“Spirituality For Preachers: Preaching Is Your Life, Your Life Is Preaching”
Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Lisa Cressman, Backstory Preaching
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (with a lunch break)
Format: In-Person on the Austin Seminary Campus or Online through Zoom
Workshop Description:
The spirituality of the preacher creates an indelible imprint on their every sermon. But what is that imprint? What is the preacher's spirituality that is revealed with—and without—the preacher's awareness?
By exploring our backstories, that is the stories, beliefs, and perspectives that make us us but are rarely spoken aloud, we become more aware of and able to offer our whole selves to God in service of our preaching and the benefit of our listeners.
In this practical, four-hour workshop for lay and ordained, new and experienced preachers, we will pray, reflect, dialogue, and play to better understand how we and God are connected, so that we preach more authentically, courageously, and joyfully for our entire ministries.
Two Ways to Attend
Dr. Cressman will be on campus at Austin Seminary for the event, held in Wright Hall. Attendance is free and lunch will be provided. The in-person capacity is limited to 100 people.
Please note, the registration form is limited to one-at-a-time, so please fill out unique forms if you'd like to register more than one person for this preaching workshop.
The workshop is available for interactive online attendance through Zoom. We hope the online experience will mean that even more preachers can benefit from Dr. Cressman's guidance and expertise.
Please note, the registration form is limited to one-at-a-time, so please fill out unique forms if you'd like to register more than one person for this workshop.
About the Workshop Facilitator:
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Cressman is the Founding Steward of Backstory Preaching. Launched in 2016, Backstory Preaching (BsP) is an ecumenical, all-online ministry for lay and ordained preachers to help them thrive in the process, craft, and spirituality of preaching. Ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1993, before BsP Lisa served congregations in Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas. She is a spiritual director, workshop leader, keynote speaker, and author of Backstory Preaching: Integrating Life, Spirituality, and Craft (The Liturgical Press, 2018), and The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages (Fortress Press/Working Preacher Books, 2021). She received her D.Min. in Practical Theology from Christian Theological Seminary in 1999, and M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1992. She is a wife, mom, mixed-media artist, musician, outdoor enthusiast, yogi, and swinger of kettlebells.