USC Dornsife College Of Letters Arts and Sciences

University of Southern California

Compelling Preaching Cohort Program

Compelling Preaching Cohort Program

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Compelling Preaching Cohort Program

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This page is for cohort members of the Compelling Preaching Project.

Download a PDF of cohort members with bios

Welcome to the Compelling Preaching Cohort!

The Compelling Preaching program will have 10 sessions from May 2024 to May 2025, generally the third Monday of the month. We will send out calendar invites and email reminders via Mailchimp, our email newsletter platform.

We expect your attendance at all 10 sessions, though we understand that life circumstances arise. Please email crcc@usc.edu if you cannot attend a session. Missing more than two sessions will jeopardize your participation in the cohort and opportunity to lead a working group. 

Dates:

Program Descriptions

Wellness and Wellbeing: Caring for Self and Community

Monday, January 27, 2025
10 am – 11:30 am PT – Public Program in conjunction with CRCC’s Thriving Congregations Initiative
11:30-1:00 pm PT – Compelling Preaching Cohort lunch discussion with speakers
Refreshments served at 9:30 am
Location in Long Beach will be shared before the event.

Click here to RSVP via Paperless Post

Anyone can experience burn out – pastors, preachers and even volunteers. Leaders can help their congregations thrive by maintaining their own wellbeing and helping their teams do so as well.

Experts in mental and physical health will share their perspectives and practical exercises to support your wellbeing and engage with your members on wellness issues.

Join us to find out how to be resilient for yourself and for others.

*This event is being held in conjunction with CRCC’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. All are welcome to attend the program at 10 am. Please share it with working group members. Members of the cohort will stay after for an additional discussion about preaching on wellness and wellbeing with the speakers.

Youth and Elders: Fostering Intergenerational Connections

Monday, February 24, 2025
10 am – 11:30 am PT – Public Program in conjunction with CRCC’s Thriving Congregations Initiative
11:30-1:00 pm PT – Compelling Preaching Cohort lunch discussion with speakers
Refreshments served at 9:30 am
Location in Long Beach will be shared before the event.

Click here to RSVP via Paperless Post

Many congregations are aging along with their members. Young adults’ religious participation is declining, even as they yearn for meaning and connection with other generations.

Experts in aging and religion will speak to the needs and desires of people across stages of life. We will discuss practical ways that congregational leaders can reach more people of all ages and bring them together.

Join us to bridge generations and create stronger, more connected communities.

*This event is being held in conjunction with CRCC’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. All are welcome to attend the program at 10 am. Please share it with working group members. Members of the cohort will stay after for an additional discussion about preaching on wellness and wellbeing with the speakers.

The OpEd Project

Monday, March 17, 2025 – all day

CRCC is offering the Compelling Preaching Cohort a unique training opportunity to elevate your voice and impact. We are convening this cohort of preachers to participate in The OpEd Project’s internationally recognized “Write To Change The World” workshop. Participants will experience high-impact trainings led by professional journalists and media leaders, and will receive substantial follow-up support. 

Additional 2025 Dates

More information to come. Save the dates:

  • Monday, April 28, 2025 – Media Readiness
  • Monday, May 19, 2025 – Social Media

Additional Opportunities from CRCC

CRCC leads multiple programs for faith leaders. We invite you to participate in events that will benefit you and your communities. 

Economic Empowerment Series

Economics was the #1 issue of interest to Compelling Preaching cohort applicants. Through these events, you will learn how to lead conversations and PREACH about faith and finances in your congregations. You also can share the webinars with your communities so that all can benefit. 

Get resources, sign up for events, watch past programs and share program information: crcc.usc.edu/wealth.

Thriving Congregations, Thriving Leaders: 

CRCC is presenting a leadership series for congregational leaders to think about their own leadership style, the state of their organizations and the needs of their communities. Each event will be hosted in Long Beach. 

Find out more about this series: crcc.usc.edu/thrive-series.

How Then Shall We Live? 

“How Then Shall We Live?” is a series of conversations that examines critical issues shaping how humanity lives together today: the environment, polarization and artificial intelligence. Experts will share their perspectives on the path forward for society. These discussions will prompt participants to consider their own lives in the light of climate change, divisiveness and technological development. 

Our host Ken Chitwood is the Scholar-in-Residence at First Lutheran Venice and an affiliated scholar with the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.

Watch sessions: crcc.usc.edu/how-then 

Past Compelling Preaching Cohort Events

Compelling Preaching Cohort Retreat

Monday, May 20, 2024
10 am – 5 pm
University of Southern California
Please see email for exact location and parking directions.

At our retreat, you will:

  • Connect with your fellow cohort members 
  • Explore how you lead
  • Discuss your ideas for working groups (proposal to form working groups will be due in September)

How Then Shall We Live: Artificial Intelligence and Humanity

Monday, July 15, 2024
5:00 – 6:30 pm – Dinner and Conversation
7:00 – 8:30 pm – Panel

Location:
First Lutheran Venice
815 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
(Google Map)
Parking available on the street or here.

Enjoy a beach day and then join us for dinner and a conversation about on Artificial Intelligence — the cohort’s #2 issue of interest. 

You will have a chance to discuss the future of ministry and technology with each other, CRCC affiliate Ken Chitwood (who is a faith leader, journalist and academic) and the speakers over dinner. Ken will then lead a public conversation about how AI affects the way we live together.

This is the final session of a three-part series that Ken is hosting as scholar-in-residence at First Lutheran Venice. You are welcome, but not required, to attend the first two sessions (Wednesday, May 22 – Climate Change; and Wednesday, June 12 – Polarization).

Find out more at: crcc.usc.edu/how-then.

Breaking Barriers: Addressing Racism in America through Preaching

Monday, September 16, 2024
10:30 am – 2 pm (lunch included)
University of Southern California
Please see email for exact location and parking directions.

A panel of speakers representing different racial groups will present research about how race affects both societal structures and individuals’ lives within these structures. This will be an opportunity to discuss how faith leaders can address racism in their congregations and society.

Compelling Preaching Office Hours

Monday, October 7, 2024 (10 am)
Zoom

We are reserving October as an open time to help each other work through challenges and share new insights.

Compelling Preaching Working Group Kick-Off

Wednesday, November 20, 2024 (all day)
University of Southern California

For this full-day conference, you will invite members of your working groups to gather together. We will have the opportunity to learn more about preaching on controversial issues and speaking across divides.