Preaching
Preaching has been called “truth through personality.” This is one area of the liturgy in which one person’s personality is highly involved, and the rest of the community listens. This listening is a moment of reflection and devotion in which the Word of God is presented to the people by a minister set apart for this purpose. The human voice speaks and the voice must be culturally and personally familiar to the people. The sermon is a reflective explanation of the texts, especially the Gospel, but it is ultimately not a didactic or overly moralistic moment. It is, in fact, not very preachy.; instead, the homily or sermon is the preaching of the Gospel one more time.
What About Anglican Preaching Is Unique?
Anglicans have a very high view of and appreciation for preaching. This is evidenced by the fact that the part of the definition of church in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion is a congregation “in which the pure Word of God is preached” and of a careful examination of people to discern a call to preaching.
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The Voice: God’s Instrument to the People
God uses the preacher’s voice as a means of bringing the truth of the Gospel into parish life and the listeners’ hearts. It is not as if the preacher’s every word, logical construction, or illustration is inspired. Preaching is a sacramental act whereby a person like us opens up God’s Word to us.
Variety Not in Message but in Style
However, since preaching is seen more as an experience of transformative listening to the Gospel and less of a teaching moment (although much is learned), the time frame is shorter, and the emphasis is larger and more devotional. That said, there is as much variety in styles and methods and even theologies of preaching across North America and one must simply sit and listen to a preacher to begin to discern how God is using his human personality in presenting the divine truth of the redemption of the world through Jesus Christ.
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