Toward an Intercultural Improvisatory Homiletic: The Preaching of Gardner C. Taylor

Team Members/Contributors

Jared E. Alcántara Princeton Theological Seminary Contact Me

About this dissertation fellowship

I propose to study the preaching of Gardner C. Taylor, pastor emeritus of Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, in order to discern the ways that improvisation functions in his sermons. The hypothesis I will test is as follows: in-depth analysis of Taylor’s sermons (manuscript, audio, and published) will reveal a highly sophisticated improvisational approach that not only illumines the extent of his contribution but, more significant to contemporary homiletics, provides entree into the advent of an intercultural homiletic.

In this dissertation, improvisation has both a literal and metaphorical meaning. I discuss Taylor's practice of literal improvisation by highlighting differences between his sermons-as-prepared, delivered, and published, and I describe his practice of metaphorical improvisation by arguing for a connection between his social location and his adeptness at operating in an improvisational mode. In the case of the former, I draw from performance theory and ethnomusicology to point to similarities between Taylor's preaching and improvisational performance. In the case of the latter, I draw from critical race theory to show that improvisation is an apt metaphor for negotiating across racial and ecclesial difference.

In the second part of the dissertation, I argue that Taylor's improvisational approach authorizes a new starting point in my discipline, namely, an improvisatory intercultural homiletic. I claim that Taylor excelled at what communications theorists refer to as "intercultural competence," i.e., knowledge and action aptitude when interacting with people from other races, cultures, and ethnicities. In the final two chapters, I propose a new model for preaching that consists of four distinct elements: openness, attunement, holy curiosity, and ambidexterity. This move constitutes a shift from my initial dissertation proposal but has been vetted and approved by James F. Kay, my dissertation adviser. I plan to graduate in May 2014.