holy Week together tell the story of the last days of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Dwelling in Holy Week helps us to understand the meaning of the cross and to prepare for the astonishing miracle of Easter. This workshop will explore the narrative that connects these events and consider ways in which our preaching through Holy Week can tell a coherent story of the journey to the cross, while still managing to be effective ‘stand-alone’ sermons.

The workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Michael Beck. Dr Beck has been a priest for 44 years in a variety of settings: mainly parish but also 5 years in a major cathedral, as well as having been a police chaplain and a locum hospital chaplain alongside parochial work. He did his theological training at Kings College London and Lincoln Theological College. His main interests are in preaching and practical theology and he holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Seabury Western Seminary in Chicago. Dr Beck was Director of Reader Ministry for Durham diocese for five years and transferred to Lindisfarne RTP when it was formed, remaining there as a member of the core staff until I 'retired' in 2015. He has since continued as a tutor for Preaching and Theology, Ritual and Pastoral Care as well as tutoring for the Lay Pastoral Ministry Course alongside a continuing active ministry covering for colleagues or with parishes in vacancy for Sundays and Occasional Offices. He has been a member of the College since 1980 and a tutor for over 20 years.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preaching-the-story-of-holy-week-tickets-1006659564857. When prompted enter the password Preach252

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10 (discount available when booked together with ‘The language of Resurrection’.)

Booking closes 20 February 2025.

Preaching and Apologetics

Saturday 22 March, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop Leader: John Woods

“Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3.15)

This workshop will explore the importance of apologetics within the Church, the relationship between preaching and apologetics, and how our sermons can become effective and powerful tools for equipping Christians to think and speak confidently about their faith. The seminar will seek to model how to communicate the Christian message with a clarity and credibility that will engage those who are not yet Christians, so that they can join the dots concerning life, God and the universe. 

This workshop will be led by Rev Dr John Woods, who is the Training Director of the School of Preachers Trust. He has had four decades of experience in pastoral work in the UK and since 1993 has taught preaching in Latvia and other parts of Eastern Europe. He is the author of God is in the House, which seeks to reimagine how we prepare sermons.

Book tickets: link here. When prompted enter the password Preach223.

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 19 March 2025.

The Language of Resurrection: Finding the Right Words

Wednesday 2 April, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop Leader: Rod Garner

How are preachers to speak meaningfully of the Resurrection in a time where informed opinion is 'led by the science', and many lives are troubled by a quiet desperation concerning humanity's future? Where are the words, images, and the silences between them to be found that honour scripture and tradition while also exploring new ways of conceiving the future hope that flows from the resurrection of Christ?

This workshop is for preachers wishing to engage with such questions in a secular age. Preparing for Holy Week and Easter provides the fitting, even urgent context, in which teaching and faithfulness to the word of God can be  enriched by the fruits of theology and the creative imagination. 

This workshop will be led by Rod Garner, Anglican priest, writer and theologian. Rod has served in four urban parishes and taught at colleges and universities in the UK and America. He is an Honorary Fellow at Liverpool Hope University and Emeritus Canon of Liverpool Cathedral. The author of numerous books, including biographies of St John Henry Newman and Josephine Butler, his most recent publication is Outsiders: Marching to a Different Drum (Liverpool Hope University Press 2022). His research interests have included theories of atonement, and the role of the urban church in the 21st century. He is a Tertiary Member of The Order of the Holy Paraclete.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-language-of-resurrection-finding-the-right-words-tickets-1006667869697. When prompted enter the password Preach204

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10 (discount available when booked together with ‘Preaching the Themes of Lent’ and Preaching the Story of Holy Week’.)

Booking closes 28 March 2025.

Interpreting Texts for Preaching

Saturday 10 May, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Martin Little

What does a Bible text mean and why does it matter? Can a text have multiple meanings? What's really at work when we choose one interpretation over another and make it the focus of a sermon? This session will explore questions like these: questions of biblical hermeneutics. Thought will be given to ancient / modern / post-modern hermeneutics and how they might help us interpret the Bible both critically and constructively to build up the Christian faith of our congregations.

This workshop will be led by The Revd Martin Little, Vicar of St John the Evangelist in the town of Highbridge, a small church in an area of significant social deprivation within the beautiful county of Somerset. Martin studied History of Art at The University of Edinburgh, and completed an MA in Theology, Ministry, and Mission at Cranmer Hall in Durham in 2017, where he was taught by the biblical scholar Professor Walter Moberly and The Revd Dr Kate Bruce. After a short-lived stint in banking, he spent ten years in youth and music ministry before ordination in the Church of England. Together with The Revd Jo Stobart, Martin is part of the initiative Grass Roots Theology, bringing free open-access theology days to locations around Somerset.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/interpreting-texts-for-preaching-a-preaching-workshop-tickets-1262464217459?aff=oddtdtcreator. When prompted, enter password Preach105

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 7 May 2025

Sermon crafting

Monday 7 July, 10.30-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Jennifer Brown

A sermon does more than deliver facts - it tells a story, it encourages, comforts, challenges, exhorts. How a sermon is put together is as important as how it is delivered. In this workshop, we'll look at ways of crafting sermons that tell a story, helping our congregations to think afresh about the scriptures and see how they relate to their own life and faith. This workshop is designed primarily for those new to ministry and preaching.

The workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Jennifer Brown. Jennifer is the Director of Training for the College of Preachers. She is an experienced parish priest and was for more than 10 years a theological educator.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sermon-crafting-creating-effective-sermons-a-preaching-workshop-tickets-1080426517799?aff=oddtdtcreator. When prompted, enter password Preach077

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 4 July 2025

Preaching the Jesus of John’s Gospel

Saturday 12 July, 14.00-16.30 | Online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Rebecca Dean

John's Gospel is unique among the four gospels of the New Testament, and this uniqueness extends to John's portrayal of Jesus and the importance of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. This workshop will explore the importance of that relationship and, by extension, the divine family to John's theology, including the invitation extended to us to become part of that divine family through following Jesus. We will consider how we can draw on John's theology of the divine family to find new insights for our preaching, and how we can faithfully preach the Jesus of John's Gospel - Jesus God's Son.

This workshop will be led by Dr Rebecca Dean, Lecturer in New Testament at Ripon College Cuddesdon. She has degrees in Theology and New Testament Theology from the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford, respectively. She is passionate about equipping people with the tools and the confidence to engage with the Bible for themselves, regardless of their academic ability or background.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preaching-the-jesus-of-johns-gospel-a-preaching-workshop-tickets-1086830893459?aff=oddtdtcreator

When prompted, enter password Preach127

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 9 July 2025

The Wonder of Words – Preaching Conference

Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 September 2025

Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, DE55 1AU

Keynote Speaker: Margaret Cooling, author of Preaching that Shows

Even in our image-obsessed world, words still matter. Join us as we see how poetry, humour, writing-craft, and art can all help us make best use of words in preaching.

Featuring

• Stand-up comedy performance by Paul Kerensa

• Poetry reading by Tim Watson

• A range of exciting workshops

              Preaching and visual art, led by Margaret Cooling

              Using humour in preaching, led by Paul Kerensa

              Poetry workshop, led by Tim Watson

              The craft of writing, led by Colin Heber-Percy

              Preaching for broadcasting, led by Grace Thomas

• Sermon clinics

To book your place, please go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preaching-conference-the-wonder-of-words-tickets-1055279442219?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Early bird price available until 1 May: £275.

Preaching the Psalms

Saturday 20 September, 10.00-13.00 | Online via Zoom

Workshop leader: Philip Jenson

The Psalter was the prayerbook of Jesus, quoted more by him than any other book. The Psalms teach us who God is and what he has done in the most direct and personal way. They instruct us in how we can bring all of our emotions to the Lord, ranging from sorrow and anger to joy and wonder. When we pray them wholeheartedly, they refigure our thoughts and desires from deep within. Yet despite their depth and richness, the psalms are rarely preached. In this workshop, we shall explore ways in which we can bring the Psalms to life and encourage our congregations to make them central to their prayer and spirituality.

This workshop will be led by the Revd Dr Philip Jenson. Now retired, Dr Jenson formerly taught Old Testament at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He is passionate about demonstrating the relevance and excitement of the Old Testament for Christian faith today.

Book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preaching-the-psalms-a-preaching-workshop-tickets-1086879649289?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ticket prices: general, £12; ministry student, £10

Booking closes 8 September 2025