NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
PO Box 567, Buies Creek, NC 27506
Tel: (910) 893-1224 w Fax: (910) 893-1922
Clemons Launches Divinity School Lectures
in Preaching
|
Dr. Hardy Clemons |
Humorous and down-to-earth, Dr. Hardy Clemons shared
with Campbell University Divinity School students some important
principles of preaching gained from almost 40 years experience in
the pulpit. Clemons, who retired as senior pastor of First Baptist
Church in Greenville, SC, launched the Campbell Divinity School’s
Lectures in Preaching, March 1-2, which is scheduled to be an annual
Divinity School event.
Neither a Bible-pounder, nor a fire and brimstone preacher,
Clemons said his style is simply a derivative of himself. "’One size fits all’
does not apply to preaching styles," Clemons said. "I believe the heart of
ministry is to tell the truth and trust the people."
Good sermons come out of taking a text and allowing one’s self
to be vulnerable to God’s message, Clemons added. He also strongly advocates
using a lectionary, a book of scriptures used in church services. "For years I
was afraid that using a lectionary would take away my freedom," he said, "but
it worked in the opposite way. It is spiritually uncanny to me how well
scriptures in the lectionary relate to local and national news as well as
personal situations."
Preparing carefully is another principle to which Clemons
adheres. "I don’t stand up there and pray for the Lord to fill my mouth with
words," he said. "It doesn’t seen to work for me, but I’ve found that God does
fill my mouth when I prepare."
Other directives were to listen to the congregation and to
preach from all of one’s gifts, rather than from those that come easily. "Find
some areas that relate to other people besides yourself," Clemons said. "Drink
deep from the well of tradition, but also get outside of the little blue
lines."
Clemons has pastored churches in Georgetown and Lubbock, TX.
He has also worked extensively with each of the six southern Baptist
theological seminaries. Clemons has also taught at the International Baptist
Theological Seminary in Switzerland, the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer
University in Atlanta, GA, and the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at
Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. In addition, he has served as
pastor-in-residence at the School of Psychiatry at the University of
Louisville, KY. His book, Saying Goodbye to Your Grief, was published
in 1994, and his articles have appeared in numerous theological journals.
The Campbell Divinity School, which opened in 1996 with 35
students, currently has 186 students enrolled. The school offers the Master of
Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian education degrees. The Divinity
School is committed to providing Christ-centered, Bible-based, and
ministry-focused theological education for Christian ministry.
Bulletin 0046 |
