Learning from African American Preaching

This course is primarily designed to improve student preaching through exposure to one of the strongest preaching traditions today. African American preaching varies widely and combines evangelical fervour with social concern. It will be considered against the backdrop of black history and culture, theology of the Word, hermeneutics, composing for oral delivery, and homiletical theory and practice. This is not a course in how to preach as an African American, or in imitating the voice, gesture, or style of a culture not one's own; it is designed to stretch preachers beyond what may be familiar to help them to be more bold and imaginative in proclamation of the gospel, and to offer resources to develop their own preaching voice and stye. The course will consist of video and audio clips, lectures, seminar presentations and class sermons. Evaluation: class presentations and seminar, 10%; two sermons, 70%; journal of reflections on readings and sermons, 20%.