Workshops in Communication

Embodying Ministry!
Moving Sundays for Pastors, the Public, and Performers

Todd Farley (and others)

Rescheduled for Summer 2008

This workshop focuses on the use of the body to communicate faith through preaching, music and worship leading, art directing, sacred dance, leading healing and song services, and the like. Attendees explore gestures and movement (mime/drama) appropriate for preaching and leading worship. Each session offers instruction (theological or historical-apologetic), technique (for non-movers and movers alike!), and a practical assignment to be completed in class. Includes four specialized sessions (see below). Cost: $200 includes Friday lunch and snacks (50%-off scholarships available to full-time college students). Register now to reserve your place. This workshop is co-sponsored with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. This workshop has been rescheduled for summer 2008.

Sessions

(1) Embodied Preaching — Designed for preachers who want to know how to use their bodies to enhance delivery, this session will help you express concepts of time, place, and character through gesture. It will help you develop a medium of movement that is appropriate for you while exploring the possibilities of this often-overlooked aspect of delivery. Benefits:

  • Gain visual confidence in front of a group/congregation
  • Become more comfortable with gesture, movement, and posture
  • Learn meaningful gestures and movements
  • Understand your own dynamic range
  • Discover how to communicate complex concepts such as time, place and character, through the use of gesture, focus, and posture
  • Enrich the expressiveness of your preaching

(2) Enacted Preaching — Designed for those who want to use biblical and illustrative stories to make messages come alive, this session will help you "enact" your own sermons/lessons using basic mime and drama skills. Benefits:

  • Gain confidence in sharing “stories” that convey truth
  • Improve your ability to illustrate your own sermons
  • Learn techniques for effective storytelling
  • Acquire mime and drama techniques that are easily used by otherwise "non-artistic” preachers
  • Enjoy communicating in Jesus' own style of artistic preaching

(3) Sacerdotal Gestures — Every pastor is responsible for conducting sacerdotal duties such as communion, blessing, and baptism. But how can a pastor or worship leader "physically" gesture to enhance and honor such occasions? How much gesture and movement is appropriate? How should a leader help the participants feel at ease and included? Are there particular gestures that help convey the significance of each occasion? Benefits:

  • Gain confidence when performing sacerdotal events, such as communion and baptism
  • Learn a useful gestural vocabulary
  • Recognize how to be inclusive and welcoming in your gestures
  • Discern how to add meaning and depth through gesture
  • Discover how to honor and support (through gestures and posture) those whom you serve

(4) Theatre, Sunday Morning and Evangelism — Churches around the world are beginning to use theatre for evangelism in Sunday services and missions. What is the potential for appropriate use of dramatic arts in Lord's Day worship and the mission field? How can you encourage the fitting use of dramatic gifts? Benefits:

  • Gain theological insight into the potential for arts in ministry
  • Acquire a balanced perspective on using dramatic arts in worship
  • Learn to use the arts to express celebration, praise, and other ministry
  • Expand your knowledge of using the arts well in missions
  • Acquire perspective on how arts leadership should be properly formed and focused
  • Find out how the arts can effectively illustrate a sermon without detracting from it or becoming entertainment
  • Discover how God has used dramatic arts to communicate His Word in ages past and is using the same gifts around the globe today
Todd Farley has served as Artist in Residence for the Brehm Center for Worship Theology and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently professor at Calvin College as well International Director of Mimeistry (a performing arts college and ministry). Mentored by the legendary Marcel Marceau, Todd has toured the world using mime/physical theatre as a form of ministry for 28 years. He has been a keynote speaker at international conferences on the Arts in the Church.

Todd Farley, Ph.D.
Author of many articles, books, and
videos about using the arts in ministry.