Problems in the History of Early Liturgy

Liturgical Music

Convener: Heather Josselyn-Cranson, OSL (hjosselyn@hotmail.com) is the Sister Margaret William McCarthy Endowed Chair of Music at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, where she teaches courses in music and religious studies.

Members in Attendance: Carl Bear (on-line), Patrick Evans, Chad Fothergill, Jon Gathje, Kim Harris (on-line), Jonathan Hehn (on-line), Alan Hommerding, Heather Josselyn-Cranson, Swee-Hong Lim (on-line), Jason McFarland, Michael McMahon, Mario Pierson, Paul Westermeyer (on-line).

Visitors in Attendance: Kristian Kohler, Andrew Stoebig, John Weit, J.J. Wright.

Description of Work: The Liturgical Music Seminar learned about the process behind the creation of two new hymnals, the ELCA supplement All Creation Sings and the Mennonite hymnal Voices Together. We spoke with Swee-Hong Lim, the author of a chapter about musicologist and hymn-writer I-to Loh in an upcoming book Doing Liturgical Theology. We discussed two new studies: an exploration of music and theology in the Emerging Church and a survey of the use of organ preludes in Presbyterian worship. Finally, we continued work on an ecumenical theology of liturgical music that the seminar intends to publish as a joint project.

Papers and Presentations:

• Carl Bear and Sarah Kathleen Johnson, “Introducing ‘Voices Together,’ A

New Hymnal and Worship Book for Mennonite Churches.” • Jonathan Hehn, “A Liturgical History of the Organ Prelude in Presbyterian

Churches.” • Heather Josselyn-Cranson, “Music and Theology in the Emerging Church.” • Jason McFarland, “A Report on Doing Liturgical Theology: Method in Context.” • John Weit, “Introducing ‘All Creation Sings,’ A Liturgy and Song Supplement from the ELCA.”

Other Work and Plans for the Future: We look forward to a presentation by Alan Hommerding on the new edition of Sing With Understanding that he has been editing. We are also considering possible guest speakers or opportunities for visits that will take advantage of our location in Toronto.

Liturgical Theology

Convener: Melanie Ross (melanie.ross@yale.edu) is Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and the Yale Divinity School. Conveners pro tem: Bruce T. Morrill, SJ, Professor of Theological Studies, Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, and Rhoda Schuler, Professor Emerita, Concordia University.

Members in Attendance: Bruce Cinquegrani, Todd E. Johnson, Bruce T. Morrill, Amy Schifrin, Rhoda Schuler, Thomas J. Scirghi.

Visitors in Attendance: Domenik Ackermann, Christina N. Condyles, Cory Dixon, Hansal Goo, Sangwoo Kim, Kristian Kohler, Cheryl Lindsay, Andrew Stoebig, David Williams, J.J. Wright.

Description of Work: We discussed a book written by seminar member Tom Scrighi. On Monday afternoon we attended a session titled “Adapting Worship for the Public Good: A Model from the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments,” hosted by Exploring Contemporary and Alternative Worship Seminar. In addition to the papers we discussed, we also used some time for an open conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Papers and Presentations:

• Bruce T. Morrill, “Tradition and the Roman Rite: The Ongoing Struggle.”

Its theme, “the nature of tradition, and particularly liturgical traditions, as always evolving contextually,” engaged everyone. • Nicholas Denysenko, “Liturgical Theology in Crisis—Twenty-First Century

Version,” Worship 95 (October 2021). The author’s description and analysis of how great changes in higher education, plus unfortunate isolation of pastoral liturgical practice therefrom, require a new assessment of the contribution and even viability of liturgical studies within curriculums and institutions prompted a wide range of observations from seminar participants’ various academic and ecclesial settings. • Frank Senn, “Embodiment and Entrainment in Music and Liturgy.” Discussion centered around ways in which our bodies are drawn into a unity of movement through synchronization; musicians especially experience this synchrony, as can liturgical assemblies when they move and breath in sync.

Other Work and Plans for the Future: We discussed the value of continuing the pattern of previous years: Discussing a book authored by a seminar member and a classic” writing on the topic of liturgical theology. There was consensus to continue with the former item, perhaps following through with excerpts from Joris Geldhof’s recent publication Liturgical Theology as a Research Program, which had been planned for 2022.

Those present were lukewarm about the 2022 plan (abandoned) to discuss excerpts from Evelyn Underhill. Todd Johnson is willing to lead this discussion, but as the newly elected president, he may not be able to present in our seminar. Another “classic” author named was Alexander Schmemann. Suggestions included excerpts from Porter Taylor’s Festschrift, We Give Our Thanks unto Thee: Essays in Memory of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, 2019, including Bruce Morrill’s on Schmemann’s posthumously published journal (originally published as “The Liturgical Is Political: A Narrative-Theological Assessment of Alexander Schmemann’s Work,” Questions Liturgiques/Study of Liturgy 98:1-2 [2017]).

Other suggestions/questions from our conversation included: • Discussion of a published work by a member of the academy from a minority group as one concrete action toward DEI goals. • Do we need to revisit liturgical theology methodology? • Do we need liturgical theology 2.0, addressing the question of authority/ whose authority in light of DEI issues?