The Present Preacher
Join us for the Northwest Preaching Conference 2022, The Present Preacher. This event brings together a series of accomplished preachers to lead our conversation about what it means to be present to self, culture, text, context and God.
To continue the conversation on social media, please use #PresentPreacher
Keynote Speakers
- Revd Matt Allen is a Church of England Minister and former church leader based in North West England, now working full-time within Emmanuel Theological College as the Blackburn Centre Lead Tutor. He has been teaching homiletics since 2016. His current doctoral research is in practical theology, looking at how our preaching reveals what we believe about Jesus.
- Dr Margaret Cooling has been preaching in a lay capacity for 30 years. She trained at London School of Theology, Spurgeons and St John’s Durham. For most of her working life, she authored books and trained teachers in communicating Christianity through the creative arts. She now brings that experience into the church with a focus on narrative preaching. Through her PhD research, she developed a new form of narrative preaching with a focus on an earthed, invitational, narrative style.
- Revd Dr Julie Lunn is Subject Area Lead and Lecturer in Practical and Social Theology at Nazarene Theological College. She teaches in the areas of Practical Theology, Pastoral Theology, and Christian Spirituality, with a particular interest in Wesley Studies. Her PhD and subsequent book were in the area of the theology and spirituality of Charles Wesley’s poetic texts. Julie is also an ordained Methodist minister.
- Revd Canon Liz Shercliff is the author of three books for preachers, including The Present Preacher from which this conference gets its name. She researches women’s preaching and is the founder of an annual conference for women preachers, Women’s Voices. She is Director of Studies in Chester Diocese, where she trains lay ministers and teaches preaching up to degree level. She has lived most of her life in and around Manchester, supports one of its major football teams and has seen every production at The Royal Exchange Theatre for the last 35 years.
- Revd Dr Calvin T. Samuel is a Methodist minister and theologian working mostly in the UK. He has served as Director of the Wesley Study Centre at Durham University and Principal of the London School of Theology. Prior to this he was New Testament Tutor at Spurgeon’s College and Chaplain to Farringtons School in the Orpington and Chislehurst Methodist Circuit. He has research interests in holiness in Wesleyan tradition and exploring biblical understandings of essential elements of the doctrines of holiness. Samuel has published two books: More Distinct — Reclaiming Holiness for the World Today and Preparing for Marriage.
- Revd Dr Carol Tomlin is a multi-award winning educator and ordained minister with a long and distinguished academic career, teaching in universities nationally and internationally. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at the University of Leeds and Principal of the Kingdom School of Theology. As the senior leader of Restoration Fellowship Ministries with several years of pastoral ministry, she worked as a Healthcare Chaplain. Carol is the author of several academic publications, including her most recent book, Preach It: Understanding African Caribbean Preaching (2019) and her forthcoming book with Dr Victoria Showunmi Understanding and Managing Sophisticated and Everyday Racism: Implications for Education and Work (2022). She is fascinated by different people groups and is a ‘seasoned’ traveller!
Schedule
| 9:00 | Arrivals and coffee |
| 9:15 | Welcome to the day – Julie Lunn (NTC) |
| 9:30 | Session 1: Present to Myself – Liz Shercliff |
| 10:15 | Session 2: Present to My Culture – Carol Tomlin |
| 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30 | Book Launch |
| 12:00 | Session 3: Present to the Text – Margaret Cooling |
| 12:45 | Lunch Break |
| 13:45 | Session 4: Present to the Context – Calvin Samuel |
| 14:30 | Session 5: Present to God – Matt Allen |
| 15:15 | Tea Break |
| 15:45 | Panel Q&A |
| 16:30 | Close – Julie Lunn |
Bookstall
The Church House Bookshop is proud to be the bookseller for this online event. Savings of 20% and more are available on the books listed, available to our online delegates who can’t be at the physical bookstall!
Booking
Booking is now closed. The conference cost £15 (including lunch) to join us on campus and £5 to join via Zoom.
