Tomorrow (Tuesday, that is), Jane and Larry and I will be meeting with Bob Webber's class at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a class entitled "Church Practices: Worship and Spirituality." Somehow he thinks that we Reconciler folk will provide some good conversation fodder. I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet with him and the students. I will be picking up Larry in the morning. We will pack the icon in the car and head on out.
I took one class from Bob a year ago. He is also one of my thesis advisors. Maybe I should bring my draft with me. Heh. I have soooo much work to do on that thesis. Anyway, the class was about the history of Christian liturgical worship. His ancientfutureworship site is an interesting way for us free church types to engage in the wider tradition of the Church. I wonder if Bob knows that he and Glenn Hinson are on the same page with many of this. Dr. Hinson comes at it from his interaction with the Roman Catholic tradition, the Merton Society and all of his study of contemplative prayer and patristics. Webber comes at it with his own experience with the Episcopal Church. He is in league with several evangelicals who embraced more liturgical traditions (RCC, EOC) in attempting to bring to life a liturgical revival. In either case there is this understanding that as we Reformation/Protestant types move further and further away from the original conflict, we have not only forgotten why we stood in protest, but who the church was/is.
What Bob suggested to me was to come unprepared, to sit together as a panel, and to field questions. It should be interesting. So, I have been trying to prepare myself anyhow. I am praying that my Baptist brothers and sisters and all others present in this class will be willing to dialogue with us.
Pray for us.
Liturgy is discipleship.
Posted by tripp at May 9, 2005 06:15 PMi can't wait to hear about all this!!!! should be really dynamic!
Posted by: Robyn at May 9, 2005 09:20 PM