Can preaching learn from stand-up comedy?

Part of the Sarum College short courses partnership. Limited free places are available for clergy and Readers from Bath and Wells. The course will be held at Sarum College.

A playful day of theory and practice exploring how skills and approaches from stand-up comedy might challenge and help preaching. We’ll be bringing these two different disciplines into conversation with each other to see what insights and practice might emerge.

Every week huge numbers of people seek out live comedy, an aural art form that attracts and engages people to show up and be an audience. Arguably, the sermon, also an aural art form, is not always seen as compelling and dynamic, and sometimes struggles to engage congregations.

This course is not about advocating preachers to become comedians. We will explore preaching through the lens and lessons of comedy, an art form also deeply rooted in human-to-human communication. This is a day to develop communication skills including but not limited to:  storytelling, humour, dialogue, creativity and imagination. We will engage with theology, spirituality and homiletics but this also will be a playful day involving practice, where you will experiment with some of the tools and techniques of stand-up, and of storytelling. We will not be working on “better” sermon jokes but will uncover how humour may more naturally emerge. You will need to bring a little courage – and a sense of humour.

Ian Macdonald is the Mission Tutor at Sarum College and a self-confessed comedy geek who has been active on the Comedy Circuit for a decade. He has long been fascinated by communication, experimenting and practicing this through preaching, storytelling and after-dinner speaking, as well as performing as a comedian.

To avoid disappointment, please ensure this event is intended for you prior to booking. If you are unsure, please contact training@bathwells.anglican.org for clarification.

Please book via the Sarum College website linked here.