The Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) and Province VII announced today that the two organizations have partnered to offer a weekend intensive “Deep Dive” into preaching excellence in the context of diaconate ministry. The course will be held on the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday, September 26^thand 27^thvia Zoom and will be open to all Deacons in Province VII. In recognition of the non-stipendiary nature of diaconate ministry the cost of the course will be underwritten by the EPF and Province VII.  This will the EPF’s first preaching conference offered specifically for diaconal clergy.

The conference will be led by The Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith, Dean of the EPF Faculty and Rector of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin, OH and a leader of lay ministry training in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The will open with a plenary address, and feature working preacher panel and multiple small facilitated preaching groups in which participants will preach to peer feedback. Particular emphasis will be given to exegesis.

The faculty includes:

The Rev. William A. Doubleday, Emeritus Professor of Pastoral Theology at Bexley Seabury and General Theological Seminaries, who has during a long career has served in chaplaincy capacities as well as parish leadership and academia.

The Very Rev. Sylvia Sweeney, Dean and President of Bloy House Episcopal Theological Seminary in Los Angeles where she teaches homiletics

The Rev. Kimberly Jackson, Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of Atlanta and prospective State Senator. The Rev. Jackson is currently Rector of the Church of the Common Ground in Atlanta, a church without walls that serves people who are currently unhoused.

Episcopal Province VII comprises the dioceses of Arkansas, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Kansas, N.W. Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Grande, Texas, West Missouri, West Texas, Western Kansas, and Western Louisiana.

Peter Wild, Executive Director of the EPF said: “After more than 30 years of training seminarians and parish clergy in the culture of preaching excellence, this will be the first preaching conference that the EPF has convened specifically for the diaconate. This will enable the faculty to focus directly on the topics and the homiletic emphasis that are of greatest importance to deacons at this unique time in our culture.”

"This conference provides a great opportunity for deacons across Province VII to come together in a format that is accessible to their schedules, since most are bi-vocational. We are so pleased to partner with EPF for this unique offering and explore the distinctive nature of diaconal preaching" -  conference co-organizer Tracie Middleton, President of AED and Deacon in the Diocese of Ft. Worth.

Information and registration details can be found at: www.preachingfoundation.org

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