The Episcopal Preaching Foundation has received a grant in the amount of $250,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support The Preaching Congregation.

The program was developed with the support of an earlier grant from Lilly Endowment through its Compelling Preaching Initiative. The supplemental grant will fund extensive documentation of the impact of the pilot program along with funding to offset projected cost inflation over the five-year life of the program.

The Preaching Congregation is a collaborative feedback model for preachers and congregants working together to support excellent preaching. The program connects the clergy and congregation of any parish in a structured process of mutual exchange that brings the congregation into a deeper appreciation of sermon preparation and development and provides the preacher with informed feedback during sermon creation as well as after delivery.

The 16-week process brings together preachers and a handpicked group of lay members to create a generative feedback loop around the creation of each Sunday sermon. Not only will parish members provide caring, supportive feedback after the sermon, but they will also join in exegetical exercises on the lectionary texts for future Sundays, giving the preacher additional insight into the community in advance of crafting the sermon. In this way, what is proclaimed on Sunday becomes the work of the lay participants and the preacher, meaning there is never just a preacher but always a preaching congregation.

This initiative is in line with the Preaching Foundation’s continuing mission to support the highest standards of preaching in the Episcopal Church; a goal that is especially critical given studies that show preaching is the #1 driver of church membership and Sunday attendance (Gallup 2017 and Pew 2016).

“All the studies show that good preaching is perhaps the most consistent hallmark of a vibrant parish,” said Dr. A Gary Shilling, founder and chairman of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation. “With the growing role of lay leadership, this is a key piece of EPF’s goal to extend our programs to support enhanced participation by laity in the life of the Church.”

Lilly Endowment launched the Compelling Preaching Initiative in 2022 because of its interest in supporting projects that help to nurture the religious lives of individuals and families and foster the growth and vitality of Christian congregations in the United States.