Transformative Homiletics: Beyond the Pulpit : (Power)Sensitive Preaching in a Changing World / Jasmine Suhner and Sabrina Müller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Suhner, Jasmine, author.

Müller, Sabrina, author.

Series:

Religious Studies, Theology and Philosophy E-Books Online, Collection 2026.

Theology in Practice ; 16.

Religious Studies, Theology and Philosophy E-Books Online, Collection 2026

Theology in Practice ; 16

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religious Studies.

Theology and World Christianity.

Other Title:

(Power)Sensitive Preaching in a Changing World

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2026.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Preaching is possible in profoundly impactful, soulful, and meaningful ways. In many places this already happens—often beyond the pulpit and without being recognized as preaching. The authors examine the unquestioned power claims of traditional, front-facing preaching and offer alternative, feminist, and postcolonial approaches. Focusing on participation rather than pulpit-centered authority, they seek to transform preaching within a world that is itself in transformation.

Contents:

Foreword

1 Introduction

1.1Why Another Homiletics – and Is This Even One?

1.2Methodological Positioning: on the “Production” of the Phenomenon of “Preaching beyond the Pulpit”

1.3How Is This Book Structured?

Part 1 Pulpit Consciousness: a Critique of the Pulpit

2 Navigating the History of Homiletics through the Pulpit: an Outline

3 The Origins of the Pulpit as a Site of Public Communication

3.1Cathedra and Throne as Places of Preaching

3.2Ambo and Lectern as Places of Preaching

3.3Elevation and Heightening

3.4Pulpits – Elevated Locations as Portable Lecterns

3.5The Pulpit – a Place of Public Discourse

3.6Art-Historical Aspects

4 The Pulpit as a Confessional Site

5 The “Classic Pulpit Consciousness”

5.1Masculine Pulpit Consciousness

5.2Spatially Defined and Embodied Pulpit Consciousness

5.3Institutionally Empowered (Mono-)Confessional Pulpit Consciousness

6 Current Homiletics Discourses Examined

6.1The Homiletic Standard in the German-Speaking Context

6.2Wilfried Engemann: Preaching as an Open Semiotic Process

6.3Albrecht Grözinger: Speaking with the Senses

6.4Ernst Lange: Talking with Listeners about Their Life

6.5Martin Nicol and Alexander Deeg: Putting One Another in the Picture – Dramaturgical Homiletics

6.6A Brief Reflection on the German-Speaking Homiletic Standard

7 Lines of Development in Homiletics in the United States

7.1African American Preaching: the Example of Gardner Calvin Taylor

7.2New Homiletic: the Example of Fred B. Craddock

7.3Further Developments after the New Homiletic

8 Do We Need a New Pulpit Consciousness?

Part 2 Power-Sensitive Homiletics

9 Who’s Got the Power? A Look at Power (Theories)

9.1The Concept of Power and Forms of Power

9.2Theories and Discourses of Power

10 Recent Power Discourses as Potential for Transformative Homiletics

10.1Participatory Power Discourses

10.2Feminist Power Discourses

10.3Postcolonial and Postcolonial-Feminist Power Discourses

10.4Power-Sensitive Homiletics: a Glance at Power-Sensitive Homiletical Discourses

10.5EXCURSUS: the Influence of Digital Culture on Power-Sensitive Homiletics

11 The Crux: We Are Part of a (Power) System. Or: What Now?

Part 3 A Transformative, Power-Sensitive Homiletics or: from the Pulpit to the Construction Site

12 A Look Back

13What Is a “Transformative Homiletics”?

13.1What Does “Transformation” and “Transformative” Mean?

13.2What Is Transformation Research?

14 Ruach – the Pneumatological Foundation of a Transformative, Power-Sensitive Homiletics

14.1Ruach – a Space-Creating and Moving Non-concept

14.2Ruach – the Feminine Aspect of ruach

14.3Ruach – a Transformative, Power-Sensitive Force

14.4A Brief Pause

14.5Inspirations from Resonance for Ruach – or Vice Versa

14.6Ruach – a Reference Point for Further Homiletic Approaches

15 Transformative Homiletics

15.1Transformative, Power-Sensitive Homiletics – a Model

15.2Transformative Actions

16 Dimensions of a Transformative, Power-Sensitive Homiletics

16.1Dimension: Sharing (Interpretive) Power

16.2Dimension: Starting from Religious Experiences and Lived Theology

16.3Dimension: Truly Taking the Body Seriously (Embodiment)

16.4Dimension: Daring to Welcome Polyphony

16.5Dimension: Imagining and Enacting the “Construction Zone of the Kingdom of God” Together

17 Welcome to the Homiletics Construction Site!

17.1Nevertheless, Dare to Preach Transformatively!

17.2This Is Just the Beginning

18 Transformative Learning Ecosystems: Religious Communication, Digitalization, and Systemic Empowerment

18.1Introduction

18.2Transformative Learning

18.3Transformative Learning – a Process on Multiple Levels

18.4Transformative Learning in a (Post-)digital Society

18.5AI, Education, and Homiletics

18.6In Review: Competencies for Transformative Homiletic Work in a (Post-)digital Society

18.7Using This Book as Teaching Material for Courses/Workshops/General Educational Events

18.8Keep Playing

Bibliography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789004762398

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004762398 DOI