Shaping and Re-Shaping the Sermon
Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks

This workshop is directed to the serious preacher who is committed to advancing their knowledge and techniques of sermon creation and delivery. It focuses on all aspects of the event of preaching including the scripture text, methods of biblical interpretation, sermon structure, development of the manuscript, delivery of the sermon, and above all the responsibilities of the preacher in helping the congregation to receive the Word of God in a way that is transformative for their lives and instructive for their discipleship. Attendees are required to bring a sermon for review and presentation.

REV. DR. GENNIFER BROOKS is Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She is an ordained elder and full clergy member of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church.

She holds a Bachelor of Business, cum laude and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University, a Master of Divinity, summa cum laude, and a Doctor of Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Liturgical Studies from Drew University. Her dissertation, An Ecclesial Homiletic: The ‘Pure Word of God’ on Holy Living in the Sermons of John Wesley was an investigation into the influence of Wesley’s scriptural preaching on the development of the Methodist Church. She is the author of Praise the Lord, a book of liturgy, and has contributed to The Book of Daily Prayer (Cleveland, Ohio: United Church Press), Response Magazine, (Women’s Division, The United Methodist Church), Homily Service (The Liturgical Conference), and The African American Pulpit (Generis) and Circuit Rider. She has written the lyrics for several songs that will be published in Zion Still Sings: For Every Generation, a new songbook for the African American Church published by Cokesbury. She is in the process of completing a textbook on preaching and another book of liturgy.