Feminist Studies in Liturgy

Critical Theories and Liturgical Studies

Convener: Gerald Liu, PhD (geraldcliu@gmail.com) is Director of Collegiate Ministries, Initiatives, and Belonging for the Global Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. He wrote Music and the Generosity of God and co-wrote with Khalia Williams A Worship Workbook: A Practical Guide for Extraordinary Liturgy.

Members and Visitors in Attendance: Gerald Liu, David Turnbloom, Gabriel Pivarnik, Hansol Goo, J. J. Wright, Kat Olson, Ken Amadi, Kim Belcher, Kristine Suna-Koro, Layla Karst, Nathaniel Marx, Rebecca Spurrier, Ricky Manalo, Ruth Meyers, Samantha Slaubaugh, Jason Smith (virtual), Sarah Johnson (virtual).

Description of Work: For 2022, we focused our time upon papers and respondents focusing upon the question, ‘What is Liturgy?’ and we also discussed Ritual at World’s End: Essays on Eco-Liturgical Liberation Theology by Cláudio Carvalhaes. Paper presenters included Layla Karst, Jason Smith, Gabriel Pivarnik, and Kristine Suna-Koro. Respondents included David Turnbloom and Hansol Goo. Kristine Suna-Koro, Rebecca Spurrier, and I helped to introduce the work of Carvalhaes and Carvalhaes also spoke about his publication.

Papers and Presentations:

• Cláudio Carvalhaes, “Ritual at World’s End: Essays on Eco-Liturgical Liberation Theology.” • Gabriel Pivarnik, “What is Liturgy in a World Where the Symbolic is Disappearing?” • Layla Karst, “What is Liturgy? A Roman Catholic Response.” • Jason Smith, “The Liturgy of Sports: Or How to Celebrate Contingency

Without Believing that God Loves Tom Brady More than Everyone Else.” • Kristine Suna-Koro, “What is liturgy, then? Five Theses From the SpaceTime of Pandemic – A Thinkpiece.” • Respondents with formal but untitled presentations were David Turnbloom,

Hansol Goo, Rebecca Spurrier, and Gerald Liu.

Other Work and Plans for the Future: We have proposed discussing rites and response to personal, social, and ecological crisis and/or a discussing writing(s) of Mary Douglas.