Commencement celebration events have come to pass, but we’re still celebrating our incredible graduates and buzzing from the joy radiating from the Class of 2026 and their families and friends. The festivities began with a private graduate dinner on Thursday, May 14 and Baccalaureate Chapel on Friday, May 15. The special chapel service featured moving music from the CTS Chapel team and special musicians, stirring interpretive dance, the announcement of 2026 Award recipients, and a powerful sermon. It concluded with a prayer of blessing and gratitude for our graduates.

Celebrations continued with the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16 in Shelton Auditorium. The gathering was both a celebration of the new graduates and a testament to the enduring legacy of CTS alumni who have made significant impacts in their communities and professions.

As we look back on this memorable weekend, we invite you to relive the moments and emotions by checking out our Commencement 2026 photo reel. This collection captures the joy, excitement, and anticipation of our graduates as they embark on their next chapter. Enjoy these highlights and join us in celebrating the bright futures of the Class of 2026!

Summer Reflection: What Legacy Do You Hope to Leave?  

 

Summer often invites us into moments of pause — graduations, family gatherings, travel, and time to reflect on where we have been and where we hope the future will lead. The pace of life shifts, if only briefly, and creates space to consider the people, experiences, and values that have shaped us. 

As we think about those who have influenced our own journeys, we may also begin asking deeper questions: What has mattered most in my life? What values do I hope endure? How do I hope others will remember my impact? 

Legacy is often misunderstood as something measured only in financial terms. Yet the most meaningful legacies are rarely defined by possessions or accomplishments alone. They are found in acts of generosity, lives of service, faith shared across generations, communities strengthened, and opportunities created for others. They live in the relationships we nurture and the causes we choose to support. 

For many members of the Christian Theological Seminary community, legacy takes shape in the belief that theological education, spiritual formation, counseling, and faithful leadership can continue to transform lives and communities for generations to come. The impact of those commitments extends far beyond a single moment or season. 

For some, reflecting on legacy also becomes an opportunity to consider how personal values might continue through future plans. A planned gift — whether through a will, retirement account, charitable trust, or another giving vehicle — can be one way to ensure that the people and institutions that have mattered most continue to flourish. 

Planned giving is not reserved for a particular stage of life or for those with extraordinary resources. Often, it begins with a simple question: 

What do I hope continues because I was here? 

As summer offers time for rest and reflection, perhaps it also offers an invitation to consider the legacy you hope to leave — not only in the future, but in the lives you are shaping today. 

To learn more about how legacy giving can support the mission of Christian Theological Seminary and help sustain faithful leadership for generations to come, we would welcome a conversation. Please contact, Dr. Kristin Champa, Vice President for Advancement at kchampa@cts.edu. 

 

CTS Students and Alumni Invited to Upcoming Disciples Gatherings 

 

CTS students and alumni have several opportunities in the coming months to connect with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through regional and national gatherings focused on worship, learning, fellowship, and community engagement. 

As a historic and ongoing partner of the denomination, Christian Theological Seminary encourages students, alumni, and friends to participate in these opportunities for connection and collaboration. 

Biennial Session – National Convocation 

From June 11-14, the National Convocation will be hosting its Biennial Session in Dallas, Texas. This is a gathering for worship, learning, fellowship, and fun among the ministry of the DOC that supports African American congregations. The focus of the National Convocation is to promote reconciliation and address social issues. 

Several CTS staff members will be in attendance to connect with students, alumni, and denominational partners, including Stephanie Seeger (Alumni Relations) and Dr. DeNeen Collins (Director of Recruiting and Admissions). CTS hosts an alumni reception following Friday evening’s worship service on July 12. Interested alumni can email Stephanie with any questions. 

Dr. Collins is attending the gathering to engage prospective students for CTS degree programs and events. She said it is an important event to attend because it allows African American congregations and its members a time to gather and celebrate together.  

“The camaraderie and energy of attendees (including many CTS alumni) is a highlight,” Collins said. “Also, being able to socialize with other recruiters is time well spent.” She added that attendance at the National Convocation offers CTS an opportunity to lean into its vision as a supportive DOC community member. 

This year’s theme is “Revive. Reset. Resist.” The sessions will focus on training clergy and laity leaders as well as equip and empower congregations to do missions and ministry for our time. More information is available on the National Convocation website.  

Virtual General Assembly 

On July 10-11, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be hosting a virtual General Assembly. Inspired by Ephesians 3:14–21, the theme “BEYOND: Love Surpassing” invites participants to explore new ways of being church rooted in love, connection, and shared ministry 

Individuals, Congregations, General Ministries, Regional Ministers, Ministry partners, and friends will gather online to actively take part in these conversations which will explore a new way of being church.  

This is the first virtual General Assembly since the decision was made to move the gatherings to every three years with on-line options in the interim years. The hope is that these annual, virtual opportunities will allow more Disciples to connect and work together. The format will include sessions focused on education, discussion, worship, business, fellowship, and action.  

Registration is only $30 and the virtual platform will offer closed captioning in five languages. There are churches around the globe that will be hosting sites where individuals are encouraged to gather and take part communally. Details of the event, including registration, are now available here. 

Indiana Region – Regional Gathering 

Closer to home, the Indiana Region will host its “Building Together in Love” Assembly October 2–3 in Fishers, Indiana. Hoosier Disciples are encouraged to participate in this regional opportunity for worship, fellowship, and collaboration. Registration is now open. 

New Neighbor, Shared Mission: Butler Founder’s College and the CTS Library 

 

Visitors returning to the CTS Library may notice something new above the library entrance. The previously unoccupied upper-level space now houses Butler University’s Founder’s College — an innovative program designed to expand access, opportunity, and support for students pursuing higher education. 

Touted as a “different kind of college experience,” the two-year degree program that is embedded within the four-year college is unlike any other program in the county. Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty who serves as the Founder’s College Dean said that the model was developed in response to the Butler goal of rethinking educational opportunities.  

A Different Kind of College Experience 

“If we are to change education as we know it,” Gentle-Genitty said, “we have to respond differently.” She outlined the model which emphasizes exposure, education, and experimentation for students. “It’s critical to offer a variety of experiences to students so they can see what is available – it changes how they show up and interact with the world.”  

Gentle-Genitty’s goal for the program is to increase the trained talent for Indiana which has a wide range of benefits for the state. She emphasized that the Founder’s College keeps the academic rigor that Butler is known for while adding work networks and support systems. The program also removes barriers such as expenses and resources students to make sure they can fully take part in a college experience. 

Supports available to students include:  

• grants to cover two years of tuition,  

• financial resources to address the “cost of attendance” (books, housing, meals, etc.), 

• laptops, books, and other supplies, and  

• access to supports such as career coaching, social workers, and mentors.  

The physical space is also set up to provide supportive and nurturing setting classrooms, faculty and staff offices, meeting and study rooms, and student services. 

“We wanted to put the college experience in reach for students who may not have thought it was an option,” Gentle-Genitty said. “We welcome those who see themselves here with us.” In its first year, 29 high school students were recruited into the Founder’s College.  

A Shared Educational Space 

According to Kenetha Stanton, Collection Management Librarian and Acting Library Director at Christian Theological Seminary, the Founder’s College staff and students have become great neighbors. “They did a beautiful job renovating the space — it seems to be well designed for their use and is much more polished and modern looking than the old library space had been.”  

Even though the construction resulted in a smaller physical footprint and a lot of dust during the actual process, Stanton said it has been wonderful to have the Founder’s College above the CTS library. “With their space active and full of people, it brings a lot more energy to this space,” she said. “We are physically distant from the rest of the seminary staff, so it feels more active and alive than it has for a while.” 

An Invitation to Connect 

Stanton encourages alumni to visit the new library space to see the Founder’s College and explore the CTS Library for themselves. “We do still have an extensive physical collection as well as other print collections stored out of sight for use here in the library,” she says.  “We also expanded our digital collection significantly as we increasingly serve students who are located remotely.” CTS Alumni still have library accounts, allowing them to check out books and access the ATLA database. Stanton encourages alumni to contact the Circulation Desk with any questions about engaging these resources. 

While Stanton encourages alumni to reconnect with the CTS Library and its growing digital and physical resources, Gentle-Genitty hopes CTS students and alumni will also engage opportunities through Founder’s College initiatives such as Bridge and Bond — a monthly community gathering centered on conversation, networking, and connection.  

As new students, alumni, faculty, and community members continue to gather in the shared space, the growing partnership between the Founder’s College and the CTS Library reflects how education can create pathways for connection, opportunity, and belonging. 

Scholarship for Church and Community: 2026 CTS Dissertations and Theses 

 

Christian Theological Seminary graduates across multiple advanced degree programs are contributing thoughtful and timely scholarship to conversations shaping the church, academy, and wider community. Through dissertations and theses grounded in ministry, theology, preaching, pastoral care, justice, and lived experience, 2026 graduates from the School of Theology explored questions that reflect both the challenges and possibilities of faithful leadership today. 

Through the Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Philosophy, and Master of Theological Studies degree programs, students engage deeply in research, reflection, and writing that contributes to the life of the church and broader community. This year’s dissertations and theses reflect a wide range of topics including preaching, justice, trauma, spirituality, ministry leadership, and the pursuit of beloved community while embodying CTS’ commitment to rigorous scholarship, spiritual formation, healing, and human dignity. 

Doctor of Ministry Dissertations 

The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Church and Community Leadership degree program at Christian Theological Seminary is designed for experienced ministry leaders seeking to deepen their theological reflection, vocational practice, and leadership capacity. Rooted in the integration of scholarship and lived ministry, the program equips students to address contemporary challenges facing congregations, communities, and the broader church through research grounded in real-world practice and transformation. 

This year’s DMin graduates explored questions of ministry leadership, trauma-sensitive worship, feminist theology, compassionate care, queer inclusion, and embodied spiritual practice through projects rooted in lived experience and congregational life. Their work demonstrates the intersection of scholarship, ministry, and social transformation that shapes doctoral formation at CTS. 

• Kerry L. Connelly — Taproot and Weed: A Neo-Radical White Feminist Path to the Beloved Community  

“My work centers on reclaiming a radical White Feminism for holistic, responsible & trans-inclusive membership in Beloved Community,” Connelly shared. “It’s about what I call intersectional dominance — the experience of being both oppressed (because of our womanhood) and dominant (because of our Whiteness) within a White patriarchal society — and how we can heal from that to become whole, healthy members of a world that is just for everyone.”  

• Anne Strange Garner — Blooming in Red Clay: An Autoethnographic Study of Women in Ministry in Upstate South Carolina  

“‘Blooming in Red Clay’ examines the ways patriarchy, misogyny, and theological interpretations have been used to limit women’s access to religious leadership, particularly within the culture of the American South,” Garner said. “By exploring vocation, gender, identity, and ministry through lived experience, it contributes to broader conversations about who is recognized as called, credible, and worthy of authority in faith communities. At its heart, the project invites greater honesty, inclusion, and imagination about leadership, belonging, and liberation within religious life.” 

• Selena Reyes — Showing Mercy: Exploring Queer Exclusion in Latin American Churches  

“My dissertation is going to help in the education process of Latin American churches to become more tolerant in expanding the kingdom of God,” Reyes shared. 

• Cassidy Hall — Become All Flame: Queering Mysticism for Everyday Life  

“Building on my book, Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality, my dissertation focuses on the intersection of mysticism and queerness,” Hall shared. “Both are accessible to everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, as ways of subverting norms and institutions of dominance. The autoethnographic exploration includes personal stories, ancient mystics, and conversations with LGBTQIA+ folks about their experiences of mysticism. A version of the dissertation will be released with Fortress Press in the future.” 

• Izzy Harbin — Trauma-Sensitive Liturgy: Healing through Embodied Spiritual Practices  

“I believe that the words we say to and over one another matter, so we need to create safe spaces for everyone in worship,” Harbin said. “Embodied spiritual practices are a necessity in the 21st century.” 

• Thomas P. Markey — Confirmation as Compassionate Care: A Savvy and Subversive Sojourn  

“As a youth, my experience in confirmation was where the seeds of my faith were planted and where the roots of tradition and congregational life started to take hold,” Markey shared. “While important formation and education took place during my confirmation journey, what truly grounded me in a life of faith was being met with pastoral tenderness. In moments of deep curiosity and doubt, my questions were affirmed while the pastoral refrain I kept hearing was simple and subversive: ‘Keep coming back.’ 

“My experience in the Doctor of Ministry program became a source of healing, clarity, and renewal in both life and ministry. Professors served as wise and faithful guides, while classmates became trusted collaborators and dear friends.” 

Doctor of Philosophy in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric Dissertations 

CTS’ Doctor of Philosophy in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric (PhD) degree program prepares scholars, educators, and ministry leaders to engage the rich traditions of Black preaching, rhetoric, theology, and prophetic witness. This course of study emphasizes rigorous interdisciplinary scholarship, cultural analysis, and the transformative power of preaching within both church and society. 

2026 PhD graduates explored preaching traditions, trauma-informed proclamation, multicultural ministry, and the rhetoric of hope within the Black church tradition. Together, these dissertations engage questions of justice, proclamation, pastoral leadership, and communal transformation. 

• Alise D. Barrymore — The Mosaic Homiletic: African American Preaching for a Multiracial, Multiethnic, and Multicultural Congregation  

“I’m convinced that the future of the church rests in the hands of those who are critical thinkers and passionate pastoral leaders who embody the kin-dom of God,” Barrymore shared. “This program is a part of my calling to accomplish the work. That’s what I did.” 

• Lisa Maxine Goods — PreacHer Story: In Search of a Womanist Trauma-Informed Homiletic  

“I hope it will give voice to the trauma of Black women and how we can address it in a way of pastoral care in our sermonic rhetoric,” Goods said. “Completing my dissertation is sweet relief. I feel like this is not my graduation alone – that I am representing all the ancestors who went before, particularly my grandmother and all of the Black women who did not have this opportunity.” 

• Watson Jones III — Hope for the Present Darkness: The Rhetoric of Hope of Otis Moss Jr., 1962–1968  

“My work was helpful because it centered on hope in preaching and what that hope means in the world,” Jones shared. “I found inspiration personally, academically, and socially in the study of Otis Moss Jr. I credit Frank A. Thomas for giving us the tools to study in this fashion.” 

Master of Theological Studies Thesis Titles 

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree program at Christian Theological Seminary offers students the opportunity to engage deeply in theological inquiry, academic research, and interdisciplinary exploration. Through focused study and thesis research, students examine contemporary social, spiritual, and ethical questions while developing skills for scholarship, leadership, advocacy, and service in diverse vocational contexts. 

Over the course of the 2025–2026 academic year, Master of Theological Studies students successfully defended theses engaging questions of preaching, social media, consent, public health, theology, and faithful leadership in a rapidly changing world. Together, these projects reflect the interdisciplinary and justice-oriented scholarship encouraged at CTS. 

• Cindy J. Gil Perez — Hermanos en la Pandemia: Latinx Preaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Indiana  

“My thesis looks at sermons preached during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gil Perez shared. “The goal is to increase dialogue between public health agencies and communities of faith.” She is also organizing a repository of these sermons to preserve them for future generations. 

• Jennifer L. Muszik — Love God, Love Neighbor: Confronting the Disintegration of Divine Design in the Age of Algorithmic Othering  

“The purpose of my thesis was to help society realize how social media algorithms are separating us from our divine design of love God and love neighbor,” Muszik said. “It looks at the importance of the sacred value of each individual, not just the persona and image we see on social media.” 

• Diana Maze Pine — Breaking the Script(ure): Aligning Faith, Freedom, and Consent in the Process of Theological Formation  

“My thesis explores how embedded religious scripts shape identity, embodiment, and belonging—particularly within high-control faith environments.” Pine shared. “The catastrophic spiritual collapse I was warned would come from self-trust, queerness, and critical thinking turned out to be surprisingly underwhelming; mostly it produced healthier relationships, motorcycles, community, significantly better theology, and a faith finally spacious enough for freedom, honesty, compassion, and joy.

“I chose this topic because I have lived the tension of loving faith while outgrowing the ways I was taught to hold it. I am transforming my thesis into a curriculum to support others deepening, deconstructing, or reconstructing faith with active participation and consent—because this little light of mine became much brighter through the journey, and I intend to hold it as a beacon so others might find a path toward freedom and abundant life.”

Through their dissertations and theses, this year’s CTS graduates contribute to ongoing conversations within the church, academy, and broader community while embodying the seminary’s commitment to scholarship, justice, healing, and human dignity. Congratulations, graduates, and thank you for sharing the fruits of your learning with our community! 

Those interested in exploring recent CTS dissertations and theses may do so through the CTS Library digital repository of recent dissertations and theses. 

Collective Action and Housing Advocacy in a Changing Landscape 

 

Organizations addressing housing insecurity and homelessness across Indianapolis are preparing for significant challenges following the enactment of Indiana Senate Bill 285 on July 1, 2026. The legislation will increase pressure on already strained shelter, housing, and outreach systems while underscoring the importance of coordinated community responses. 

According to Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, CEO at the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) Indianapolis, SB 285 creates a statewide law that makes it illegal to sleep or camp on public property after a warning and offer to connect to services or shelter. This shifts the response from a social service to a criminal justice system. Because there is already an insufficient availability of shelter and housing, the community’s most vulnerable will face citations and jail time – simply because they have nowhere else to go. 

Increased Pressure on Housing Systems 

“Because we don’t have resources to scale housing and services to meet the need and shelters are often at capacity or higher barrier, it will leave some of the most vulnerable at risk to legal system involvement, which does not solve someone’s homelessness,” Haring-Cozzi said.  “In simple terms, without investment in high-quality services, mental and behavioral health, and housing, this law will increase strain on shelters, outreach systems, and jails- while making it harder for people experiencing homelessness to break the cycle and get back on their feet.” 

This illustrates the critical nature of the work being done by the Faith & Action Project and its community partners working to address poverty. Housing insecurity and instability are often foundational drivers of poverty and barriers to long-term wellbeing. If you are not in a safe space, it is impossible to meet your other needs.  

 “Courts and jails are not the right places to help someone get stably housed and connected to care. Investment in housing and services would more effectively provide a pathway for someone to get off the streets,” Haring-Cozzi said.  

Building Coordinated Community Responses 

CHIP works closely with outreach teams, local government, healthcare providers, and service providers to further align efforts and strengthen coordination and expand pathways directly from the streets into housing and services. In fact, they work closely with many of the same organizations that the Faith & Action Project does – reinforcing the idea that the entire community must work together.  

“We expect the law will increase demand for already limited shelter and housing resources, and it will require strong coordination and targeted investment to ensure people are connected to services rather than cycling through emergency rooms and jails,” Haring-Cozzi said.  

CHIP is the lead agency in the Marion County Continuum of Care whose vision is to advance a shared vision to end homelessness by inspiring collective action and advocating for permanent housing solutions. They coordinated the homeless response system which includes outreach teams, shelters, housing providers, healthcare, and local government.  

A Shared Vision for Housing Stability 

“I firmly believe that our common ground is that nobody should be living or dying on our streets. The way we achieve this is through highly coordinated work, targeted investment in housing and services, better access to mental and behavioral health supports, and the continued political and civic will to do something together,” Haring-Cozzi said. “We can end street homelessness through real solutions if we come together and stay committed to a shared vision.” 

 

Advancing Housing Solutions Across Greater Indianapolis 

 

Safe, stable housing is more than a basic need — it is the foundation for opportunity, healing, and human flourishing. Without stable housing, mental health, educational success, workforce participation, and long-term wellbeing can all be significantly affected. 

Across Indianapolis, rising housing costs, increasing eviction rates, and a shortage of affordable housing continue to create significant challenges for children and families. Yet organizations throughout our city are also demonstrating that meaningful, community-based solutions are possible. 

Through grants, convenings, and public education, the Faith & Action Project continues to invest in organizations working across the housing continuum — from prevention and supportive services to long-term pathways out of poverty. For more than a decade, the Faith & Action Project has helped strengthen a collaborative network committed to helping individuals and families build stable futures. 

Meeting Young People Where They Are 

One of the most urgent dimensions of housing insecurity is youth homelessness, where housing instability often intersects with trauma, foster care involvement, mental health challenges, and economic hardship. 

The Faith & Action Project has invested in organizations creating safe and supportive environments for vulnerable youth. 

Trinity Haven provides shelter and supportive services for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing housing instability, while also connecting them with education, job training, mental health support, and life skills resources. 

Outreach Indy takes a relationship-centered approach, helping young people overcome barriers related to housing, education, and employment while supporting their emotional and spiritual wellbeing. 

The Faith & Action Project has also supported Lutheran Child and Family Services and its Pando Aspen Grove initiative, which provides permanent supportive housing for young adults aging out of foster care. 

“Housing stability is more than a roof; it is the foundation for healing, hope, and generational change,” shared De’Aundre Williams, Program Manager for Pando. 

Removing Barriers Before Crisis Happens 

Long-term change requires more than responding after a housing crisis occurs. It also means addressing the systems and barriers that place families at risk. 

The Faith & Action Project recently invested in the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance to expand its Eviction Court Watch initiative and strengthen housing advocacy efforts. 

Programs like Eviction Court Watch create opportunities for volunteers to support fairness and transparency while helping connect individuals with legal resources, rental assistance, and mediation services that may prevent displacement. 

Housing as a Foundation for Opportunity 

Faith & Action grant recipients are also demonstrating how housing becomes more effective when paired with broader supports. 

Through the ROCK Initiative, Eastern Star Church combines housing support with workforce development, legal services, and financial coaching. 

The Minnie Hartmann Center brings together affordable senior housing, early childhood education, and family services in an innovative intergenerational model. 

Meanwhile, Brookside Community Development Corporation provides transitional housing and wraparound support for individuals rebuilding their lives after homelessness, addiction, or incarceration. “Stable housing is the foundation for everything,” shared Executive Director Brandon Andrews. “When someone isn’t worried about where they’re sleeping, they can start investing in themselves, their stability, and their future.” 

Building a Community Response 

No single organization can solve Indianapolis’ housing challenges alone. Lasting change requires collaboration among congregations, nonprofits, neighborhood organizations, service providers, and community leaders. 

Faith & Action grantees are increasingly building stronger referral systems, collaborative partnerships, and connected pathways that help more families access the support they need. 

Indianapolis already has organizations leading innovative responses to housing instability. The opportunity before us is to strengthen those efforts through partnership, advocacy, and shared investment. 

We invite you to learn more about these organizations and consider how you, your congregation, or your community might support efforts to expand access to safe, stable, and affordable housing throughout Greater Indianapolis. 

“Just Preachers, Just Preaching:” Mixed Methods Conference Explores the Experience of Preaching 

 

The 2026 Mixed Methods Preaching Conference explores the relationship between the preacher, the listener, and the experience of compelling preaching. 

“We want to explore the personhood of preachers – and how that translates to the preaching moment,” said Dr. Courtney Buggs, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of the PhD in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric degree program at CTS. She is serving in her first year as Convener of the Mixed Methods Preaching Conference, which takes place October 19–22, 2026 at Light of the World Christian Church. 

Bugg suggest the 2026 theme “Just Preachers, Just Preaching” connects the preacher to what we hear in preaching.  It is a call to examine who we are, what we say, and why it matters. Some may argue that the preacher is separate from the message, but Buggs believes they are integrally related.  

“Meaningful preaching is not abstract,” she said. “I believe it is the public proclaiming of one’s own theological convictions. In the preaching act, we articulate and embody our beliefs about God, the activities of God, and humanity.”  

Listening as Part of the Preaching Experience 

This year’s conference theme also emphasizes the role that congregations, or listeners, play in the preaching process. Compelling preaching is not only determined by the preacher but perhaps more so by the listening audience. Buggs said it is critical to explore the listeners’ experience of the preached message — exploration that goes beyond good-bad assessment. The promises of compelling preaching emerge between both the participating congregation and the preacher. 

According to Buggs, the conference hopes to engage not only pastors or associate ministers and lay ministers, but also congregants who are invested in preaching or are curious about the sacred speech act that we call preaching. This year the MMPC is offering CEUs for those who may need training hours — thereby encouraging, perhaps, a wide range of participants. “I hope that senior pastors and denominational entities will sponsor their associate, lay, and staff ministers to attend, investing in them and their ministries as vital to the life of the church.” 

For the first time, Buggs is moving from the background to the forefront of the conference which is presented by Christian Theological Seminary. The conference is an extension of the PhD Program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric. As Director of that degree program, Buggs said it has been especially meaningful to cast this year’s conference vision. 

A significant element of that vision is to collect data about the listener experience to help inform future teaching and training of preachers. She said that understanding how the audience experiences preaching really tells us if it is compelling or not. To that end, there will be staff actively asking for attendees to complete a three-question survey about their experiences of preaching from the perspective of a listener. This data collection will occur throughout the event and is open to all participants.  

Learning Through Practice 

While the experience of the listener is being elevated, the overall focus is still on the craft and calling of preaching. Attendees will attend plenary sessions as well as take part in preaching labs carefully designed to focus on various methods of preaching. The preaching labs are taught by PhD program students, graduates, and clergy associated with former Compelling Preaching Initiative cohorts. This immersive experience includes instruction, discussion, and direct feedback on your preaching.  

“There is real learning happening,” Buggs said. “There will be tools and takeaways for those who participate. If you are a new preacher or thinking about preaching or want to learn a new method, this conference is for you.”  

Evening Worship and Conference Registration 

The conference also welcomes the public to nightly evening worship featuring preachers like Rev. Traci Blackmon, Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes, and Rev. Jeffrey Johnson, II. Evening worship services are free and open to the public without conference registration. 

Buggs said that over the next several weeks, the planning team will finalize the flow of the event. Online registration for the conference is now open, and early bird rates are available until July 1.  

For more information or to register, please visit https://www.cts.edu/events/cts-mixed-methods-preaching-conference-2026/