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

Updated: Jun 30

What’s happening is that we are coming down from the spiritual mountain that was the second annual Alma Preaching Conference!

 

From June 12-16, 24 new CGPI participants joined our 18 existing participants, along with mentors, presenters, and Synod staff for five days of discussing preaching, listening to experienced preachers and teachers talk about preaching and all that goes into it, and of course hearing some wonderful examples of preaching!


CGPI participants, mentors, speakers, and staff take a break to take a group picture during the 2025 Alma Preaching Conference outside Andison Chapel on the Alma College Campus.
CGPI participants, mentors, speakers, and staff take a break to take a group picture during the 2025 Alma Preaching Conference outside Andison Chapel on the Alma College Campus.

Our keynote speaker this year was the Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner, Asst. Professor of Preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Wagner spoke to us about the preaching life, touching on how faithful proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ needs community. She also reflected on the task and need of faithful proclamation at a time when the polarization and division that characterize US society as a whole are just as prevalent within our congregations.


The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner lectures to all CGPI participants about locating and naming where we are when we preach.
The Rev. Dr. Kimberly Wagner lectures to all CGPI participants about locating and naming where we are when we preach.

Our new emergent preachers spent time getting to know one another, their mentors, and their fellow cohort members. They also attended workshops on topics such as, an overview of the Bible, an overview of Reformed Theology, the basics of public speaking for preachers, exegesis (biblical interpretation) for preaching, storytelling and more. Our second year participants reconnected with their mentors and cohort members in person, and attended workshops on planning a worship service, preaching for social justice, and an introduction to the Book of Confessions.

 

We were blessed to hear wonderful, creative, and inspiring sermons from our new mentors and Dr. Wagner. More than one participant told me that these were some of the most impactful sermons they’d ever heard. And we were given the gift of beautiful worship in the Alma College chapel.


Left: CGPI mentor Jeanne Gay preaches about Pentecost. Right: CGPI Mentor Brady Radford preaches about the need for our ongoing conversion.


And we fellowshipped around good food with old and new friends, united in the love of God for us and our love for God and the church!


 First year participant Jose Jones, returning participant Alice McCollum, and mentor Pamela Short, fellowship over a meal.
 First year participant Jose Jones, returning participant Alice McCollum, and mentor Pamela Short, fellowship over a meal.

Finally, I am happy to report that just minutes before our opening dinner, I got the first application for the next program year! We will come a new group of emergent preachers, June 4-8, 2026, at our third annual conference. If you are discerning a call to preach, or know someone else who is, please consider applying to CGPI. I would be delighted to speak to you about it!

 

Grace and peace to you!

609-712-4258

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