What's Happening with Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Initiative?

What’s Happening with Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Initiative (CGPI)?

We are in full swing getting ready to welcome a new group of emerging preachers into the CGPI program! The second round of participants will join our current participants at the Second Annual Alma Preaching Conference, at Alma College, June 12-16th.

Preacher-Mentor the Rev. Dr. Derrick McQueen teaching us about selecting and using good commentaries

We have over 25 newly accepted participants from across the Synod, with a handful of applications still trickling in. Our soft deadline for applications was April 15th, but we do still have a small number of open slots. The hard deadline is May 15th when we have to let Alma know our final numbers for housing. So, if you know someone who may be discerning a call to serve Jesus, the Church and the World, through the ministry of proclamation, please do encourage them to apply – maybe it’s you that God is calling! If you have any questions, please reach out to Matt Aragon Bruce, the CGPI program director. You can also read more about CGPI here.

When we gather this June, participants will meet their mentors and cohort members as well as other emerging preachers from around the Synod. They will also hear lectures on the preaching life from Kimberly Wagner, Asst. Professor of Preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. They will also attend workshops ranging from an overview of the Bible, basics of biblical interpretation, storytelling, planning a worship service, an introduction to the Book of Confessions, and more. And we will worship together, have fellowship over meals, and explore together how to shine the light of the Good News of the Kingdom of God into our fractured world. It’s no surprise that in last year’s post-conference feedback one of our participants described the conference as Bible Camp for Preachers!

Please do continue to recommend CGPI to ruling elders and members across the Synod who are called to preach. And please pray for CGPI participants and staff, and especially our new participants, as we get ready to gather together this June.

Dr. Matthew J. Aragon Bruce

Program Director, CGPI

matt@synodofthecovenant.org

609-712-4258

Synod office Manger Heather Johnston, Preacher-mentor Rev. Dr. Jeff Schooley, and participants Peg Buda, Ajah Hales, and Mike Schull take a snack break in between workshops