Cruciform Humility in Christian Preaching and Worship

In this seminar especially designed for preachers and worship planners we'll spend a week on one of the great biblical virtues. Prominent in the life of Jesus Christ and in classic summons to Christian life, humility is part of the image of God and one of the ligaments of the Christian community. We will situate humility as a species of wisdom and we will rescue humility from its currently decaying reputation, principally by contrasting humility with humiliation.  We'll also highlight the joys available only to those who gladly acknowledge God as their sovereign and other human beings as peers. Studying biblical texts, songs and hymns, events within the church year in which humility is aptly preached and sung, a couple of essays, and at least one short story, participants will have the nap raised on their sense of humility. We will also write a few prayers to fit with the songs, hymns, and texts.

Held at Calvin College. 

About the Director

Cornelius ("Neal") Plantinga is Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and former President of Calvin Theological Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, including Reading for Preaching: the Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists (Eerdmans).

This seminar is geared toward full-time parish pastors who preach on a regular basis and worship leaders who are involved in worship planning and leading. The application deadline is February 13, 2015.Participants will be selected after the application deadline.

Funds provided by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship with funding by Lilly Endowment, Inc.