Panel on Preaching and Leadership
This evening I was able to watch and listen to the second half of a wonderful panel on “Preaching and Leadership” hosted by Union Presbyterian Seminary. The panel featured Rev Brad Paxton, Rev Shannon Kershner, Rev John Cleghorn, and host Dr. Rich Voelz.
Here are a few of my notes from the second 30 minutes of the panel discussion.
From Rev John Cleghorn:
Knowing what I don’t know” is an essential part of wisdom when it comes to leading and preaching.
Rev Brad Paxton shared:
I teach imagination for a living. Imagination is paying attention to what is for the sake of what may be. It’s a disciplined paying attention… When a pastor doesn’t know what to preach, they have stopped paying attention.”
Rev Shannon Kershner shared:
Your voice and who you are is who God has called into that pulpit. You do not need to try and be who you think the congregation wants you to be.
How does leadership from the pulput go wrong? What are its limits?
Recommended books by Abraham Joshua Heschel, via Rev Brad Paxton.
From Rev John Cleghorn:
Humility is key. Leadership in the pulput goes wrong when we lift up our own indispensability. We must remember we are but one among many vital voices.
From Rev Shannon Kershner:
“Use Scripture as bread not stone.” An idea from feminist theology, recognizing the Word can and does nourish.
Preach in a way that is invitational. that does not back people into a corner.
From a person in the pew, via Rev Shannon Kershner:
We know you have to tell us hard things. But please tell them to us softly.
From Rev John Cleghorn:
People come to worship services for MANY reasons, it’s important that it’s not always for the sermon… “that’s just part of the buffet” which is Sunday morning worship… Learning over time to speak and preach with less absolutism…. and to listen to the congregation… “Exegeting” the Word as well as the congregation.
How can preaching help lead people through these times of significant change and anxiety?
From Rev John Cleghorn:
These are challenging and difficult times… but if we believe in a God of resurrection and new life, we must remember that ‘this too shall pass.’
Rev Brad Paxton shared:
Sankofa: To go back and reclaim… to go back and remember what the ancients survived and persevered through… With a spirit of humility we can strengthen our muscles for struggle and resistance… Hard is authorized… working from cross to resurrection.
From Rev Shannon Kershner:
I am trying not to always be reactionary to the latest thing / news… Focusing on who we have been, and how that intersects with what is happening now in the nation. It’s hard! I get tired! It’s non-stop… but we need to remember this is not new… I’ve reclaimed the ‘powers and principalities’ language. Preaching a tough and resilient hope in Jesus Christ that holds Friday, Saturday and Sunday…. Not toxic positivity, but resiliency and joy that defines who we are as followers of Jesus… The litergy is the work of the people!
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