Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
96a15
March 9, 1996
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- One of the most widely known and
revered 20th century Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
ministers is one of the 12 "most effective preachers" in the
English-speaking world, according to a two-year Baylor
University survey.
The Rev. Fred Craddock, Blue Ridge Ga., shares the honor
with, among others, Methodist preacher the Rev. William Willimon,
Duke University, the Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, a Georgia
Episcopalian, the Rev. Billy Graham, and the Rev. James Forbes,
senior minister, Riverside Church, New York City.
Craddock and the others form what Newsweek magazine calls
"A Preachers' Hall of Fame," in the March 4 article "Heard Any
Good Sermons Lately?" The article reports that the list of 12 was
drawn mainly from a survey of 341 seminary professors and editors
of religious periodicals.
"It makes me feel grateful. It makes me feel a little awkward,"
Craddock says. "I have spent a lifetime being grateful for, but not
paying too much serious attention to, awards and honors --
because I have a feeling that the most fatal thing in ministry is a
runaway ego."
Reservations about preaching awards stem from Craddock's
conviction that preaching is but part of effective ministry. A
singular preaching award "feeds into something we don't want --
the elevated pulpit -- too much attention on the sermon itself,"
he observes. "I believe the whole service proclaims the
gospel -- the scripture, the liturgy, the singing. I think the act of
preaching is an act of worship in a context of worship. Elevating
it too highly does some damage."
Craddock, professor emeritus of preaching and New Testament
at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, once quashed
the idea of a "best preacher in the student body" contest. We'll
have a preaching contest "when we have a contest on the best
prayer, the best liturgist, the best caller," he told his Candler
colleagues.
The popular Disciples minister has his own opinion on where the
world's best preachers are to be found. They are in congregations
-- "those who speak to the same people each Sunday and
maintain a pastoral relationship, and who get to enjoy the
cumulative effect of that ministry. That consistent preaching,
in my opinion, is the best. That's what I've taught for 25 years."
Baylor University has contacted Craddock with an invitation to
preach at the Waco, Texas, campus. A date and time have
yet to be arranged.
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[Special note to Disciples members and clergy colleagues of
the Rev. Craddock: The Newsweek magazine article mentioned
above identifies Craddock as a retired "Methodist" minister.
The Disciples Office of Communication and others have written
to the Newsweek letters editor to point out that the Rev.
Craddock is an ordained minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ).]