Summer 2019/Pasadena
PR528
Boles
PR528: PREACHING IN THE TRADITION(S) (4 Units: 164 hours). Paul Boles.
DESCRIPTION: PR528 is designed as a 4-unit practicum in preaching that follows PR500 in the “Developing” and “Mastery” levels of competence by preparing, preaching, listening to, responding to, and assessing sermons in a classroom setting. Instructors lead students through the following steps: assessing one’s prior preaching experience; setting personal goals for the class; preparing and preaching sermons; receiving feedback on sermons and engaging in self-assessment; making specific plans for continued growth and improvement; reflecting on one’s experience during the class; setting goals for continued learning and growth in preaching after completion of the class.
How can we come to better understandings of ourselves as preachers and the patterns of handling the biblical texts that we have (perhaps unwittingly) fallen into? One way is by being held accountable to those historical voices that have helped shape the homiletical tradition not only through their own preaching, but also through their explicit reflection/instruction on the function and nature of the sermon and the preaching event. Both St. Augustine and Karl Barth are held dear in many circles of Western Christianity. But their approaches to preaching are radically different. This course will use these two shapers of the homiletical tradition as a sort of foil for ourselves by exploring what may be their encouragements and critiques of the student’s own preaching.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated (1) competence in biblical interpretation through faithful use of the whole canon of Scripture in proclaiming the gospel; (2) capacities for engaging listeners in preaching as a formative activity in the context of worship; (3) an understanding of how the theology of the Church and hits historical developments, including the practice of preaching, inform the proclamation of the gospel in the present; and (4) competence in preaching as a theologically reflective practice that serves the Church’s vocation of proclaiming the gospel in the whole of life.
COURSE FORMAT: The class meets twice weekly in a four hour session for five weeks for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom. The course is focused primarily on practice, but also requires a moderate amount of outside reading to assist in the process of assessing and reflecting on sermons. The practicum is led by the professor and requires participation by the whole class. Students preach a minimum of three (3) sermons for which they receive feedback, evaluative comments, and guidance to encourage continued reflection, learning, and growth. Students also engage in self-assessment and reflection after each sermon. In addition to class discussion following each sermon, students are able to consult individually with the professor.
REQUIRED READING: 625 total pages required.
Augustine. Essential Sermons. New City Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-1565482760, Pub. Price $39.95 [250 pp. assigned].
________. On Christian Teaching. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199540631, Pub. Price $12.95 [85 pp. assigned].
Barth, Karl. Homiletics. Westminster John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251581, Pub. Price $30.00 [110 pp. assigned].
Willimon, William, ed. The Early Preaching of Karl Barth. Westminster John Knox, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233679, Pub. Price $25.00 [180 pp. assigned].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
PREREQUISITES: PR500. It is recommended that students take preaching courses towards the end of their program.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the P1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the core requirement in Preaching and Communication (MIN2) in the 144 MDiv program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.