IST3046-1HY-FA14 - Preacher as Self: Cultivating an Authentic Voice

Instructor: Holly Heuer

E-mail: hollyheuer@ecentral.com

Office Hours: by appointment

Course Synopsis

The post-modern church wants real preachers.  They are not so much interested in effective rhetoric, moral uprightness or even social media wizardry.  They want people who preach a gospel that has scoured their own souls.  Ironically, in an age when preachers can get a million great sermons at the touch of a finger, they can’t mimic others without risking what is most precious – their own authentic voice.   The Enneagram, a map of human reality,  gives the preacher a tool to identify the unconscious pull of their personality.  It supports waking up to our habitual patterns, so that we can choose to become more present to our experience.  When preachers know themselves, and can be themselves, their sermons are more nourishing.

Books for the Course

Required Texts for BV 3046:  The Preacher as Self:  Cultivating an Authentic Voice

• Almaas, A.H., The Unfolding Now:  Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence. ISBN-10: 1590305590 ISBN-13: 978-1590305591
• Jackson, Cari, For the Souls of Black Folks:  Reimagining Black Preaching for 21 ^st Century Liberation ISBN-10: 1620323001 ISBN-13: 978-1620323007
• Placher, William C., Narratives of a Vulnerable God:  Christ, Theology and Scripture. ISBN-10: 0664255345 ISBN-13: 978-0664255343
• Riso, Don and Hudson, Russ, The Wisdom of the Enneagram:  The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types. ISBN-10: 0553378201 ISBN-13: 978-0553378207
• Schlafer, David J., Your Way with God’s Word:  Discovering Your Distinctive Preaching Voice. ISBN-10: 1561011185 ISBN-13: 978-1561011186

Suggested Texts:

• Allen, Ronald J., Patterns of Preaching:  A Sermon Sampler. ISBN-10: 0827229534 ISBN-13: 978-0827229532
• Rohr, Richard and Ebert, Andreas, The Enneagram:  A Christian Perspective ISBN-10: 0824519507 ISBN-13: 978-0824519506
• Craddock, Fred. B., Preaching ISBN-10: 0687659949 ISBN-13: 978-0687659944
• Maitri, Sandra, The Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram. ISBN-10: 1585420816 ISBN-13: 978-1585420810
• Tolomeo, Diane, Gervais, Pearl, and De Roo, Remi J., Biblical Characters and the Enneagram:  Images of Transformation ISBN-10: 0921513135 ISBN-13: 978-0921513131

See Taylor Library's list of online book sellers for purchasing options.

Course Requirements

This course aims to help students deepen their self- awareness as it relates to preaching, using the Enneagram as a tool.  The goal is to improve their preaching skills and to discriminate what is authentic from what is artificial in their own and others’ sermons.  In order to fulfill these goals, this course focuses on: 

1. Learning the psychological, spiritual, theological and cultural understandings of being human and being authentic, using the Enneagram as a tool.
2. Gaining knowledge about homiletical methods, biblical interpretation, the sermonic design, the use of language, and delivery.
3. Learning to recognize authenticity in the written and spoken word.
4. Practicing authentic preaching in class and actual ministerial settings.
5. Receiving critical and constructive sermon evaluations by peers and the instructor, as well as through self-reflection.

Students who want to contract for a grade of P/F must send a note to the instructor in writing by September 17 (Wed).  You will receive the grade of “P” by completing the 6 requirements listed in Section VI.

The normal grading system is used for a letter grade (The 2011-2012 Master’s Handbook, p. 67).  In order to ensure accountability and fairness, the following grading system will be applied:

                  Requirements #1 and #2………….…..………………          35%

                  Requirements # 3 and #4……………………………..          20%    

                  Requirements #5 and #6………….……………….               45%

                                                                                             ____________

                                                                                                              Total 100%

The Iliff grading system is a five-letter system from A through F with pluses and minuses. In computing grade point average (GPAs), grades are assigned the following numerical values (The 2011-2012 Master’s Student Handbook, p. 67):

                        A :       4.00   (100 − 96%)

                  A-:       3.75   (95 – 91%)

                        B+:      3.25   (90 – 86%)

                        B :       3.00   (85 – 81%)

                        B-:       2.75   (80 − 76%)

                        C+:      2.25   (75 – 71%)

                        C :       2.00   (70 – 66%)

*Late submissions of assignments will result in lowering your grade (-2 points for each late submission).

*The use of inclusive language is strongly urged in all discussions, sermons, writings, etc.

Policies and Services

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.