Reimagining Preaching Program

Engaging Text, Soul, & Culture

Innovating the Act of Preaching

Join interest list for 2026 cohort

Preaching for Transformation

These programs will equip preachers, lay leaders, and others to develop their communication skills, give and receive feedback, and support one another in the art and spiritual practice of crafting sermons.

The next cohorts will launch in September 2026. Fill out the Let’s Connect form below to be notified when applications are being accepted.

Questions?

To receive more info on the Reimagining Preaching Cohort Program or learn how to be a partnering denomination, fill out the “Let’s Connect” form and check “Reimagining Preaching Program.”

Join interest list

Track I: New or Lay Preachers

This program is designed to get more voices into pulpits and to create lay preaching teams that support the sustainability of churches and lessen the load carried by clergy. In Track I, participants will learn and practice the foundational skills needed to craft sermons:

Exegetical tools and practices
Crafting homilies for your specific context
Sermon writing process and sermon structures
Strategies for effective communication

Track II: Experienced Preachers/Clergy

Preaching that sparks transformation takes more than delivering a scripted message. In this program, experienced preachers will reimagine what preaching can be. 2026 Cohort Focus Liberated Voices: learn to speak boldly for the work of liberation in your context.

Participants will:

Evaluate their speaking context to determine how to deepen trust, supporting an ability to speak boldly when necessary.
Discuss their own social privilege and power in order to understand how it impacts their ability to address difficult topics.
Learn to apply concepts of liberation theology and prophetic and apostolic preaching to their ministry context.

How the Reimagining Preaching Cohort Works

The Cohorts are open to people in a diversity of denominational traditions, with a focus on equipping mainline congregations.

Format: Live, online instruction with facilitated workshop and small group elements

Module I: The Lay/New Preacher Track and the Experienced Preachers/Clergy Track meet separately for 6 weeks in 2-hour learn-and-practice sessions

Module II: 8 monthly, 2-hour online combined small groups. In Module 2, experienced and lay preachers are combined into facilitated small groups to practice and refine sermons. In these groups, clergy benefit from the perspectives of laity and lay preachers benefit from the experience of practiced preachers

Time: This cohort meets from September 2026 to April 2027

Cost: $1200

Individuals from partnering denominational regions are eligible for free or discounted participation. Fill out the “Let’s Connect” form to get more information about how your region can become a partner.

Which Track Should I Apply To?

To be a good fit for the Clergy/Experienced Preacher Track, you must meet any of the three following criteria:

Be an ordained clergy member with at least 6 months of experience
Have completed seminary-level classes, including at least 1 class in exegesis and 1 class in preaching, and have preached at least 3 sermons in a congregational context
Have preached at least 15 sermons in a congregational setting and have a recommendation from your current clergy member or a regional denominational leader

To be a good fit for the Lay Preacher/New Preacher Track, you should:

Be new-ish to preaching! This track is for you if you are either of the following:
- Lay person who has never preached before or has preached fewer than 12 sermons in a congregational setting
- Ordained clergy with less than 6 months experience
Have a recommendation from your current clergy member or a regional denominational leader

If you are a lay person with extensive preaching experience and/or seminary training in exegesis, you may want to apply to the Clergy/Experience Preacher track.

Join interest list for 2026 cohort

Reimagining Preaching Program Partners

We are thrilled to partner with regional leadership for the Reimagining Preaching Program. Our partners work closely with the program team to help shape its direction, design, and exposure to the church community. Interested in partnering with us? Contact email our Partner Liaison.