Preaching before a watching world

While Bishop to the Australian Defence Force from 2001 to 2007, I was invited to preach at a series of national services in conjunction with the '9/11' terrorist attacks, the commencement of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Bali bombings and the crash of Navy helicopter Shark 02 on the Indonesian island of Nias. It was not clear what those inviting me to speak hoped or expected me to say. As I reflect on those experiences, the common elements in each were attempts to make sense of events that defied human understanding. This is a theme often associated with 'community homiletics'. This is the term I use in referring to preaching beyond the local assembly of Christians. When we do not know the convictions and commitments of those who gather, only that they think we might be able to bring some clarity in speaking with candour, what might we say and how might we say it? If we, as preachers, are to exegete the text, the congregation and the moment adequately, there is much to consider in our preparations. In this paper I use the centenary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli as a case study.