Indianapolis Seminary Hosts Just Preachers Conference on AI, Justice, and Homiletics

Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis will host its 2026 Mixed Methods Preaching Conference from October 19 to 22, gathering ministry leaders, scholars, and students around the theme "Just Preachers, Just Preaching."

The conference is designed to explore the intersection of a preacher's personal character, theological commitments, and homiletical methods. Organizers say the event will push participants to think about what it means to preach with both technical skill and moral integrity.

The four-day program includes specialized preaching laboratories covering a range of contemporary topics. Sessions will address the use of artificial intelligence in sermon preparation and delivery, homiletical improvisation, and womanist preaching traditions. The AI sessions are expected to draw particular interest, as more pastors are experimenting with AI tools for research, outline generation, and illustration sourcing.

The womanist preaching laboratory reflects the seminary's commitment to centering the voices and experiences of Black women in theological education. Womanist homiletics draws on the intellectual and spiritual traditions of African American women to develop preaching approaches that address race, gender, and class.

Christian Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It has a long history of training ministers for diverse congregations and has increasingly focused on justice-oriented theological education.

The conference is open to ordained ministers, seminary students, and lay leaders. Organizers say the event is designed to be practical as well as scholarly, with participants leaving with concrete tools they can apply in their own preaching contexts.

Registration information is available through the seminary's website. The event is expected to draw attendees from across the Midwest and beyond.