The University of Evansville is collaborating Wesley’s Chapel, London, England to host the first international Festival of Young Preachers!
As preparation for that momentous event, the UE Regional Festival of Young Preachers is rescheduled from November 3/4, 2012 to February 16/17, 2013. That coincides with Founders Day at the university when the speaker will be Rev. Dr. the Lord Leslie Griffiths of Burry Port, superintendent minister of Wesley’s Chapel, London, England.
Wesley Chapel is the Mother Church of World Methodism, caretaker of the home of John Wesley, who (inadvertently) launched what we now call the Methodist movement in England during the 18th century. It is the well spring from which emerged both the holiness movement of the19th century and the charismatic movement of the 20th century.
The UE Regional Festival of Young Preachers is in its third year. It is sponsored by the Neu Chapel Society and directed by Dr. Tammy Gieselman. Gieselman is university chaplain for the University and a member of the AoP Board of Advisers. She has participated in all three national festivals hosted by the AoP.
One of her young preachers, Tyler Best, also preached at the 2012 National Festival of Young Preachers in Louisville. He then envisioned, planned and directed a festival in his home church, the George C. Pfrimmer United Methodist Church in Corydon, Indiana.
During this coming academic year Gieselman is also inaugurating a preaching internship. The first intern will be UE senior Nick Joyner, AoP ’11. One of his administrative tasks will be to assist in the planning for the UP Regional Festival of Young Preachers, now scheduled for February 17-17, 2013.
I applaud the leadership, initiative, and vision of Dr. Gieselman and the University of Evansville. The Academy of Preachers is delighted to collaborate with them to extend the mission and programs of the AoP to the wider United Methodist network throughout the United States and Great Brittan (and beyond?).
