Last year, website traffic was at an all-time high for the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary.
Rev. Jul Medenblik, president of CTS, speaks at a seminary gathering with philosopher/ author James K.A. Smith.
November 2011 alone set a new record, as more than 14,000 pastors visited the site, accessing 47,000 pages of materials related to sermon-starter ideas and more.
Meanwhile, the center sponsored a number of initiatives, including the Fall Preaching Conference that featured Paul Scott Wilson, a professor of homiletics and an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada.
The center also hosted the Fall “Book of the Semester” program, featuring Letters to a Young Calvinist by Calvin College philosopher James K.A. Smith, who had a wide-ranging conversation at CTS about his book with a crowd of students, staff, faculty, and members of community reading groups.
The center, in addition, encouraged people to attend the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s annual symposium on worship in late January to hear well-known speakers discuss preaching and worship.
As always, the center offered—and continues to offer—its “This Week in Preaching” page (www.calvinseminary.edu/index.php) that posts fresh ideas and resources for preaching every week.
About the Author
Rev. Scott Hoezee is director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Mich. He is the author of several books, including Grace Through Every Generation, an overview of the CRC’s history, particularly the past 50 years, as well as a peek ahead (available from Faith Alive: www.FaithAliveResources.org, 1-800-333-8300).
