Dr. Richard F. Ward, Fred B. Craddock Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship and Director of Denominational Formation (United Church of Christ) at PTS will speak at the upcoming Griggs Lectureship on Disciple History.  

Ward will present "I Love to Tell the Story: But Is Anyone Listening?"  He brings to the study of preaching a rich background in performance studies and practices, with particular interest in the art of storytelling and oral interpretation of scripture as they inform and enrich the ministry of preaching.  

Dr. Ward is the author of Speaking from the Heart: Preaching with Passion and Speaking of the Holy: The Art of Communication in Preaching and a number of contributions and articles for the disciplines of homiletics, performance theory, and communication studies. He is also the co-editor of Craddock Stories with Mike Gravesand Fred Craddock, also published in 2002. At present, Dr. Ward serveson the Editorial Board for Feasting on the Gospels after serving on the board for Feasting on the Word, a lectionary commentary series for Westminster John Knox Press. Ordained in the United Church of Christ,Dr. Ward holds membership in the Academy of Homiletics, where he has served as facilitator for the Performance Studies Group. He has also held memberships in the National Communication Association, the Religious Communication Association, and the International Network of Biblical Storytellers.

The Griggs Lectureship is sponsored by First Christian Church of Tulsa and was instituted in 1987 to keep alive the rich heritage of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in an increasingly post-denominational age.