EHS Conference Theme

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, October 15 -17, 2026

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Regular
Admission

$175

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Bring Your
Spouse

$50

MCUTS Community

Affiliated with Lancaster Bible College (student, faculty, or staff) or if you serve at a church in the Lancaster area? Email Casey Barton (cbarton@lbc.edu) to receive promo codes for the event.

EHS Legacy and Student

Chrysostom* & Student Member Rates

$87.50

*Retired EHS Members

Preaching Amid Society's Mental Health Crisis

The Evangelical Homiletics Society's 2026 theme of “Preaching Amid America’s Mental Health Crisis” invites preachers and scholars to explore the intersection of theology, psychology, and homiletics. Our hope is that people would advocate for a robust academic response to the worsening mental health crisis in the United States. Our invitation is to examine preaching in light of the mental health of the preacher and how it addresses specific mental health challenges within our congregations.

Topics addressing spiritual vitality, mentally healthy preaching, personal mental health, and pastoral care will be considered. We also encourage subjects such as the role that medication, counseling, and therapy should play in early 21st-century Christian practice. This includes, but is not limited to, anxiety disorders, phobias, mood disorders, depression, bipolar, eating disorders, PTSD, social isolation, loneliness, various forms of abuse/trauma (inclusive of that perpetuated by pastors and congregants), neurological conditions, caregiver stress, and suicide.

Our goal is to create a conference marked by an atmosphere of transparency where attendees leave healthier and are better equipped to prepare students for the rigors of preaching in pastoral ministry.

Schedule (TBD)

Accommodations

Biola University is located in the city of La Mirada, the heart of Southern California. With several epic destinations near campus — from Disneyland to beautiful beaches. There are several local accommodations within six miles from Biola’s campus to choose from.

See Local Accommodations Here

Location

Talbot School of Theology

Talbot Theological Seminary
13800 Biola Ave, La Mirada, CA 90639
Get Directions

The Keith Willhite

EHS Presenters Award

In 2003 the Evangelical Homiletics Society established the Keith Willhite Award in memory of Dr. Keith Willhite, the late cofounder and second president of our guild. This award recognizes an outstanding paper presented at the annual gathering of the EHS, reflecting the highest of standards in research, analysis, insight, critical thinking, passion, and professional standards in evangelical homiletics, as demonstrated in the life of our friend, colleague, and visionary cofounder. These papers will be published in the Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.

The Keith Willhite

EHS Presenters Award

In 2003 the Evangelical Homiletics Society established the Keith Willhite Award in memory of Dr. Keith Willhite, the late cofounder and second president of our guild. The award recognizes an outstanding paper presented at the annual gathering of the EHS, reflecting the highest of standards in research, analysis, insight, critical thinking, passion, and professional standards in evangelical homiletics, as demonstrated in the life of our friend, colleague, and visionary cofounder. These papers are published in the Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.

2025 Award Winners

Todd H. Hilkemann

The Keith Willhite EHS Presenters Award Winner

Christocentric Preaching with Soul: Six Ways African American Preaching Deepens Christ-Centered Proclamation

Chris Rappazini

2025 Carol Norén Award

Preaching for All People: Haddon Robinson's Advocacy in the Homiletics Classroom

The Carol M. Norén

Pedagogy Paper Award

The Carol M. Norén Pedagogy Paper Award is awarded occasionally at the annual conference to the author of a paper dedicated to the teaching of preaching. Supporting one of the central components of the mission of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, this award recognizes advances and refinements in the domain of homiletics pedagogy. The award was established to recognize Dr. Carol M. Norén as a charter member of the Evangelical Homiletics Society in 1997. Dr. Norén had a distinguished career of teaching homiletics at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.

Premiere
Sponsor

$550
  • Two Exhibit Tables

  • Full Page Ad in JEHS

  • Sponsor of dessert/registration reception

  • Digital Ads between Plenary Sessions

  • Logo included in conference packet and website

  • Meals and access to plenary sessions for two representatives

Basic
Sponsor

$350
  • One Exhibit Tables

  • Co-Sponsor of refreshment breaks

  • Digital Ads between Plenary Sessions

  • Logo included in conference packet and website

  • Meals and access to plenary sessions for two representatives

Digital
Sponsor

$200
  • Digital Ads between Plenary Sessions

  • Logo included in conference packet and website

Custom
Sponsor

Varies

Have other ideas? (resources, marketing pieces, group discounts, etc.) Let us know, we might be able to work out a deal. 

Ready to become a EHS Conference sponsor?

If you would like more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact the Sponsor Coordinator, Rick Edwards, at rick@seveninteractive.com, or call 615.423.8336

If your institution is interested in hosting a future EHS annual conference, you may request guidelines and a sample letter of invitation from the EHS Secretary Treasurer.
ehs.secretary.treasurer@gmail.com

Past Presenters

A key feature of the conference is the papers that members prepare and present to their peers. This is the heartbeat of our scholarly society, as members gather to encourage, query, and critique each other’s scholarship. Professors of preaching and other scholars lay out their ideas that have an impact on the classroom and their potential publications. Members get full access to every paper. Not a member? Join today. 

Theme: "Lift Up Your Voices"
Location: Memphis
Speaker: Jared Alcantara, Tyshawn Gardner, Sarah Han

William Berkheiser

WHen Sheep Become Prey for Shepherds: Preaching Amidst the Victims of Pastoral Abuse

Megan Bishop

Through Her Eyes: The Unique Contributions of Women Preachers and Why the Church Desperately Needs Them

Randall Boltinghouse

“In the power of the Holy Spirit:” E.K. Bailey’s Pneumatology in Preaching

Lance N. Cole

A Godly Model: Theological Reflections for Employing Multi-Sensory Experiences in Preaching

Kyle J. Lincoln and Scott Gibson

“This Is the Way I’m Made:” How Eye Misalignment Shapes the Preaching Journey

Todd H. Hilkemann

The Keith Willhite Award Winner

Christocentric Preaching with Soul: Six Ways African American Preaching Deepens Christ-Centered Proclamation

Paul S. Jeon

Preaching Between Worlds: How Second-Generation Korean American Identity Shapes the Interpretation and Proclamation of the Gospel

Meg Jenista Kuykendall

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Preachers: Decolonial Homiletics for Expository Preaching

Stephen R. Mead

Preaching Mark 9:14-29 in Light of Gethsemane: A Redemptionist Reading Strategy for Addressing Disability

Jesse L. Nelson

A Colorful Classroom: A Pedagogical Case Study for Integrating Marginalized Voices in Evangelical Homiletics Curricula

Rodney Palmer

Cultural Influences on Preaching Style and Content in the African American Tradition

Chris Rappazini

The Carol M. Noren Pedagogy Paper Award Winner

Preaching for All People: Haddon Robinson’s Advocacy in the Homiletics Classroom

Thomas Rho

Social Crisis Preaching: A Contextual Homiletic for Korean Americans Preaching on Racism

Nile Sandeen

A Pattern for Preaching: How Robert Smith Jr. Makes Doctrine Dance

David J. Scott

Prophetic Preaching During the Wartime Eras: The Use of Functional Elements in the 20th Century Preaching of G. Campbell Morgan

Edward Williams

Fight the Power: The Intersectionality of Soul Preaching and Hip Hop in the Black Prophetic Tradition

Theme: "Preaching: Engaging a World Homiletic"
Location: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago
Speakers: Sam Chan and Ezekiel Abijade

Meghan Bishop

Intellectual Disability and Homiletical Practice: An Analysis from within the Pentecostal Tradition

Brandon Cash

A Hermeneutic of Instruction: A function of Torah in the Hebrew Scriptures and its Implications for Christian Preaching

Emily Dolan Gierer

Teaching and Preaching: Utilizing Tools from the Classroom in the Pulpit

Daniel J. Gregory

Using the Social Identity Approach as a Heuristic for Preaching Amos

Larry T. Hall

A Case Study: Developing Strategies for Effective English to Swahili Preaching at Fellowship Baptist Church, Malindi, Kenya

Todd H. Hilkemann

Towards a Contextualized African Homiletic in African Homiletics Pedagogy

Gregory K. Hollifield

On the Spectrum: Preaching, Empathy, and the Challenges of Neurodiversity

Tim MacBride

In (Partial) Defence of the Monologue Sermon

Kevin Maples

The Preacher’s Racial Identity: Engaging a World Homiletic as a Human

Joshua M. Peeler

Them’s Fighting Words’: Common Principles of Christian Conflict Resolution

Chris Rappazini

Show AND Tell: The Use of Visual Aids in Preaching

Christian A. Schmitt

Epic Transcendence and Christian Preaching: An Initial Foray into Epic Preaching

Fieldon Thigpen

Misapplied Language: Toward a New Testament Lexicon of Preaching

Steve Tu

Homiletics of the Oppressed

Mark O. Wilson

Southern Fried Preaching with Grits: A Discovery of Homiletic Implications for Congregational Vitality by Exploring Common Preaching Practices of 10 Thriving South Carolina Churches

Will Wilson

Forming and Performing the Sermon: How Hand Gestures Help the Preacher Think and Preach

Nathan Wright & Alison Gerber

EHS Presenters Award Winners

What's Our Big Idea? Analyzing the Academic Literary Corpus of the Evangelical Homiletics Society

Harry G. Zimmerman Jr.

Engaging the Black Tradition in Homiletics

Call for
Papers

Theme

Preaching Amid Society's Mental Health Crisis

Submission Deadline

April 30, 2026

Although paper proposals may focus on other areas of homiletical research, preference will be given to those proposals that address the conference theme.
You can send your paper submissions to papers@ehomiletics.org.
Download Call for Papers Information
Paper Proposal Form

You must be an active EHS member to submit a paper proposal. Login or join today.