Invite a Speaker

Welcome to the Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau will help you find members of the AMBS faculty and administration who are available to speak at your church or community event. Speakers are available to provide sermons, teach Sunday School classes, give presentations or resource discussions. The speakers listed in these pages are happy to share their work and study in areas such as biblical interpretation, theology, history, spirituality, worship, ethics and ministry. Please don't hesitate to contact them about possible engagements.

Use the Topics, Speakers and Faculty on the Road pages listed under "Invite a Speaker" on the left menu to guide your choice of speaker.

Getting Started

1. Think about the goals that you and your congregation have for your event. Is there a particular or general topic your congregation would like to learn more about? Is there a particular speaker you would like to hear? Do you want a resource for Sunday morning, for a retreat or for another type of event? Review the reimbursement rates listed at the bottom of this page.

2. Search for a speaker by Topic or by Speaker's Name. The topics page lists presentation themes or titles by category. The Speakers page lists each speaker's general area of expertise. If you don't see your topic listed, do not hesitate to ask a speaker with a related area of expertise if they are willing to present on your topic. You can also use the Faculty on the Road database to find faculty already planning to visit your area.

3. From any of the search pages above, follow links to speakers' individual pages to find their contact information. A speaker's individual page also features biographical information, curriculum vitae, a list of their Speakers Bureau presentations and a promotional photo. To download a promotional photo, click the small photo on the individual page; a larger photo will open in a new window. Click on this with the right mouse button, and choose "Save image as . . ."

4. Contact the speaker by e-mail or phone using the information found on their page. When you invite someone to speak, let them know the following information:

• Presentation topic
• Presentation format
• Presentation date(s)
• Whether you are collaborating with another congregation or hope to dovetail onto an existing event
• Your contact information

Be aware that acceptance of an invitation is subject to availability.

Helpful Tips

1. Plan to invite a speaker well in advance. The more time there is before an event, the more likely that a speaker will be able to participate. Plan on three to six months (but don't be afraid to ask even if your event is coming up in three months or less.)

2. Consider collaborating with neighboring groups or congregations. You can share costs by planning an event together or hosting separate events on adjacent days. (Financial reimbursement expectations can be found at the bottom of this page.)

3. Visit the Faculty on the Road database to see if a speaker is already scheduled to speak in your area. Invite this speaker to an event at your congregation and save on travel costs.

4. If you need additional help to locate a speaker or if you have any questions, please e-mail churchleadership@ambs.edu or call 574-296-6269.

Reimbursement

Look over the suggested reimbursement rates for speakers (below) and discern what is feasible for your congregation. Congregations are also responsible for travel costs.

These rates are designed for congregations and small group settings, not for conferences or larger groups. Larger groups should negotiate reimbursement amounts directly with the speaker.

All financial obligations/understandings must be decided before the event. Payments will be made directly to the speaker.