Defying Expectations: One Female Preacher\u27s Exploration of Preaching Performance, Listener Expectations, and Emotion

Abstract

In this thesis, one female preacher explores preaching performance, listener expectation, and emotion. Using exploratory research methodology, the thesis seeks to answer the following questions in a particular context: What are listener expectations of sermon delivery? Do listeners hold differing sermon delivery expectations for female preachers? How does meeting or straying from these expectations affect receptivity of the message? Data was collected through interviews with pastors, focus group questionnaires, and feedback forms of respondents who responded to sermons preached with different performance choices by both a female preacher and a male preacher. The results revealed a bias around performances related to emotion. On this basis, preachers would benefit from further research in the areas of emotion and preaching performance for the sake of expanding interpretations of Scripture and performances of the Word