Preaching forms a vital part of the formation of all candidates at SEI. Opportunities for practising homiletical skills occur on placement and at Residential Weekends; here you see third year Moray, Ross and Caithness ordinand Blayne Peacock about to preach at last Sunday’s Eucharist in Kinnoull. Similarly the theory is addressed at several levels in the classroom setting.
As part of its mission to ensure that ministers are prepared to preach — and to preach well — SEI is offering a Level 7 module on ‘Preaching in a Ministerial Context’ for the first time in 2023. This module aims to give students advanced insights into the theory and practice of preaching, taking into consideration the complex relationship between contemporary culture, current events and Holy Scripture.
The module is being offered by the Revd Canon John McLuckie, Rector of Old St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh, (below) a gifted and masterful proponent of the art. John will explore the practice of preaching through the lenses of the experiences and praxes of the module’s participants, seeking to equip students to strengthen their knowledge and skills in a practical fashion; that is, he will seek to create ‘a workshop for practitioners’. He and the participants will pay particular attention to the liturgical, ministerial and pastoral contexts of preachers and charges, with a view to enabling them to sustain a fruitful preaching ministry
John hopes that, by the end of the module, participants will have access to a wide range of interpretive tools for scriptural preaching that is cognizant of differing contexts and of a preacher’s own pastoral capabilities. The sessions will be conversational, reflective; they will depend more on facilitation than the delivery of content, insofar as learning requires proficiency in reflective practice and imaginative communication.
‘Preaching in a Ministerial Context’ is set to run on ten Wednesday evenings at 7pm (8 & 15 February; 1, 8, 22 & 29 March; 19 & 26 April; and 3 &17 May). Whilst only Common Awards students may complete this module for credit, those in authorised ministry are welcome to audit the module as part of their CMD. Please contact SEI’s Director of Studies (dos@scotland.anglican.org) if you’re interested.
Photos courtesy of OSP and Ross Stirling-Young
