Preaching with All Our Souls:

Leslie J Francis is Professor of Religions and Education within the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, and Canon Theologian of Bangor Cathedral, Wales. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1976. His published works have been recognised by three higher doctorates: ScD from Cambridge in 1997, DD from Oxford in 2001 and DLitt from University of Wales, Bangor in 2007. He has researched and published widely in applying psychological insights to ministry.

Sue Jones is Director of the Ministry Course at Bangor and has recently been appointed Canon Missioner in the Diocese of Bangor. Sue has an interest in education. She trained as a teacher before training for ordained ministry and is committed to the education of children and adults in the church. Sue is an honorary research fellow at Glyndwr University and is responsible for the training of lay and ordained people in the Diocese and in the Church in Wales. Sue's research interest is in the field of clergy personality.

The SIFT Method of Biblical Interpretation and Liturgical Preaching was first introduced by Leslie J Francis in his study of Mark's Gospel, published in 1997. This hermeneutical method stands in the tradition of contextual theologies (like liberation theology, feminist theology, and Black theology), but in this case the context is shaped by psychological theories (rather than sociological theories).

The SIFT Method was then developed in a series of 3 commentaries on the Sunday Gospels for the Revised Common Lectionary, co-authored by Leslie J Francis and Bishop Peter Atkins.

In this programme, Leslie J Francis and Susan H Jones plan to introduce the theory underpinning the SIFT Method, discussing the theology of individual differences, the interpretation of Scripture, and the essence of psychological type theory. Opportunities will be provided for participants to explore the implications of their own psychological type preferences. Then structured workshops will provide opportunities for testing the SIFT approach in practice.

Reading

Francis, L.J. (2005) Faith and psychology: Personality, religion and the individual. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Francis, L.J. and Atkins, P. (2000) Exploring Luke's Gospel: A guide to the gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary. London: Mowbray.
Francis, L.J. (2001) Exploring Matthew's Gospel: An aid for readers and preachers using Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary. London: Mowbray.
Francis, L.J. (2002) Exploring Mark's Gospel: An aid for readers and preachers using Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary. London: Mowbray.
Leslie J Francis and Andrew Village (2008) Preaching with all our souls: A study in hermeneutics and psychological type. London: Continuum

Programme

Tuesday 25th May
Session 1: Theology of Individual Differences
Session 2: Psychological Types

Wednesday 26th May
Session 3: Ways of Perceiving (Sensory and Intuitive)
Session 4: Preaching Workshop
Session 5: Ways of Evaluating (Thinking and Feeling)
Session 6: Preaching Workshop
Session 7: Listening to Type

Thursday 27th May
Session 8: Preaching Workshop
Session 9: Open Forum and Evaluation