Proceedings of the North American Academy of Liturgy 2020

Liturgy and Culture Convener: Nathaniel Marx, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology Description of Work: The Liturgy and Culture Seminar’s work at the 2020 meeting examined the many ways in which worship is cultivated and inculturated in contemporary communities of faith. We gave particular attention to how these communities transform dynamics of cultural domination into those of intercultural justice and cooperation. Presentations from long-standing members, new and returning visitors, and an invited guest amply supplied the seminar with fruitful conversation, and collaboration with our colleagues in two other seminars further expanded the scope and depth of our work together.

Papers and Presentations: • Jennifer Ackerman shared a chapter of her doctoral dissertation, “Sacramental Silence: Howard Thurman and the Convergence of Worship, Preaching, and Justice.” Ackerman proposes the concept of “Sacramental Silence” to interpret the life and work of this influential pastor, preacher, and scholar, who made essential contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States and to intercultural friendship worldwide. “Sacramental Silence,” she writes, “encompasses Thurman’s response to the perpetual threat of oppressive, human silence through his mystical grounding in divine Silence that was manifested in his integrated ministry of worship, preaching, and justice.”

• Ricky Manalo presented the second draft of A Treasured Presence: Filipino American Catholics, a short book that he and Stephen Cherry are writing at the request of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As a primer for pastoral leaders, the book summarizes the history of Catholicism in the Philippines and Filipino immigration to the United States. The authors describe family and parish life among Filipino American Catholics, both of which are marked by cross-border relationships and high levels of religious participation. The seminar’s discussion with Manalo focused on the book’s third chapter, which explores the interaction between official worship and popular devotional practices.

• The History of Modern Worship Seminar joined us on Friday afternoon, following the academy’s visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Park and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Dr. Catherine Meeks, director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, generously agreed to address the combined group. Dr. Meeks challenged us to “normalize courage” in our congregations so that what we do on Sunday mornings enlivens hearts and spirits to do the “subversive” work of dismantling racism.

“Church is supposed to be a brave space,” not a place for “non-disturbance.”

The people shaping and leading worship bear special responsibility to “com-