Events

Fall Preaching Conference
September 2004
Calvin Theological Seminary

Sponsors:
Center for Excellence in Preaching
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

The following presentations are available in Real Audio:

"Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls"

Panel discussion on themes of the book
with Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Ron Nydam, Cherith Nordling, and Carol Rottman

"The Preacher as Minor Poet"

Scripture Texts for Preaching (from John 4:1-42)

Videotapes are also available for purchase from the Calvin Campus Store (search catalog by title "Fall Preaching Conference").

Presenter:
The Rev. Craig Barnes, Ph.D., became the Meneilly Professor of Leadership and Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2002.  The Meneilly Professorship was designed to provide instruction in understanding the dynamics of congregational life and leadership and provides experienced pastoral presence on the seminary campus. Barnes also serves as senior pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. Previously, he served as the senior pastor of The National Presbyterian Church, Washington DC, and Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison, Wisconsin.

At this year’s Fall Preaching Conference, M. Craig Barnes spoke on two important subjects.
      First, he reflected on his recent book Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls, which is the Fall Book of the Quarter at Calvin Theological Seminary. Barnes told how this book developed through his reflections on the journeys of his grandfather, father, and daughter, as well as his parishioners, all of whom are searching for home in different ways. A panel discussion followed this presentation.
      Second, he spoke on “The Preacher as Minor Poet,” the topic of his forthcoming Eerdmans volume. Barnes considered the subtexts of Scripture and of people’s lives, and addressed the role of the
preacher in exegeting both and building the bridge between them.
     He also led a discussion of how to preach particular Biblical passages in light of these themes.
     Viewers from around the country listened through the Seminary simulcast web feed.

Recommended books by the conference speaker:

Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls (Brazos Press, 2003)
When God Interrupts: Finding New Life through Unwanted Change (InterVarsity Press, 1996)
An Extravagant Mercy: Reflections on Ordinary Things (Vine Books, 2003)
Sacred Thirst: Meeting God in the Desert of Our Longings (Zondervan, 2001)
Yearning: Living Between How It Is and How it Ought To Be (InterVarsity Press, 1992)
Hustling God: Why We Work So Hard for What God Wants to Give (Zondervan, 1999)
Growing Up True: Lessons from a Western Boyhood (Fulcrum Publishing, 2001)