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Modern History of Worship
Other Work and Plans for the Future:
Preliminary plans for 2023: 1) discussion of Gordon Lathrop’s forthcoming book The Assembly:
A Spirituality, 2) an exploration of the “hermeneutics of intercession”, and 3) consideration of how the academy’s attention to EDI shapes our own hermeneutical work within the seminar.
Other work will be solicited from the seminar members.
Liturgical Language
Convener: Rhodora Beaton (rbeaton@ost.edu) is Professor of Systematic Theology at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX.
Members in Attendance: Jennifer Baker Trinity, Rhodora Beaton, Nancy Bryan, Lolly Dominski, Patrick Evans, Robert Farlee, Kimberly Long, Gail Ramshaw, Stephen Shafer, Martin Seltz.
Visitors in Attendance: Erik Christiansen, Cheryl Lindsay.
Description of Work: The Liturgical Language Seminar attends to issues of the language of worship by examining liturgical texts, considering scholarly essays, and discussing ideas and issues related to liturgical language. We welcome guest presenters and occasional participants, as well as Academy visitors and regular members. We occasionally meet jointly with another seminar, and sometimes we sing. We also strive to maintain a seminar group of a manageable size to encourage full and active participation by all. This year, for the first time, the Liturgical Language Seminar met online.
Papers and Presentations:
• Gail Ramshaw, “Calling a Myth a Myth: Genesis 1 and the Easter Vigil.”
Taking Genesis 1 as an example, the paper investigates the use of “myth” in liturgical preaching and proclamation. • Kimberly Bracken Long, “Praying with the Tree of Life.” Responding to the work of Gail Ramshaw, the paper investigates theological and pastoral implications of the image of the Tree of Life.
Other Work and Plans for the Future: The Seminar hopes to engage the new Mennonite Voices Together Hymnal. We also anticipate a paper considering the liturgical implications for the new NRSV Updated Edition. We expect continued conversation regarding congregational resources for the pandemic and post-pandemic contexts.
