Haunting Echoes for Homiletics: Why the Spirituals Matter for Preaching
Abstract
Despite the historical connection between intoned black preaching and the creation and performance of the Negro spirituals, there is silence in homiletical literature about how the spirituals may serve as a resource for the theory and practice of preaching today. This article argues that the spirituals as musical sermons can be a helpful homiletical resource for thinking about preaching, death, and hope, particularly in highlighting the critical relationship between death and the proclamation of the gospel. In light of prosperity gospel preaching and other forms of proclamation that deny the critical role of death in preaching Christian hope, the spirituals offer a healthy and constructive way forward. Thus, remembering them can help re-member preaching.For articles: All articles published in Homiletic are the exclusive property of the Journal. All copyright rights to the article shall be owned by and be in the name of the Academy of Homiletics. The Academy of Homiletics in turn grants all authors the right to reprint their articles in any format that they choose, without the payment of royalties, subject to giving proper credit to the original publication with Homiletic. The Academy of Homiletics also permits articles to be copied for non-profit educational use provided proper credit is given to Homiletic. Authors may self-archive their articles in an institutional repository or other online location, provided proper credit is given to Homiletic.
For reviews: All reviews commissioned by Homiletic are the exclusive property of the Journal. Reviews are considered a work made-for-hire, and, as such, all copyright rights to the review shall be owned by and be in the name of the Academy of Homiletics. The Academy of Homiletics in turn grants all review authors the right to reprint their reviews in any format that they choose, without the payment of royalties, subject to giving proper credit to the original publication with Homiletic. The Academy of Homiletics also permits its reviews to be copied for non-profit educational use provided proper credit is given to the review author and the Journal. Authors may self-archive reviews in an institutional repository or other online location, provided proper credit is given to Homiletic.
