2026 Lenten Preaching Cohort
This cohort will guide pastors through a season of intentional preaching growth — grounded in Wesleyan tradition, peer encouragement, and congregational insight. Every pastor selects an individualized Lenten Preaching Project, shares it publicly within the cohort, and practices it throughout the season.
Purpose:
Who Is This For?
Any pastor in the Mountain View or Valley Ridge Districts seeking to grow in preaching craft, experiment with new approaches, and receive grace-filled feedback from peers and laity.
Cost:
There is no program fee. Participants only purchase books or materials needed for their personal project, if any.
Forming a Preaching Feedback Team in your local church.
Studying other preachers as part of their project learning
Reading books or materials needed for their individual project
Sharing their project publicly with the cohort
Participating fully in Wesleyan Band–style accountability
Weekly Zoom meetings on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. during Lent
An in-person launch gathering in February (one on each District)
A final in-person evaluation gathering after Easter (one in each District)
Commitment:
TIMELINE
❋ February:
In-person launch gathering
❋ Lent (Feb–Mar):
Weekly Monday Zoom meetings at 1:00 p.m.; congregational feedback
❋ Easter Season:
Self-reflection and project evaluation
❋ Post-Easter
In-person final gathering; cohort storytelling at the April Clergy meeting.
Questions?
Email Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert: sarahcalvert@vaumc.org