NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and best-selling author Rick Warren, both ordained Southern Baptist pastors, will speak about how to use the pulpit to address political, social and cultural issues at a preaching conference in April.
The two men will be the main draw of a 19th annual national conference on preaching hosted by Preaching Magazine and preaching.com. The event will be April 7-9 in Washington, D.C.
Warren has set a precedent for using his pulpit to speak about global warming and HIV/AIDS and has invited several prominent political figures — including presidential contenders Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) — to speak in his church.
Huckabee, in the middle of a campaign to win the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, is a good example of someone who has connected the pulpit with politics, Michael Duduit, editor of Preaching Magazine, said.
“We recognize that lots can happen between now and April 7 due to campaign demands, but we are hopeful he'll be able to keep this on his schedule as a unique opportunity to speak to fellow preachers gathered in the nation's capital,” Duduit said in a news release about the event.
Other speakers at the event include Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington; A.R. Bernard, pastor of Christian Cultural Center in New York; Barry Black, chaplain of the U.S. Senate; Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Wheaton, Ill.; J. Alfred Smith, pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif.; James Emery White, pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, N.C.; Greg Thornbury, dean of the school of Christian studies at Union University; Timothy Warren, professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary; Robert Smith, professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School; William Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church; and national columnist Cal Thomas.
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