Presbyterian Mission Agency dr. anna carter florence Archives

Columbia Theological Seminary receives $1.25 million grant to establish the Columbia Preachers Studio for Renewal

Posted October 26th, 2023

Columbia Theological Seminary has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish Holy Encounters: The Columbia Preachers Studio for Renewal.

Dr. Anna Carter Florence has a how-to for Presbyterians who want to go beyond the lectionary’s scripture passages

Posted August 14th, 2023

A recent installment of “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” saw Dr. Anna Carter Florence speak with hosts the Rev. Lee Catoe and Simon Doong over “engaging the biblical text.” Listen to their conversation here. Florence comes in at the 26:42 mark.

It takes a village

Posted April 21st, 2022

Rather than cracking open the Good Book alone, why not encounter Scripture in community alongside others seeking to know what’s true about the text?

It takes a village

Posted January 20th, 2022

Rather than cracking open the Good Book alone, why not encounter Scripture in community alongside others seeking to know what’s true about the text?

Preaching professor: Poets and preachers both believe that words can change the world

Posted September 2nd, 2021

Dr. Anna Carter Florence, the celebrated preaching professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, said Wednesday that talking to pastors about preaching — especially during such a challenging time as the last 18 months have been — “is like sitting in an armchair talking to the people playing on the field. The ground you are breaking and the space you are holding is incredibly important. I am in awe of all of you.”

The preacher’s power to persuade

Posted August 11th, 2021

Their place at the pulpit offers Presbyterian preachers a weekly opportunity to persuade parishioners of the power and reach of God’s love for them — as well as hundreds of other messages found in Scripture.

Love > logic

Posted June 3rd, 2021

A mostly white group of more than 40 preachers tuned in Wednesday to hear the Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick — who in turn did his share of listening during an informative 90-minute online session he hosted — lead a webinar with this provocative title: “Preaching about Racial Justice without Losing your Conviction or your Job.” View the webinar here.

‘Let’s dream our half’ of the future of preaching, professor tells Festival of Homiletics

Posted May 26th, 2021

“As great as it would be to have precise blueprints for preaching and the future church, I’m kind of glad we don’t,” Dr. Anna Carter Florence told more than 1,300 people listening to her preach last week during the Festival of Homiletics. “Especially after a passage like this.”

Preacher at Vital Congregations gathering: ‘Rehearse Scripture together’

Posted May 15th, 2019

During Tuesday’s devotion/reflection at the Vital Congregations East Coast gathering in Atlanta, Dr. Anna Carter Florence, preaching professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, shared a personal experience that she said changed her life.