What’s happening with the Cultivating the Gift of preaching initiative (CGPI)

We have been given significant time focusing on new recruitment strategies for the 2027-2028 round of CGPI participants.

One thing that we have discovered over the last few months is that there are still many congregations and individuals in the Synod who are unaware that the CGPI program even exists, in particular smaller rural and urban congregations.

In order to get the word out we are planning a handful of CGPI “pop-up” events around the Synod. These “pop-up” events are designed to give people a taste of CGPI. They will be mini versions of our annual conference and include worship and a select number of the workshops that participants attend during their time in the CGPI program. So if you, or someone you know, is discerning a call to preach come and check out what being a CGPI participant involves. We will announce these events shortly, so stay tuned!

We have also decided to open the annual Alma Conference to individuals who are interested in being a CGPI participant but are not yet ready to commit to the 18-month program. So, again, if you, or someone you know, is interested in deeper preaching formation and want to check out what the CGPI program before committing to the 18-monthh program, please plan to attend the 4^th annual conference June 10-14, 2027

We also plan to have our current participants visit congregations across the synod and share about their experiences in the CGPI program.

Speaking of our current participant’s, this month our new participants (2026-2027) are focusing on the sermon preparation process and the steps that preachers take each week. Our second year participants (2025-2026) are discussing preaching and plagiarism, with attention to online resources and AI.

As always, please continue to pray for our participants and mentors and in the program. Please do not hesitate to recommend individuals to the program and/or to reach out with any questions.

Dr. Matthew J. Aragon Bruce

Program Director, Cultivating the Gift of Preaching

matt@synodofthecovenant.org