Fractures in the foundations of our democracy tear the fabric of our churches and confront preachers with difficult decisions about navigating politics, religion and congregational life.

Author, speaker and educator Leah Schade will introduce a method for engaging issues of public concern at MTSO’s 2025 Schooler Institute on Preaching.

Under the theme “Ministry in a House Divided: Navigating Faith, the Church, and the Public Square,” the Schooler Institute will take place the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 25, and the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 26, on the MTSO Campus. While selected portions of Schooler will be streamed live, it will include sessions that require in-person attendance.

Thanks to the generosity of the Schooler Family Foundation, the Schooler Institute is offered to the public without cost. One-half continuing education unit is available for $25. Advance registration is required and available here. The registration deadline is Feb. 18.

An ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Schade has pastored congregations in suburban, urban and rural contexts. She earned her Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary).

Schade is associate professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary and served as the 2024 president of the Academy of Homiletics. Her most recent book, Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice, was published in November 2024.

At the Schooler Institute, Schade will introduce the “sermon-dialogue-sermon” process, which enables congregations to find the values that bind them together and respond faithfully to God’s word. Participants will take part in a deliberative dialogue about the church’s role in a divided society and learn how to help their churches move beyond divisiveness to a gospel-centered engagement based on shared values.

“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Schade to our campus,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “Not only is she a national leader in the homiletic craft, but her values around social issues and the care of our planet align tightly with those of this school. We look forward to an invigorating Schooler Institute under her leadership.”

See a schedule and register here.

Ralph Basui Watkins, the Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, will deliver two lectures on ministry in the visual age at MTSO’s Williams Institute.

Watkins’ first lecture, “Imagining a Ministry: The Power of the Image in Envisioning a Future,” will take place at 7 p.m. Eastern March 25. The second lecture, “Seeing the Future of the Church: Use What’s in Your Hand,” begins at 10 a.m. Eastern March 26. Both lectures are in the Alford Centrum on the MTSO campus. They are open to all. No registration is required.

Watkins also will preach at MTSO’s weekly chapel at 1 p.m. Eastern March 25 in the Alford Centrum. Inspired by Exodus 4:1-5, the sermon title is “What Is in Your Hand?” All are welcome.

“Dr. Watkins’ creativity and deep thinking as a theologian really excites people, both in the classroom and the community of scholars,” said MTSO Dean Valerie Bridgeman. “He demonstrates what it means to journey in your faith.”

The Williams lectures will be accompanied by Portraits of Faith, an exhibition of 20 images produced by Watkins, who is known as “the scholar with a camera.” Based on the six colors of the rainbow flag, the portraits depict people of faith, LGTBQ+ people of faith and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The colors will be used as a backdrop to highlight their meaning: red=life, orange=healing, yellow=sunlight, green=nature, blue=serenity and violet=spirit.

Watkins holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design and an MA in Religion from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

Read more.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio will host a Graduate Theological Education Immersion Event for aspiring faith leaders March 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern. It will take place on the MTSO campus, 3081 Columbus Pike in Delaware, Ohio.

Participants will explore graduate theological education and discern its potential role in helping them to become change agents in their communities.

The event is part of MTSO’s project “Connecting Pathways: A Multi-Faceted Approach to Strengthen and Sustain Current and Future Faith Leaders,” funded through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.

This Discernment Day is offered at no cost to participants. Free on-campus housing is provided, and travel expenses will be covered.

Learn more and apply to participate here.