Preaching and Homiletical Theory
by Paul Scott Wilson, Published by Chalice Press, 2004; pp.177

                                            Reviewed by Dr. Susan K. Hedahl

Wilson's work is self-described as "The three sections of this book reflect the biblical, theological and pastoral dimensions central to the homiletical task " (1) Further along in this introduction he also makes the important observation that "Homiletics...is still young as an academic discipline...in North America." (2) This last sentence is crucial, since Wilson does offer much material to season and age the discipline.

The book takes us inside the field of homiletics, examining the homileticians who have made significant contributions in the three areas Wilson delineates.  In the biblical section, Wilson looks at topics such as "Modern Perspectives on the Theme Sentence," [a far larger topic than one might think]; exegesis, hermeneutics and some of the new resources emerging.

Section Two on theology speaks to issues such as "word as event," the meanings of law and Gospel in proclamation and different theories of the preached Word.  Readers of homiletical materials will note good historical overviews of names, theories and movements over the last several decades in Protestant proclamation.

Wilson reviews some names that are crucial historically to these tasks.  What leaps out immediately to this Gettysburg reviewer is the fact the Herman Stuempfle is accorded several pages on the issue of law and Gospel in proclamation. . Wilson offers high praises for Stuempfle's 1978 book on the topic.  Wilson notes: " ... Stuempfle shifted the focus of preaching from primarily individualistic to being social as well." (84)

            The final section on practical theology and preaching looks briefly at issues of pluralism, post-modernism, ethics, ethnicity and feminism.   This section is shorter than the others and hopefully Wilson will return to it will another book that explores more closely the people and theories he introduces.

            This book is valuable as a look at historical Protestant homiletical theory.  Its fleeting look at contemporary issues in the latter part of the book is also most useful.  There are, however, many things, Wilson's book does not look at which press hard upon those occupying and viewing the pulpit today:  the role of lay preachers, base community forms of proclamation, proclamation which attempts to be "non-denominational" and the impact of technology on proclamation.  Like the Internet maps available on line, this is an excellent "locator book," but there are a lot of things that are happening  enroute which it may not necessarily reflect.