Submissions sought to identify General Assembly preacher
The planning for the 2019 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) being held July 20-24 in Des Moines, IA, is well underway. But one thing remains undecided: the Sunday evening preacher. It could be someone you know (or even you!). The worship planning team invites sermon submissions focused on the assembly theme, “Abide in Me.” Submissions should be rooted in the John 15:1-5 text that supports that theme.
Any ordained or commissioned minister, along with any seminarian pursuing ordination (under care), within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is eligible to participate. Those interested in being considered for this preaching role should submit a video and manuscript of a 25-30 minute sermon in the language of your choice utilizing John 15: 1-5 as the text. Submissions will be accepted between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15. Submitted videos and manuscripts will be reviewed by the denomination’s premier homiletics professors and the worship planning team. (The panel will translate if necessary.) Incomplete submissions cannot be considered.
The selected preacher will be notified by the end of October.
“There are so many voices within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that deserve to be heard,” said Rev. Beau Underwood, first vice-moderator and chair of the Worship Planning Team. “The call for sermons is one way for our church to see who is out there with a fresh, inspiring, and challenging word ready to be shared.”
This process also allows for other emergent voices to be identified for future opportunities, including the possibility of Sunday morning sermons in the area during the General Assembly.
“Through abiding in Jesus, we unite our denomination’s deep spirituality and passion for justice,” said Rev. Terri Hord Owens, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). “This Assembly will emphasize the way those commitments reinforce each other. I look forward to hearing from a diverse set of voices about how we abide together in Christ. I hope preachers across the denomination will prayerfully consider this opportunity to offer a witness and a word.”
To submit your sermon
Preferred method: E-mail script and YouTube link to [email protected]. Make sure the YouTube post is “unlisted” as opposed to private or public. The manuscript should be provided as an attachment to the e-mail (preferably in Word.)
OR Snail mail a thumb drive with the manuscript and video file to: 2019 GA Preaching, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206
OR Snail mail a DVD and printed manuscript to: 2019 GA Preaching, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), PO Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206
The preacher for Sunday evening will be identified no later than Nov. 1, 2018.