Proceedings of the North American Academy of Liturgy 2020

Christian Initiation Convener: Diana Dudoit Raiche, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs, Ann & Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry, University of Dallas Members in Attendance: Garrick Comeau, Christina (Christy) Condyles, Dennis Chriszt, Nicholas Denysenko, Tim Fitzgerald, Jason Haddocks, Larry Mick, Mark Stamm, Vicki Tufano, Paul Turner, Stephen Wilbricht Visitors in Attendance: Ching-yu Huang, Pekka Rehumaki, Christina Ronzio, Kyle Turner, David Wood Description of Work: The Christian Initiation Seminar addresses questions that stand at the intersection of sacraments of initiation, the classic Ordo for Christian initiation, and ongoing formation for discipleship in the church. The Seminar held a joint session with the Formation for Liturgical Prayer Seminar for an update on the Order of Baptism of Children with guest presenter Marit Rong.

Papers and Presentations: • Paul Turner gave an update on the new Order of Baptism of Children. New translation rules and new editions in Latin necessitate the Order of Baptism of Children, available January 6, 2020. It may be used as of February 2, 2020; it must be used by April 12, 2020. Establishing the biblical evidence that infants were baptized as part of whole households by 3rd century, this new ritual book is for those who are younger than the age of reason (7 years, or catechetical age). Infants should be baptized “within the first few weeks after birth” (Canon 867.1) and disability is no reason for deferring baptism (USCCB Guidelines on Persons with Disability). The presentation focused on what is different in the new ritual text compared to what remains the same.

• Marit Rong gave a presentation on “Confirmation—and/or Christian Faith?” from the perspective of three contexts: 1)Roman Catholics are the fastest growing group in Norway, 2) as a folk church, the Church of Norway connects Confirmation to pietism from Copenhagen, and 3) a third, new ritual for confirmation, which is not a sacrament, is emerging. Confirmation has been necessary to be considered an adult, go to dances, or get married. It has been influenced by Luther’s catechism because one had to have enough knowledge to be confirmed. From the perspective of a Lutheran pastor and professor, the paper responds to the ritual decisions in the third confirmation ritual that raise theological questions. Is the new ritual looking backwards or looking