Preachapalooza, the Academy of Preachers’ yearly banquet, is a celebration of Gospel preaching and our mission to identify, network, support and inspire young people in the call to this ministry. The event has occurred annually since 2011 when it was introduced at the National Festival of Young Preachers. Our upcoming Preachapalooza will take place Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the Hilton Atlanta Airport at 6:30 pm. For Young Preachers, Ministry Professionals, and Thursday Daily Observers, Preachapalooza is included as part of the National Festival registration packages (register here). If one wishes to solely attend Preachapalooza and celebrate with us, we invite you to register here. Tickets are available for singles, couples, and tables of 10.
At this year’s banquet, Rev. Ernest Brooks III will be officially installed as President/CEO of Academy of Preachers. We are proud to partner with Duke Divinity School, Rev. Brooks’ alma mater, who will sponsor this event. We’re also thrilled to announce William Turner Jr., the James T. and Alice Mead Cleland Professor of the Practice of Preaching at Duke Divinity School, as our featured preacher for the banquet. Turner’s ongoing work focuses on pneumatology and the tradition of spirituality and preaching within the black church. Articles on “Black Evangelicalism,” “The Musicality of Black Preaching,” and “The Black Church and the Ecumenical Tradition” reflect his teaching and writing interests. He taught in the areas of theology and Black Church Studies and directed the Office of Black Church Affairs prior to his appointment in homiletics.
Turner travels widely as a preacher and lecturer. He retains active involvement in church and community activities. He held positions within Duke University in student affairs and Afro-American Studies before joining the Divinity School faculty. Before that, he played football for Duke. He is the pastor of Mt. Level Baptist Church in Durham. Join Dr. Turner and Young Preachers from throughout the country for Preachapalooza and the National Festival of Young Preachers, coming to Atlanta, January 2-5, 2018.
