The creative visual, musical, literary, and performing arts help shape ideas and beliefs. Sometimes, art can communicate more quickly, powerfully, and universally than words can. Within spiritual traditions, arts express stories, attitudes, and emotions. Teachers use arts to introduce their traditions, express diversity, and create community. Politicians use the arts to communicate their relationship with religion. Religious critics and innovators use the arts to point traditions in new directions. At this conference, we will explore a broad understanding of religious and spiritual art.

In a world that is polarized and deeply divided, the work of crossing boundaries for the sake of healing is crucial. Emmanuel College’s 2024 Rethinking Preaching Conference (RPC) invites participants to consider the challenges and opportunities posed by such issues as religious difference, mental health, queer identity, race, ethnicity, culture, ability, accessibility, online technology, and multi-language contexts and their intersectional natures. The sessions will help us explore what it means to be a preacher for today. Keynote speaker: Rev. Dr. Debra Mumford. Invited preacher: Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo. Workshop Leaders: Rev. Kimiko Karpoff, Rev. Dr. Namjoong Kim, Rev. Dr. Jake Myers, Rev. Evan Swance-Smith.

Engage Difference! Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry (DUIM) is a 5-day interactive and engaging program with practical ideas for implementation in your own context. DUIM is for ministry leaders and community members nurturing cultural relevance, understanding, and awareness in their communities.