About the program

This program is no longer available as a free-standing certification program. It is anticipated that it will be integrated into Vanderbilt’s new DMin program in Homiletics (forthcoming).

The David G. Buttrick Certificate Program in Homiletic Peer Coaching, funded by the Lilly Endowment, is designed to train and certify preaching coaches in order to improve the quality of preaching. The program has been named to honor former Vanderbilt preaching professor David G. Buttrick. The program will train and certify peer-group coaches to initiate and successfully lead peer-groups for preachers and to individually coach preachers.

Coaches will be trained in:

Sermon analysis
Peer-group recruitment and formation
Peer-group covenant building and group dynamics
Listening and communication skills
Three models for homiletic peer-group process
- A preacher formation model
- A sermon formation model
- Individual coaching

Coaches will learn how to guide peer-group participants to:

Enrich their vocation as preachers
Interact more deeply with scripture
Preach with theological integrity
Energetically engage contexts for preaching
Preach with intentionality and purpose
Become effective communicators

Program structure

The program takes one year. Here is an outline of what is involved:

Colloquy 1: Coaches-in-training will gather at Vanderbilt Divinity School for five days of training.
Colloquy 2: Coaches-in-training will attend a five-day on-site course where they will learn the rudiments of careful sermon analysis.
Colloquy 3: Coaches return to Vanderbilt Divinity School for a final colloquy and graduation.