Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman is the Associate Professor of Homiletics and Associate Dean for First Theological Degrees at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. She is an Elder from the UMC who is now in The United Church of Christ. She has seventeen years of experience pastoring churches in Kansas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She is one of the Pastors at Gloria Dei Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Dr. Wiseman’s studies for her doctorate took place at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where she worked with Leonard Sweet for four years. Her degree is in Liturgical Studies/Preaching and Worship, with major study in the Emerging Church Movement.
She has led numerous workshops and taught classes in several
seminaries regarding preaching, worship, the emerging church, pastoral
administration, clergy self-care, and other important pastoral topics –
especially preaching for a new day. She
is especially interested in engaging the emerging church for vital ministry
ideas, equipping communities to take on new models for church, and employing
postmodern ideas in communities of faith to reengage younger generations in
preaching and worship. Dr. Wiseman's book I Refuse to Preach a Boring Sermon: Engaging the 21st Century Listener was published by Pilgrim Press in 2013 and is working on a follow-up book. She has spoken at numerous regional and national
events on preaching, worship, and social media’s role in both. She is an Advisory Board member for Odyssey Network's ONScripture and writes for them and Huffington Post. She is the Treasurer for The Academy of Homiletics and Editor of the Culture and Media Section for the Journal, Homiletic.
I am a native of Texas, an Elder in The United Methodist Church, a seminary preaching professor, a feminist, a mother of a teen, a New York Yankees baseball fan, a lover of nature, a gadget geek, and a fan of mystery novels. I am a student of the emerging church for the next generations and am passionate about relevant, relational preaching. I am living in a big city right now but am a country girl at heart. I am the daughter of a teacher and preacher and the granddaughter of a Texas cattle rancher.
Most importantly, I am a follower of Jesus and believe my faith is the core of how I relate to people and the world. I teach seminary students the art of narrative preaching, how to engage their congregations in real life issues, and how to relate their lives to the gospel story. I am passionate about the need for transformative preaching for an age when folks are searching for ways to believe, places to belong, and occasions for renewing their faith.
Robert Webber uses an amazing image in his book, Ancient-Future Worship, of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. He says ""Worship is the story between the two fingers." (p.107) Preaching is part of the space between the fingers ... it is telling the story of God's action in our lives ... it is the story of God coming to us over and over and over again in grace and love ... it is the story of God's redemption of humanity through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I want to share some of my thought about life, preaching, theology, family, and baseball through this blog. Thanks for reading.
Grace and Peace --
Karyn
