Clergy

International Clergy Communication Skills

Are your sermons or homilies easy to understand?

Do members of your clergy need accent modification to communicate more effectively? 

American-born and international clergy can learn strategies and techniques to improve communication skills when delivering prayers, sermons, or homilies. International clergy may experience additional challenges with communication due to a foreign accent or lack of confidence in speaking a second or third language. Lynda Katz Wilner has extensive experience conducting group workshops or 1:1 individualized training at your location or via live online virtual training.

Check out our playlist of segments from our most recent International Clergy Workshop.

Clergy Clients

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV

Rabbis in the Baltimore and Ohio area

Talmudical Academy of Baltimore

Floris United Methodist Church, Herndon, VA

Pallottine Seminary at Green Hill, West Hyattsville, MD

Training includes:

  • Public speaking skills – Gain confidence with your engaging delivery

  • Voice projection – Convey confidence when you speak

  • Accent modification – Learn patterns of American English (Consonant and vowel pronunciation, stress and intonation, rate of speech)

  • Vocabulary development – Increase your understanding and use of English

  • American idioms and slang – Learn to use and understand conversational and casual speech

  • American culture – Appreciate cultural differences and understand appropriate behavior

Reviews

  • “I just wanted to briefly remark on the effectiveness of your program. While serving as a priest here in West Virginia I have been in contact with many brother priests who hail from other environs who often bring with them a heavily “non-American” accent. The common struggle between their wanting to be understood and their congregations’ desire to understand has been greatly reduced by your “Successfully Speaking” course. Most recently, I have noticed a significant positive response from the parishioners here in Parkersburg. Thank you for your assistance with our clergy here in West Virginia.”

    -Father Eric Hall, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV

  • Having had the pleasure of working with Ms Lynda Katz Wilner for more than three years, I can attest to the spirit of excellence and professionalism she conveys in assisting our international clergy in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Successfully Speaking is now part of the program we utilize to introduce priests arriving from other countries who are assigned to serve the people of West Virginia for a given period of time. The Diocese remains grateful for the priests’ commitment to serve the needs of our people but, often times, their assignments are accompanied by a number of concerns raised by local parishioners who have a difficult time hearing and/or understanding their priests. Lynda has taken time to work with our priests on an individual basis. As well, she consults with others in parish settings in gleaning progress reports for her clients. The results of her dedicated service with our priests have been duly recognized by other priests and parishioners alike. Lynda carefully evaluates our international priests, assesses their particular needs and customizes a program to help them in all facets of their lives in the United States. I am particularly convinced of her methods in that I see our international priests gain confidence for themselves in public speaking engagements. Their learned skills from the Successfully Speaking program assist them in liturgical celebrations and reports received from parishioners indicate genuine improvement. I am pleased to recommend Successfully Speaking to any individual or corporation.”

    -Rev. Msgr. Anthony Cincinnati, S.T.D. // Former V.E. Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV

  • I want to testify to the fact that Lynda has been one of my favorite on-line teachers of all times. I am so grateful for having her. (I learned) to speak slowly, enunciate articulately, and listen actively. (The training was) designed around the time that I am available to have the class. She has helped me to be a better person. Lynda’s kindness, patience, and courtesy is very commendable.

    - Father Livinus Uba // Pastor, Huntington, WV