The Clamp Center for Preaching Excellence (TCCPE) is a new center hosted by the Clamp Divinity School of Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. The initial program offering is a series of Preaching Peer Learning Cohorts (PPLC).

Next Cohorts Begin August 2027 –
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Preaching Peer Learning Cohorts

The Preaching Peer Learning Cohort (PPLC) is a continuing education professional development certificate program designed for younger African American pastors and preachers who want to sharpen their preaching in a lifelong pursuit of excellence. Participants will join 5-10 peers in a PPLC guided by an experienced preaching practitioner who serves as a mentor. Each cohort meeting will also feature teaching from our Homiletical Scholar in Residence, Dr. Robert Smith, Jr.

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Five Key Components Contributing to Preaching Excellence

Each PPLC will explore five (5) key components contributing to preaching excellence—The Person of the Preacher, Biblical Preaching, Application in Preaching, Celebration in Preaching, and Sermon Delivery & Evaluation.

The Person of the Preacher

Biblical Preaching

Application in Preaching

Celebration in Preaching

Sermon Delivery & Evaluation

Rev. Leroy Armstrong

Executive Director of TCCPE

Pastor Leroy Armstrong serves as the Executive Director of The Clamp Center for Preaching Excellence. Armstrong has a strong record of effective leadership, serving as a pastor of several churches in Dallas, TX and Louisville, KY. He has led Proclaiming the Word Ministries for nearly 30 years. He also served as director of the E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference, one of the nation’s premier events for African American pastors and preachers. Before transitioning into full-time ministry, Armstrong served as a senior engineer. Learn more about Leroy Armstrong.

Homiletical Scholar in Residence

ROBERT SMITH, JR. (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) served as Professor of Christian Preaching for 27 years and held the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School until he retired on June 30, 2024. A former Carl E. Bates Associate Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Smith was the 2017 E. K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference Living Legend and was chosen to receive the Legacy Legend Award by Truett Seminary of Baylor University in 2022.

A popular teacher and preacher, he received Southern’s 1996 Findley B. Edge Award for Teaching Excellence. He served as pastor of the New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, OH, for twenty years and has served as a contributing editor and writer to many literary works. Among his written works are Doctrine That Dances, The Oasis of God: From Mourning to Morning—Biblical Insights from Psalms 42 and 43, and Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Joshua. Dr. Smith recorded the ESV Bible with Crossway, which was released in January 2024 as a Chronological Bible Reading podcast and released as an audiobook in March 2024. Dr. Smith has spoken at more than 150 universities, colleges, and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean. Dr. Smith and his wife, Dr. Wanda Taylor-Smith, Ph.D., are the parents of four adult children (two in heaven) and eight grandchildren.

Homiletical Scholar in Residence

Preaching Peer Learning Cohort Mentors

Preaching Peer Learning Cohort Mentors are seasoned preaching practitioners who combine formal homiletical training with practical preaching experience.