Decolonizing Preaching: A Postcolonial Approach to Sermons

Preachers and listeners gather for worship in postcolonial spaces, carrying with them the memory and present experience of colonialism and imperialism. This course approaches the task of preaching from the perspective of postcolonial theories and theologies. It will consider the significance of empire as broad context for preaching, and introduce resources for the homiletical exploration of issues Including race, ethnicity, gender, cultural difference and global development. Tt~e focus will be the Canadian context, and Canada's unique postcolonial status. Students will learn to evaluate materials for sermon preparation from a postcolonial perspective, consider postcolonial reading strategies for biblical texts, reflect deeply on number of historical and contemporary concerns, and develop sermons that seek to adequately address the reality of Canada's contemporary context.