The Bowed Head: How Preachers Deal with Grief

Course description:

Across the recent pandemic, grief has become all too familiar to many pastors. Not only grief over sick or dying church members but also professional grief as pastors have been caught in the middle of significant controversies. But grief has many contours and we may experience grief in varying ways. This seminar will explore multiple facets of grief with an eye toward helping participant preachers deal with their grief and preach out of their experiences with it to comfort also others.

The seminar will ponder such topics as the nature and causes of grief, healthy and unhealthy forms of grief, biblical approaches to grief, and intelligent expressions of grief in worship and preaching.

Continuing education credits are available.

Leaders:

• Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Calvin Theological Seminary President Emeritus, Senior Research Fellow, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
• Scott Hoezee, Calvin Theological Seminary Professor of Preaching, Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching

Funds provided by the Lilly Endowment as part of the Compelling Preaching Initiative.

Daily Schedule:

On each of the five days, our seminar begins promptly at 8:45am with Morning Prayers and concludes at noon with lunch. Afternoons are free. Group meals at local restaurants will be hosted by CEP on Monday and Thursday evenings.

Texts:

Todd Billings, Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer and Life in Christ. (Brazos Press, 2015)

Kate Bowler, Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved (Random House, 2019)

C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, with a Forward by Madeleine L’Engle (HarperOne, 2009)

Application information:

Persons involved full-time in church ministries and those who prepare such persons for ministry are welcome to apply. Thanks to generous underwriting by the Lilly Endowment, the cost for coming to this week-long event will be very modest. All expenses are covered by reimbursement except for 2 evening meals. Lodging will be provided for no cost at the Prince Conference Center on the Calvin University campus, beginning Sunday, July 19.

Meals will include breakfast and lunch each day, Monday-Friday. Articles, web links or other resources that will be used for the seminar will be sent to the participants ahead of time and early enough that participants will have ample opportunity to study these materials prior to the start of the seminar in July.

TO APPLY:

If you would like to apply or have any questions about the seminar, please contact us at bdey240@calvinseminary.edu

where you can request a link to use to apply OR send an application to bdey240@calvinseminary.edu with the following information:

● The applicant’s current C.V. or resume
● A brief 500-word essay that addresses the question: “What makes you interested in attending this seminar on preaching and grief?”

The application deadline to apply for this seminar is April 15, 2026. Seminar participants will be notified by May 4, 2026.

Physical address of Calvin Seminary where the seminar will be held:
Calvin Theological Seminary
3233 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546