From across the United States and Canada, seminarians representing seminaries and local formation programs, made their way to the Annual Preaching in Excellence (PEP) Conference of The Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF), gathering in Richmond, VA from May 30-June 3. This was the first in-person PEP since 2019. Seminary of the Southwest and the Iona Collaborative, Southwest’s local formation program, were well represented. Of the 46 seminarians, representing 13 seminaries and local formation programs, there were 4 students from Southwest, and 4 representing Iona Collaborative formation programs.
The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Dean and President, gave the first keynote of the conference, speaking on the theme, “Preaching the Gospel in Polarized Times.” The Rev. Dr. Nandra Perry, Director of the Iona Collaborative, was a guest preacher and hosted a workshop to discuss, “Our Evolving Church: Local Formation and the Futures of Theological Education.”
“Participating as a speaker at the Preaching Excellence Program gave me a great opportunity to get to know students from many different seminaries and formation programs,” said Kittredge. “I loved getting to know them and learning from the faculty.”
Watch Dean Kittredge’s address below:
“PEP is an amazing experience for seminarians in general,” said Perry. “For Iona students in particular, it is an opportunity to connect to the wider Church. I am so proud of the fine preachers produced in Iona Collaborative dioceses and grateful to EPF for their commitment to lifting up and resourcing local formation with excellent homiletics curriculum and wonderful experiences like PEP.”
“Attending PEP I was such an amazing opportunity to learn from dynamic preachers from around the country while forming connections with other rising seniors from other Episcopal seminaries,” said Katy Campbell, a rising MDiv senior at Southwest. “Our week was spent engaging in small group preaching and feedback sessions, listening to keynote speakers Dean Randy Hollerith of the National Cathedral, Georgia State Senator and Episcopal Priest, The Reverend Kim Jackson, and our very own The Very Reverend Cynthia Briggs-Kitteredge, and lots of delicious food and fellowship! The highlight of the week were the friendships formed with our future colleagues around the country.”
PEP is the Preaching Excellence Program founded 35 years ago by A. Gary Shilling, a layperson, who envisioned a week-long conference for seminarians, between their second and senior year at seminary, as well as those in local formation programs. Since 1987 the mission of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) has been to improve, support, and enhance the role of preachers in The Episcopal Church.
