Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative

Report on the 2026 Survey of Clergy

Upcoming Events

Free online, asynchronous preaching class: August 17 through October 9, 2026.

Open to all CP / CPCA clergy, probationers, and lay preachers.

In this course, Rev. Dr. Heidi Johnson invites us to consider how even the most difficult Biblical narratives can be preached in ways that lead congregations more deeply into the Christian story and worship. We’ll explore the ancient practice of Mystagogical Preaching: a way of reading the entire Bible through a Christ-centered lens, leading the congregation directly to Baptism and Communion.

  • 8 asynchronous online lectures (about 30 minutes each)
  • 2 live Q+A / review sessions
  • one-on-one sermon coaching
  • a free book when you complete the course
Register for the "Preaching the Mystery" Class

Plans are underway for a Hispanic Preaching Conference next year.

Hosted by Faith CPC (Bartlett, TN) and sponsored by the Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative, this in-person event will also be live-streamed and recorded.

If you are interested in attending and would like to learn more, please fill out the interest form at the link below:

Hispanic Preaching Conference Interest Form

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Will This Week's Sermon Matter?

[08.05.24]
Do You Practice What You Preach?

[08.12.24]
The Spinach in Your Sermon's Teeth

[08.19.24]
Are Your Online Services "Streams of Living Water," or Just Streams?

[08.26.24]
Are You Laboring on Labor Day??

[09.02.24]
Advent is Coming: Are You Ready?

[09.09.24]
This Email Needs a Title (and your sermon does, too)

[09.16.24]
The Big-C Communion of the Little-s Saints

[09.23.24]
A Time with Children (big and small!)

[09.30.24]
It Starts with the Heart (and it ends there, too).

[10.07.24]
An Attitude of Gratitude (it's more than just a "platitude!")

[10.14.24]
"A Sermon Has Many Ears, But Only One Mouth."

[10.21.24]
The Word of the Day: COMPELLING

[10.28.24]
Compelling Preaching Reaches People

[11.04.24]
Compelling Preaching is Our Priority

[11.11.24]
Episodic Preaching: A Beginner's Guide

[11.18.24]
Receive this Benediction: The Lord Bless You and Keep You

[11.25.24]
In the Beginning was the Introduction

[12.02.24]
Gaudete Sunday (i.e.--the one with the pink candle)

[12.09.24]
Just Jesus (everything else is details)

[12.16.24]
Mary Pondered... and so do I.

[12.23.24]
Reflect and Recommit: Remembering Your "Why"

[12.30.24]
"The Answer Is..."
(Hint: "NO" is not a four-letter word!)

[01.06.25]
"Preaching the Good Funeral"

[01.13.25]
"Show and Tell"(Bringing Scripture to Life)

[01.20.25]
"Thou Shalt Honor the Context"

[01.27.25]
"Instruct. Delight. Persuade."

[02.03.25]
"Worship"

[02.10.25]
"God Verb"

[02.17.25]
"Lent"

[02.24.25]
"Ashes"

[03.03.25]
"A Charge to Keep"

[03.10.25]
"Come Out with Your Hands Up!"

[03.17.25]
"Consider this…"

[03.24.25]
"I've Got a Question"

[03.31.25]
"Somthing Old"

[04.07.25]
"It's Holy Week"

[04.14.25]
"Blessed Stress"

[04.21.25]
"Mother's Day"

[04.28.25]
"Dear Theologians"

[05.05.25]
"Preacher & Poet"

[05.12.25]
"Spirit of the Living God"

[5.19.25]
"The Ultimate Sacrifice"

[5.26.25]
“My Neighbor's Yard”

[6.2.25]
“Hard to Say, Hard to Hear”

[6.9.25]
"When I Survey”

[6.16.25]
“Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me”

[6.23.25]
“E pluribus unum, Ya’ll”

[6.30.25]
"Know Your Audience"

[7.7.25]
"Weddings and Funerals"

[7.14.25]
"Leaders Lead"

[7.21.25]
"Mysterious"

[7.28.25]
Will This Week's Sermon Matter? [08.05.24]
Do You Practice What You Preach? [08.12.24]
The Spinach in Your Sermon's Teeth [08.19.24]
Are Your Onlne Services Streams of Living Water, or Just Streams? [08.26.24]

This initiative is a five-year program funded by a $1.25 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Foundation aimed at helping pastors to improve their preaching skills and deepen their understanding of what makes preaching compelling for diverse audiences.

The program design includes two preaching conferences (2025 and 2027), two spiritual retreats (2026 and 2028), quarterly online cohort preaching groups, a preaching track to be held concurrently with the Program of Alternate Studies Summer Extension Session, and technology grants available to participating pastors.

Program Director – Rev. Jen Newell
Email
Phone – 901.276.4572, x265

Check back here for information as program details develop. A resource pastors might find helpful now is Zeteo Preaching + Worship. This is an online resource for preparing a sermon, planning worship, teaching a class or studying to deepen your faith. You will need to register in order to access the resource – Register.

Will This Week's Sermon Matter?

[08.05.24]
Do You Practice What You Preach?

[08.12.24]
The Spinach in Your Sermon's Teeth

[08.19.24]
Are Your Online Services "Streams of Living Water," or Just Streams?

[08.26.24]
Laboring on Labor Day

[09.02.24]
Advent is Coming!
(Are you ready?)

[09.09.24]
This Email Needs a Title (and your sermon does, too)

[09.16.24]
The Big-C Communion of the Little-s Saints

[09.23.24]
A Time with Children

[09.30.24]
It Starts with the Heart (and it ends there, too).

[10.07.24]