On Thursday morning, January 5, 2012, in the magnificant sanctuary of Louisville's Cathedral of the Assumption, 75 young preachers will be inducted into the Academy of Preachers. In an impressive ceremony led by AoP Executive Director Lee Huckleberry, these Young Preachers will read together the Covenant of Gospel Preaching. This is intended to convey the blessing of the Christian community and also to inspire these young adults in their call to Gospel preaching.
This class of 2012 will join with the 92 members of the class of 2010 (Charter Members) and the 93 members of the class of 2011 as full members of the Academy of Preachers.
This full membership is granted because these young ministers have preached at a National Festival of Young Preachers (as opposed to a campus festival or a regional festival). This year, the 75 members of the Class of 2012 will be joined by 20 members of the inaugural Class of 2010 and 25 members of the Class of 2011 to create the preaching cohort of the122+ participants of the 2012 National Festival of Young Preachers (although we do expect to make room for a few last, last, very last minute registrants).
The preaching theme this year is the Sermon on the Mount, and all 122+ young preachers will deliver a sermon that arises from, or intersects with, the texts of Matthew chapters 5-7. Chalice Press will publish next year a collection of these sermons, with the title chosen from among the sermons preached at the festival.
The new class of 2012 will come from 25 states and represent the wide spectrum of Christian traditions. Alas, I am sad to report, among them will be no Roman Catholic preachers, even though 2 sermon evaluators, one plenary preachers, and one session convener will be from that tradition; we are taking steps to alert more young Catholics to the transformational potential of a Festival of Young Preachers!
Come hear and support these young people!
All sessions are free and open to the public, at the Seelbach Hotel in downtown Louisville, January 2-5, 2012.
How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of those who preach glad tidings!
For the second year, the beautiful Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville will serve as the backdrop for two events of the National Festival of Young Preachers. The Evening Prayer worship service will be held Tuesday, January 3 at 7:30 p.m. The Great Amen--the final ceremony and induction service of the National Festival--will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 5. These services are open to the public, and we hope you will make plans to join us for this unique and uplifting experience. 
