The Occasional Preacher

This book is the only one to address the person who learned to preach in seminary but who preaches now only occasionally and who is anxious about it. Courtney Buggs brings that person up to date on the latest developments in preaching, helps the preacher hone old skills and increases confidence in the occasional sermon. — Ronald J. Allen, Professor of Preaching and Gospels & Letters, Emeritus, at Christian Theological Seminary, IndianapolisThe Occasional Preacher centers the experiences of those who preach infrequently, a distinct category of preachers who preach less than six times a year. The book addresses anxiety that may accompany sporadic preaching by identifying anxiety producing situations and associated behaviors, and by offering practical guidelines for navigating the anxiety. Using survey data, interviews, classroom stories, and lived experiences, the author takes readers on a journey with four occasional preachers, looking through their preaching lives to dissect the “grateful-terror paradox” of occasional preaching. She crafts a taxonomy of occasional preacher anxiety to better understand the phenomenon. Furthermore, the author explores perfectionism as a hindrance to preachers. The book reminds occasional preachers that they are not preparing or preaching alone—the Spirit is at work. Occasional preachers are a community within the preaching community. They have one another.