Praxis at Nazarene Theological Seminary

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Praxis at Nazarene Theological Seminary

Praxis at NTS seeks to bridge theology and contextual ministry with valuable resources. Under the leadership of Dr. Jesse Middendorf and Rev.

The Mission of Nazarene Theological Seminary is to form faithful and effective ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to participate in the reconciling of the world to God. It is a mission that extends beyond the classroom to include lifelong learning among our constituent groups ministering in the 21st Century through the lens of our Wesleyan theological tradition. Dana Preusch, the Center for P

astoral Leadership has provided thousands of hours of lifelong learning through lectureships, faculty teaching, online seminars, video resources, and conferences, all in support of Nazarene clergy in the USA/Canada region and around the world. As the world is changing, so too are the tools and resources needed to meet those challenges. While we know that nothing is more critical than the guidance of the Holy Spirit, research finds that engaging in lifelong learning is key to the health and well-being of pastors, lay leaders, and the churches they serve. NTS is relaunching the Center for Pastoral Leadership under the name "Praxis." Praxis describes the dynamic relationship between theology and ministry, each informing the other. We hope to help enrich our praxis by strengthening the partnership of local ministries in dialog with the rich theological resource of the seminary. Dr. David Sharpes, Director
[email protected]

09/01/2026

You already know your congregation includes families still learning how their child with a disability belongs. You do not have to figure out how to walk with them alone.

We are glad to share that the NTS Nurturing Care Initiative is now a member of Disability Ministry Network, a national network of denominational and para-church organizations working to advance accessibility and inclusion in the local church.

This membership places Nurturing Care alongside Nazarene Disability Ministry and other respected organizations serving churches across the country, giving you an even wider circle of resources as you build a congregation shaped by belonging.

Learn more about Nurturing Care and the resources available to you at ntspraxis.org.

08/29/2026

Your people are forming beliefs, building relationships, and exploring spiritual questions in digital spaces every day. How is your ministry meeting them there?

In Faithful Presence Online: Digital Discipleship for Mission and Witness, Dr. David Sharpes explores theological foundations for digital engagement and practical strategies for fostering authentic community online.

This workshop will help you extend pastoral care, teaching, and evangelistic conversation beyond your church building, creating pathways for the nones and dones to explore faith and begin meaningful connections.

Watch now → ntspraxis.org/palcon

08/27/2026

NTS and Praxis are proud to announce the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Preachers Conference: The Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership.

Founded at Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2003, the Wynkoop Center carries forward the legacy of theologian, educator, missionary, and NTS theologian-in-residence Dr. Mildred Bangs Wynkoop. Today, the Center works to see women called by God affirmed, empowered, and equipped to serve the Church and the world, while encouraging advocates committed to women’s leadership and mutuality in ministry. Through leadership development, financial assistance, educational resources, partnerships, and more, the Center continues to invest in women and their God-given callings.

We are deeply grateful to the Wynkoop Center for its support of the 2026 Preachers Conference and for its continued investment in leaders who serve the Church faithfully and effectively.

Interested in joining the Wynkoop Center in supporting this year’s conference? We welcome organizations and partners who believe in equipping and encouraging those called to preach.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at nts.edu/sponsor.

Learn more about the Wynkoop Center for Women in Leadership at nts.edu/wynkoop.

08/25/2026

You do not have to stand behind a pulpit every Sunday to carry the weight of someone else's pain.

Preachers' Conference 2026 is for anyone proclaiming the gospel to people carrying grief, trauma, fear and exhaustion, wherever that proclamation happens.

This conference is for pastors and preachers. It is for spiritual directors and chaplains sitting with people in their hardest moments. It is for teachers shaping the next generation of the church. It is for anyone whose calling puts them face to face with the wounds people carry.

Trauma-Informed Ministry: Preaching Care in Our Churches and Communities will give you theological depth, practical insight and renewed encouragement for the work you are already doing.

Join us in person at Nazarene Theological Seminary or online from anywhere.

Sept. 22-23, 2026

Register → www.nts.edu/preach

Nazarene Theological Seminary

08/22/2026

At the heart of your pastoral calling is a simple, demanding task: to live among your people while following Jesus so closely that you become a living sign of the Good Shepherd.

In Finding Your Way: The Pastor as Lead Discipler, Dr. Jeren Rowell offers a foundation of pastoral theology that grounds congregational discipleship in the truest kind of disciplining leadership for your church.

Watch Now - ntspraxis.org/palcon

08/18/2026

Every week, you sit with people carrying grief, fear and stories they may never fully name aloud. You do not have to figure out how to respond alone.

Trauma in Our Pews: Why the Church Must Pay Attention is open to anyone who wants to better understand trauma and how it shapes the people around them. It is especially helpful if you are coming to Preachers' Conference 2026, since it lays the foundation for everything we will build together at this year's conference, Trauma-Informed Ministry: Preaching Care in Our Churches and Communities.

Dr. Sharon Prado and Dr. Christine Hung will help you name what trauma is, how it shapes the body and relationships, and why it matters for how you preach, counsel and lead. If you plan to join us in September, come with these questions already stirring, and you will be ready to go deeper with Dr. David Wang and the rest of this year's speakers when the conference begins Sept. 22.

Join us Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. CDT.

Register → www.nts.edu/preach

08/13/2026

Your students just experienced something life changing this summer. Now what?

Pastoring After Mountaintop Moments is a three-week webinar presented by Dr. Hannah Jones-Nelson, youth pastor at Flint Central Church of the Nazarene in Michigan, designed to help you lead students well in the ordinary weeks after the mountaintop.

Week 1 explores implementing spiritual practices, week 2 looks at continued formation, and week 3 addresses pastoring students who are exploring a call to ministry.

Register → ntspraxis.org/mountaintop

08/12/2026

How can our churches move beyond simply welcoming people with disabilities toward creating communities where every person truly belongs?

Two new books featuring NTS faculty and notable leaders such as Lamar Hardwick, Amy Peacock Jacober, Tara Thomas Smith, Brad Lee, Diane Cunningham Leclerc, Bill Gaventa, and more explore that question from different perspectives.

"Trading Shoes: Preaching Disability in the Church That Cares", edited by Dr. Jeren Rowell and Dr. David Sharpes, turns specifically to preaching, asking what it means to proclaim the gospel in and through disability and how listening to perspectives different from our own can reshape both preaching and the life of the church.

"All God’s Children: Building Churches of Belonging", edited by Dr. Dean G. Blevins, brings together pastors, parents, ministry leaders, neurodivergent clergy and advocates to offer practical strategies for disability ministry and help congregations imagine a deeper culture of belonging.

We’re grateful for and proud of the NTS voices helping churches think more faithfully and practically about disability, ministry and belonging.

Learn more and order at nts.edu/nc-books

08/11/2026

You cannot pour out what you have not received.

Tonight, join us for our first Deep and Light Dialog with Dr. Shane Ash, who has offered spiritual care and guidance for more than 20 years as both a pastor and a chaplain in medical and clinical settings. Shane is the founder of Restwork, an organization that brings restorative care to healthcare professionals, and he currently serves as a facilitator in our Formation Year 2026.

Shane will guide us in exploring Sabbath as an ethical responsibility of self-care, followed by a guided imagination practice.

Cost is $15. Register before the event begins.

Register → ntspraxis.org/deepandlight

08/06/2026

Every week, you care for families in your congregation who are still learning how their child with a disability belongs.

Hosted by Nazarene Theological Seminary Nurturing Care, Ministry on the Spectrum: Caring for All God’s Children brings together Dr. Dean Blevins, Rev. Brad Lee, Rev. Ryan Nelson and Rev. Kayla Smith for a panel on ministry with neurodiverse children and their families.

You will leave with theological reflection and practical guidance to help your congregation nurture belonging, equip caregivers and grow as a community shaped by care and shared responsibility.

Watch → ntspraxis.org/palcon

Address

1700 E Meyer Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
64131

Website

http://www.ntspraxis.org/

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