Join us this winter in Seaside, Oregon on January 25-27, 2027, when we will welcome Assistant Professor of Homiletics from Wartburg Seminary, Rev. Dr. Samantha Gilmore. Dr. Gilmore will present “Christ for You and Me”: A Lutheran Theology of Preaching and the Embodied Imagination. She writes:

The personal nature of Lutheran preaching compels preachers to be personally present with the words they proclaim and the people in front of them as they give the gift of the gospel. Lutheran preaching prioritizes and drives toward the proclamation of Christ crucified and declares Christ’s promises to be true “for you.” The gospel is proclaimed not in general for all, but for each. The preacher gives the gospel to the people in front of them as freely as the bread and cup are given to the people in Holy Communion. Such an intimate task invites an intimate presence. In this anxious, divided, and war-torn world, such a task also calls deeply upon the preacher’s trust in God and strength of imagination. This workshop will explore interrelated elements of Lutheran preaching that reveal the importance of the presence of the preacher and will practice fostering this presence through embodied exercises of faith and imagination. Preachers are invited to wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. All bodies of all abilities are warmly welcomed.

Mark your calendars and consider coming early to prepare yourself for the conference and stay later to process all that you have learned. The hotel will honor our discounted room rate for the entire week!

This workshop is for anyone who preaches on a regular basis: clergy, deacons, lay preachers, Synod Authorized Lay Ministers (SALMS), interns, etc. We welcome all of our ecumenical friends who would like join us as well. This is a great time to also connect with your fellow preachers to gain that collegiality that many do not have in their particular settings. If you have attended before, invite your friends!

Registration for the Byberg Conference will be open on September 25, 2026 and close December 11, 2026.