Historical Research: 16th Century to the Present
2005 Louisville, Kentucky
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
Convener 2005
The Rev. Dr. Richard G. Leggett (professor of liturgical studies Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, B.C.)
Seminar Participants 2005
Rev. Rychie Breidenstein, Rev. Dr. Kent Burreson, Rev. Dr. Doug Cullum, Rev. Dr. Richard G. Leggett, Rev. Kimberly Long, Rev. Eric Myers, Rev. Dr. John Rempel, Rev. Dr. Thomas Schattauer, Rev. Dr. James Turrell
Seminar Report 2005
The seminar began its meeting in prayer for James White, long-time member of the seminar and mentor to several members of the group.
An opportunity was given for all the members of the seminar to bring each other up to date on personal and professional developments. Our three dissertationists reported on their progress with Kim Long preparing to defend her thesis at the end of January 2005. Rychie Breidenstein and Eric Myers are progressing with hopes of completing in the next two years.
John Rempel reported on his continuing project on the English translation of Pilgram Marbeck’s works. Doug Cullum is working on a number of projects associated with the insights of the liturgical movement for the free church tradition. Kent Burreson is presently preparing rubrics for the new book recently approved by synodical convention of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. He has been participating in the Wabash program for pre-tenure faculty. Richard Leggett is presently on sabbatical and working on two projects, a collection of essays on the prayer book world-wide to be published by Oxford University Press in 2006, the other a book on the blessing of same-sex unions in the Anglican Church of Canada.
Special mention is to be made of the change in Jim Turrell’s status—his marriage in May of 2004. Tom Schattauer was with us briefly, his duties as vice-president requiring him to attend to Academy business throughout the meeting.
Papers presented to the Seminar
- Rev. Dr. John Rempel, “Communion as a Gathered Body or, The Body of Christ, Mystical and Sacramental.” Anabaptists are the heirs of a movement in reaction to the ex opere operato theology of the Eucharist expressed by some 16th-century Roman theologians. This reaction led in some circles to a spiritualization of Eucharistic theology to the detriment of a richer theology of Christ’s body as experienced in various modes in the church. Dr. Rempel’s paper stimulated the group to a wide-ranging discussion of the understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist and to the spectrum of 16th- and 17th-century non-Roman views of the body of Christ as symbolized in the Eucharist.
- Rev. Kimberly Long (Ph.D. cand.), “‘Ravished with the Love of Christ’: The Eucharistic Theology of the American Holy Fairs.” Rev. Ms. Long presented a paper based on the conclusion of her doctoral dissertation with some introductory material to set the context for her work. It springs from the use of the Song of Songs by various writers in American holy fairs of the 19th century. Her research has shown a long tradition pre-dating the Reformation pointing to the use of the Song of Songs and a specifically Presbyterian use of this material in connection with the Eucharist especially in connection with camp meetings and revivals. The discussion included a consideration of whether this use of the Song of Songs was unique to the revival or whether it was present in other traditions of the time.
- Rev. Mr. Eric Myers reported on his dissertation research on the place of the Eucharist in funerals in the Presbyterian tradition.
- Rev. Ms. Rychie Breidenstein reported on her work, especially the methodology of using early American Methodist diaries as indicators of liturgical controversies. Her work is both historical and methodological.
- Rev. Dr. Richard G. Leggett, “Liberty or License? Jus liturgicum in The Anglican Church of Canada.” Dr. Leggett began his presentation with a brief overview of how the Anglican Communion came into existence constitutionally and, further, the role of the various prayer books and occasional service books in Anglican polity. Discussion ensued regarding how doctrine as distinct from discipline and worship is identified within the Communion as well as how the constitutional differences between Anglican provinces may contribute to the present tensions within the Communion.
- Rev. Dr. Douglas R. Cullum, “The Catholicity of the Holiness Movement: Insights from the Free Methodist Story.” Dr. Cullum set the stage by outlining the recent tendency to write about the holiness movement from the perspective of its more radical dimensions rather than the center, in other words, its commitment to the catholic heritage of the church as mediated through Wesley’s writings. One aspect of the discussion was an exploration of the meaning of sanctification, “the growth in perfection,” so frequent in Wesley’s thought.
Other work of the seminar
- Teaching liturgy in a multi-denominational context. For the final hour of the Saturday session the members of the seminar discussed the challenges of teaching liturgical history in institutions which bring together students of varying liturgical traditions. Our settings included seminaries which are multi-denominational by intention and seminaries which, although they are denominational in identity, have students coming from traditions other than the sponsoring denomination. We discussed the challenges in such settings and the resources and approaches which facilitate learning in such environments.
- Suggestions for 2006. At this juncture there were no specific offerings of papers for the 2006 meeting. However, the members of the seminar identified two areas for the agenda. The first is the sharing of syllabi from our courses and a discussion of our teaching. We also wished to spend some time discussing recent reading which has influenced us in our work.