Day 1: The North American Academy of Liturgy 2020 #NAAL2020

Last updated on: January 3, 2020 at 8:16 am by Billy Kangas

Day 1: The North American Academy of Liturgy 2020 #NAAL2020 2020-01-03T08:16:40-04:00 Billy Kangas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This week I’m in Atlanta for the North American Acadamy of Liturgy’s Annual Meeting (NAAL2020). I thought I’d give you some highlights. I’ll keep you updated live VIA twitter as well at https://twitter.com/BillyKangas

The Catholic Academy of Liturgy (CAL) Meeting

Susan Reynolds shared a much-needed look at the complexity of the sexual abuse crisis. It was sobering but very helpful. Here are a few key takeaways.

We need to look at the crisis through the lens of the intersectionality of power symmetries
It’s bigger than just the power differential between the laity and clergy
So often the victims are those at the margins of society. Minorities, children of single mothers, undocumented, etc
Clericalism and the sexual abuse crisis is not a reality formed in a vacuum but is a symptom of the failure of the Church; both clergy and laity; to take seriously the preferential option for the poor
We must move from anger to discernment and ask difficult questions. Questions like who remains unheard when we attempt to look at the abuse crisis without looking at those who suffer because they have multiple dimensions of marginality and vulnerability
We must not allow issues of multiculturalism to become an accessory to the abuse conversation but must be given center stage.

Continuing to explore the theme of abuse in the Church Brian Flanagan asked us to view the coinherence of sinfulness and sanctity in the Church as a reality that is embodied in the liturgy. Here are some highlights:

Confession of sins in the liturgy is probably the only time many participants offer a confession of sins at all. Similarly, the Our Father, unveils the sinfulness of all participants, as we ask for forgiveness.
The liturgy is a dance. We step back in confession and God draws us back through repentance. Our movement isn’t uniform We receive grace and we rejected it
Our confession of a Holy Church in the Creed is not a declaration of disembodied entity apart from our personal and corporate failures
To call the Church Holy is a declaration of faith that in spite of the many serious failures which bring darkness and discord; holiness will continue to emerge and is, in fact, the dominant theme that God is working in us and through us.

The Emerging Scholars Meeting

I was privileged to be on the planning committee for this weeting this year. We handled some great topics ranging from the gifts that our international participants both offer and receive and some great thoughts about publication. For me, a particular highlight was the wisdom of Lester Ruth his experience in publishing offered such a helpful lens.

I also led a session talking about the future of the emerging scholars’ meeting and a discussion on areas of concern. Here are some of the big questions emerging scholas in the field of liturgy said they were dealing with:

How can we make the subject matter that we teach work in the real-life and practice of students
How can we foster a liturgical worldview among the broader church
How can we develop our careers in such a way that we have a particular focus (i.e. Taft was known for Byzantine Liturgy; Bradshaw is a ‘splitter’ etc.)
How can we move beyond the work of our dissertation into something new
We need to hear more experienced scholars tell us the stories of struggle and success as we wrestle with feelings of despair when trying to find jobs after the PhD

The Opening Address

After a beautiful opening ceremony we were challenged by Gennifer Brooks in her powerful address. Here are some highlights:

Wisdom is dependent on the Holy Spirit
acquiring wisdom is rooted in living in the spaces where wisdom invites us to live. Rooted in God’s spirit; wisdom invites us to the margins; where God dwells.
knowledge only can become wisdom when it moves from bolstering the hegemony of oppressors to enlivening possibilities among the beloved children of God who have been eclipsed by the ideologies of exclusion and domination
She challenged us in the academy to take stock of the real needs of those in our community. Liturgy should give substance to a faith that is lived out; faith in the God who meets us on the cross. Worship structured on anything else is not enlivened by God’s Spirit.
Liturgy’s work is nothing less than to transform the world. It is a work not done by those in the academy alone but by all those who come broken to God with hope to find bread for the journey. As members of the academy we must use our privilege to open the door to the margins.

I’m looking forward to digging into my seminar of emerging worship this morning as we begin Day 2!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 24, 2019

Practicing Gratitude

Next Post

January 4, 2020 Day Two: North American Academy of Liturgy 2020 #NAAL2020

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Books CCC Prayer Christmas Current Events Family Film Free Photo Fridays Humor hunger liturgical calendar liturgy Music Photos pope Prayer Prayerful Leader questions Quotes Review Saints Satire Scripture SYNOD SYNOD FOR THE FAMILY teaching Uncategorized video Weekly Round Up

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 April 2026 February 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 September 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 August 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 October 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Where did Elisha perform many miracles?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Samaria Bethel Shunem Jericho