Canadian pastor, preacher, and writer to lead workshop for lay and ordained preachers
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) welcomes Allan Rudy-Froese to its 2011 School of Writing. Rudy-Froese, a pastor, preacher, and writer for over 25 years will lead a unique workshop that will combine the written word with an emphasis on the sound of what is written. Applications are still being accepted for this “art of the sermon” workshop, which takes place from May 9 – 13, 2011 at CMU’s Shaftesbury campus in Winnipeg.
“If you have never heard Allan Rudy-Froese teach or preach, you have been missing something marvellous. He has truly electrifying ideas,” says Sue Sorensen, Director of the School of Writing and Associate Professor of English at CMU. “People who think the word ‘sermon’ equals ‘boredom’ are going to be launched into another realm of existence.”
Using the inspiration of great orators, poets, and musicians such as William Shakespeare, Martin Luther King Jr., the Apostle Paul, Emily Dickinson, Barbara Brown Taylor, Bob Dylan, Fanny Crosby, and others, whose words move beyond the page to settle on the ear of the listener, Rudy-Froese feels this course will be of interest to all preachers, lay or ordained.
“A sermon is an event of sound for the listening congregation, but often the preacher writes the sermon in the stone cold silence of the church office,” says Rudy-Froese. “In this class, we will explore and experiment with writing for the ear, not for the eye.”
Allan Rudy-Froese has been a pastor and preacher for over 25 years in Manitoba and Ontario. He writes a regular column for Canadian Mennonite, “This Preacher Has 22 Minutes,” has published dramas and stories for Sunday school curricula, and is currently completing his PhD dissertation in the art and theology of preaching at the Toronto School of Theology. His interest in combining writing and the spoken word has led him to be an avid audience member and sometimes actor in local theatre.
Now in its fifth year, The School of Writing at CMU remains committed to providing a nurturing and challenging environment for writers at various levels of expertise and experience. The School of Writing has helped hundreds of writers receive important support and guidance.
In addition to its participatory workshops on writing for sermons, the School also offers sessions on creative nonfiction, fiction writing, and life writing. Authors Myrna Kostash, Marina Endicott, and Joanne Klassen join Allan Rudy-Froese in bringing their experience and passion for writing to The School of Writing at CMU.
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is a Christian university in the Anabaptist tradition, offering undergraduate degrees in arts and science, business and organizational administration, communications and media, peace and conflict resolution studies, music and music therapy, theology, and church ministries, as well as graduate degrees in Theological Studies and Christian ministry. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CMU has over 1,700 students at its Shaftesbury Campus in Southwest Winnipeg, at Menno Simons College in downtown Winnipeg, and enrolled through its Outtatown discipleship program. CMU is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Visit www.cmu.ca
For further information on The School of Writing at CMU, contact:
Administrator, School of Writing at CMU
schoolofwriting@cmu.ca