Preaching During Crisis: Igniting Pastoral Imagination in the Face of Fatigue, Injustice and Collective Trauma

Full Video Recording | Curated Video Clips with Written Resources

We gathered preaching colleagues from across the country for a critical conversation on theological frames and homiletical strategies during these unprecedented and compounding crises: pandemic, racial injustice, economic fallout and escalating pastoral care needs. On June 17, 2020 the Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime, Director of Religion and Civic Engagement at Odyssey Impact and Rev. Peter M. Wallace President and Executive Producer Day1.org led a panel of preaching colleagues whose wide-ranging experiences in responding to these crises inspire healing, transformation and hope.

It's important that those of us who are going to be challenging our congregations, whether they're black or white, we have to begin to ask, how does a great God show love to an oppressed people?

Resources to help lead congregations, communities and classroom discussion on topics related to homiletics and Collective Trauma.

To help you in your work, please review the video excerpts of the intimate conversation, curated by Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, along with brief expert reflections, discussion questions and suggested additional resources.

Preaching to Communities of Color,
Preaching to Whites
Curated Video Clip #1

Duration [5:19]

Preaching Biblically that
Black Lives Matter
Curated Video Clip #2

Duration [6:43]

Asking Questions, Rather than
Being the Answer Person
Curated Video Clip #3

Duration [5:18]

Naming Racism without “WhiteSplaining,”
and Hope for the People of God
Curated Video Clip #4

Duration [8:48]

Expert Reflection and Discussion Guide

We hope that the accompanying written resources will support you in your work while leading your congregations and in educational settings during this time. We have heard from our wider network that these “bite-sized” resources are ideal for clergy cohort groups, deacon/congregational care teams, seminary education modules, and general faith leader edification and support.

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel

For these curated video clips and written resources, we are grateful to Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and author of Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism.