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Examine the roles of preaching and presiding in the Christian assembly and in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the documents, The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament and Principles for Worship (especially Preaching and the Christian Assembly, page 44-66).

Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Pastoral Care and Occasional Services for the Assembly
There are two volumes in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship family of resources that will replace the Occasional Services companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship: Pastoral Care (2008) and Occasional Services for the Assembly (fall 2009.)

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson's Statement about Preaching (February 11, 2009)

Presiding Resources
Read more about leading liturgy with grace and confidence within the assembly.

Preaching Resources

Free Sermon Preparation Resources
The Text This Week links to exegesis, sermon samples, images, and more based on the RCL
www.WorkingPreacher.org from Luther Seminary's Center for Biblical Preaching
ELCA World Hunger Sermon Starters
ELCA Stewardship Sermon Starters
The Preachers E-pistle from Luther Seminary (quarterly email resource)
Sermons that Work from the Episcopal Church

Sermon preparation tools on-line and in print
Lectionary Homiletics (starts at $69.99/year)
SermonWriter (weekly email, $49.95/year)
The Living Pulpit (quarterly, $39/year)
In the Company of Preachers audio resource (quarterly, CDs $29.95, download $24.95)
Homily Service from The Liturgical Conference (monthly, $74/year)
Preaching from the Lectionary: an exegetical commentary with CD-ROM by Gerard S. Sloyan
Bibleworks software for biblical exegesis and research

Preaching conferences and graduate programs in homiletics and worship
Cathedral College of Preachers, Washington D.C.
ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching, Chicago, Illinois
Luther Seminary Center for Biblical Preaching, St. Paul, Minnesota
Wartburg Seminary Tri-State Forum, Decorah, Iowa 
Trinity Lutheran Seminary Continuing Education, Columbus, Ohio
Southern Seminary Lifelong Learning, Columbia, South Carolina

ELCA Publications about preaching
Issues for Discussion: Preaching 
Preaching: Rooted in Scripture, Living and Contemporary 
Preaching Archives of Lutheran Partners Online

ELCA Conference Presentations
Honesty in Preaching: Silence and Speech by Susan Briehl 
Preaching with Images by Gail Ramshaw 

Recommended books and articles about preaching
Preaching Without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended Anti-Judaism by Marilyn J. Salmon Marilyn Salmon's persuasive and practical work helps preachers to identify the ways that Christian preachers perpetuate the long tradition of Christian anti-Judaism. She situates the Gospels precisely as Jewish literature then addresses specific thorny issues that arise in preaching: supersessionism; portrayals of the Law; the Pharisees; the relationship between the Testaments; preaching the Passion; and misrepresentations of Judaism. Using examples from many sermons, she shows how to avoid the pitfalls of misportraying the people of Jesus. (2006, Fortress Press, 9780800638214)
Envisioning the Word: The Use of Visual Images in Preaching, with CD-ROM by Richard A. Jensen In this one-volume resource kit, Jensen helps preachers use visual images creatively and responsibly. How, how much, when, what equipment, use of teams, relationship to exegesis, different varieties of images, sources — all the essential topics and concerns are addressed here. Jensen first discusses how vital, if controversial, image making has always been in Christian tradition and then demonstrates how preaching with images is both profoundly traditional and necessary to contemporary proclamation. His work combines practical advice with religious reflection to enable preachers to help their congregations envision the Word anew. The accompanying CD-ROM contains not only the full text of the book and helpful study guide, but links to the most helpful Websites and Web-based sources of images. (2005, Fortress Press, 9780800637293)
Preaching Parables to Postmoderns by Brian C. Stiller Stiller argues that Jesus' parables, through their narrative, personal, and oral dimensions and reversal of expectations, provide unique access to Christianity for those whose experience and hopes we label "postmodern." Aligning contemporary scholarship with today's cultural assumptions, Stiller offers preachers a working knowledge of postmodern sensibilities, an understanding of the parable genre, an analysis of ten parables, and a sample of how one might preach them effectively. (2005, Fortress Press, 9780800637132)
Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching by Graeme Goldsworthy While strong, gospel-centered preaching abounds, many Christian pastors and lay preachers find it difficult to preach meaningfully from the Old Testament. This practical handbook offers help. Graeme Goldsworthy teaches the basics of preaching the whole Bible in a consistently Christ-centered way. Goldsworthy first examines the Bible, biblical theology, and preaching and shows how they relate in the preparation of Christ-centered sermons. He then applies the biblical-theological method to the various types of literature found in the Bible, drawing out their contributions to expository preaching focused on the person and work of Christ. (2006, Fortress Press, 9780802847300)
Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons by Frederick Buechner Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary, writes, "Buechner uses words with such transformative power that any comment on them is like the moon palely reflecting the sun." (2007, HarperOne, 9780061146617)
Preaching at the Double Feast: Homiletics for Eucharist Worship by Michael Monshau Since the Reformation, the focal point of worship for many Christian churches has been the table of the Word — the proclamation of Scriptures and the preaching event. Congregations have been fed, often well and abundantly, at the "single feast" table of the Word. But what is the role of preaching in the "double feast" churches — churches whose normative liturgical worship features rites at the two tables of the Word and of the Eucharist? This is a multi-voiced ecumenical preaching anthology full of insights from those who preside, preach, and celebrate the double feast. In terms of time, as well as content and structure, proclamation and preaching at the double feast will be very different from preaching at worship that is exclusively Word-centered. Father Michael Monshau adds timely and critical new perspective to the issue by bringing together five significant voices from "double feast" churches whose presentations, in effect, become varied, short textbooks on how to preach. (2006, Liturgical Press, 9780814627808)
Graceful Speech: An Invitation to Preaching by Lucy Lind Hogan In this introductory text, Lucy Lind Hogan helps the reader understand the theological task of becoming a preacher, the craft of writing the sermon, and the importance of communicating the gospel in the present world. In doing so, she creates a book that is more holistic than any other homiletics text currently on the market. Hogan begins with a theological rationale for preaching, which serves as a basis for understanding the identity of the preacher. She then explores the context for preaching, showing how to interpret a scriptural text, design a sermon, and use illustrations and examples. She also discusses preaching for special occasions, the use of different technologies in preaching, and the importance of delivery. The book includes questions for reflection. (2006, Westminster John Knox Press, 9780664228774)