Dr. André Resner, professor of homiletics and church worship, will be the speaker for Hood Theological Seminary’s opening convocation on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Albert J. D. Aymer Center on the seminary campus.

This service marks the official beginning of the academic year and is a time when the seminary community joins together asking God’s guidance throughout the coming year. It is also a time that new students sign their names in a document which serves as a part of the historical record of the seminary. The public is invited to attend the service.

Resner received his doctorate and master’s in divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and his master of science and bachelor of arts degrees from Pepperdine University. He is an ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He transferred his ordination from the Church of Christ in 2001 after serving churches in California, New Jersey and Texas, as well as serving as assistant professor of Bible and preaching at Abilene Christian University.

He taught preaching at New Brunswick Theological Seminary from 2001 to 2004 and has been at Hood Theological Seminary since 2004. At Hood, Resner teaches preaching and worship classes and is the director of the chapel.

As parish associate for First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury, Resner helped organize and launch the Life Center Worship service in 2004 and 2005, serving as worship leader for the alternative service of worship before becoming the stated supply pastor for Cleveland Presbyterian Church in 2006.

Resner has been a member of the Academy of Homiletics since 1989. He convened the Pedagogy Work Group of the Academy for 15 years and also served as the webmaster for a term while functioning as a member of the executive committee.

His books include “Preacher and Cross: Person and Message in Theology and Rhetoric” (Eerdmans, 1998), “Just Preaching: Prophetic Voices for Economic Justice” (Chalice, 2003), “Living In-Between: Lament, Justice, and the Persistence of the Gospel” (Wipf & Stock, 2016), “What’s Right With Preaching Today?” (edited with Mike Graves) (Westminster John Knox Press, 2017). He has contributed to lectionary preaching resources as well as written articles, sermons and book reviews for various journals, encyclopedias and books.

Dr. Vergel Lattimore is president of Hood Theological Seminary.