Abstract

While sermons are often studied in terms of how they persuade sinners to reform, they also serve to define and maintain the entire religious community's self-image. An examination of these sermonic elements in two corporate annual reports will reveal how these documents not only serve to provide factual information but also serve to create and defend a community, in terms of vision, self-image, and shared goals. The paper will be of interest to teachers and scholars concerned with corporate communica tion, rhetorical criticism, and religious rhetoric.