Christian Initiation
Mission Statement
This seminar asks questions that stand at the intersection of a classic ordo and ritual for Christian Initiation and the ongoing formation of the church. What is the vision for the church inherent within the rites of initiation? How is that intention both supported and resisted by the church? What historical sources inform us?
Convener
Mark Stamm
Perkins School of Theology
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750133
Dallas, TX 75275-0133
214-768-2447
mstamm@smu.edu
2009 Academy Meeting Agenda
1. We will follow up on our discussion of the confirmation book Come Spirit of God by Margaret Bick and Catherine Ecker, which we did in their absence at the 2008 meeting in Savannah. Margaret will give us a report as to how their work has been received, and what they have learned from the process.
2. Margaret Schreiber will make a presentation from her research on “Ordo baptismi” in the Bobbio Missal.
3. Peter McGrail will present a paper with the working title, “Current Celebrations of Roman Catholic Confirmation in England using the pre-Vatican II Ritual”. As Peter describes it, “This paper will use ethnographic methods to identify the reasons people are drawn to these celebrations, and participant observation of the event itself.”
4. We will read and discuss Called to Participate by Mark Searle, edited by Barbara Searle and seminar member Anne Koester (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2006). Steve Wilbricht will lead us, perhaps with the assistance of Anne Koester.
5. Paul Turner will present the working translations of some of the presidential prayers for the masses for Christian Initiation from the third edition of the Roman Missal.
6. Timothy Fitzgerald and Vicky Tufano will offer a report on current work of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate.
7. Mark Stamm will present the new United Methodist Church DVD on baptism, entitled Baptism in the United Methodist Church (Nashville: United Methodist Communications). If it is available, he will also provide a short review of Living in the Covenant, a forthcoming United Methodist customary addressing the practice of baptism.
8. Short reports on denominational issues might be presented, such as the following:
A report from Alan Barthel, David Batchelder, and David Gambril on the PCUSA catechumenal project.
Jay Koyle and John Hill on developments in the Anglican Church of Canada.
2008 Academy Meeting Agenda
- David Batchelder, “Baptismal Renunciations: Making Promises We Do Not Intend to Keep,” Worship 81:5 (September 2007), 409-425.
- Margaret Bick, on Come Spirit of God by Margaret Bick and our 2007 visitor Catherine Ecker. (Please purchase the Family Book (076073) and the Leader’s Guide (076081), each available from Novalis (1-877-702-7773, ext. 239 or resources@novalis.ca or in the US, through LTP (Liturgical Training Publications).
- Jerry Galipeau, on his recently published book, Apprenticed to Christ (World Library Publications).
- Prayers over the water (i.e., flood prayers) found in our various baptismal rites: Timothy Fitzgerald on the Catholic texts; Theresa DeLisio on the Lutheran texts (ELCA); Tom Rand on the United Methodist text; David Batchelder on the PCUSA text; Alan Barthel on a United Church of Canada prayer text; Jay Koyle on the Anglican Church of Canada text; Clay Morris may wish to make a presentation on the Episcopal Church text.
- Dominic Serra on water references (related to justice) within the ritual texts (tentative).
- Discussion on “North American Recovery of the Rites of Initiation: Recovery and Embrace” by Dan Benedict.
Papers Online
A list of papers developed by members from this seminar will appear here
Previous Seminar Reports
See seminar reports from annual meetings dating back to 2002:
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002