Church After the Corona Pandemic: Consequences for Worship and Theology

Description

This book explores the church’s engagement with digital worship as a result of the pandemic and guides readers in  considering how the means of grace distributed online might be theologically framed. Organized around the four-fold pattern of Sunday worship―Gathering, Word, Meal, Sending―this collection of essays provides source material for both theological discernment and practical implementation. Topics include (preparing and) offering a theology of worship no matter the modality, engaging the questions of embodiment as related to the incarnation of Christ, and looking at the theology of church in a digital age.  Renowned scholars in the field explore how online worship provides for the visibility of the gospel, how to lament and pray in the midst of pandemic and future crises, and how the mission of the church through its worship can continue regardless of physical restrictions.  This timely collection appeals to researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the field. Preface Introduction Worship and Theology Before COVID Then COVID Occurred Looking Ahead References Contents Part I: Called Together Chapter 1: Worship in the Face of Corona: Ritual, Place, People, and Polymodality Introduction Setting the Scene Theologizing Worship Hybridity and Polymodality in Worship Spectrum of a Hybrid Church and Polymodality A Word About Music Ritual Ritual as Communication Ritual as Performative and Situating Speech Emerging Rituals and Media People Biblical Foundations Gathering in Early and Reformation Churches Gathering in the Face of Corona Liturgical Participation in the Future Place Architecture Art Church in Cyberspace Conclusion References Chapter 2: Physicality and Relatedness When God’s People Gather Introduction Deep Incarnation Many Members, but One Body Taste and See that the Lord Is Good Conclusion References Chapter 3: Worship in the African American Tradition with a View Toward the Future Past: Traditional African American Worship Pre-Pandemic Music Preaching Fellowship Present: Traditional African American Worship During a Pandemic SWOT: Strengths and Opportunities SWOT: Weaknesses and Threats Future: Traditional African American Worship Post Pandemic References Part II: Engaged in the Word Chapter 4: Reimagining Preaching in a Post-pandemic Era Introduction Strategies for Preaching (Digital Communities of the Church) Digital Natives Digital Immigrants Digital Luddites Digitally Integrated Ministry Preaching to an Empty Room Reimagining Preaching Identifying the Needs Quality Equipment Contextually Relevant Polymodal Realities of the Digital Community Utilize Creativity Flexible Preparation Preach the Gospel Conclusion References Chapter 5: Church May Be Digital, But Is the Clergy’s Call? Introduction Aspirations: Mission and Ministry Promises Made: Ordination Vows Promises Enacted: Job Descriptions Congregational Aspirations: Parish Mission Statements Comparing Clergy and Congregation Aspirations: Do They Align? Promises Enacted: Can the Mission Be Accomplished Digitally? Is the Clergy’s Call Congruent with Digital Ministry? Quantifying Digital Tasks Preparing for the Ministry’s Digital Life Cycle Long-Term Integration Checking the Alignment: Does It Create Joy? Now What? Be Not Afraid? Livelihood Relationships Identity To Live “As If” Conclusion References Chapter 6: One Virus After Another: Composing the Weekly Intercessions Introduction A Glimpse into the Past Composing the Weekly Intercessions Truth-Telling Timeliness Tone Crafting Prayers of Lament The Model of Polycarp References Part III: Fed by the Meal Chapter 7: Real Presence and Absent Bodies: Sacramental Practice Today Introduction The Body and Presence Sacramental Approaches Community and Presence Sacrament as an Entire Action Real Presence References Chapter 8: Toward a More Accessible Body of Christ Introduction Privileging the Weakest Members Within the (Virtual) Body of Christ Virtual Body of Christ in the Digital Age Virtual Communion Debate and the Virtual Body of Christ Access and the Virtual Body of Christ Toward a More Accessible Body of Christ References Chapter 9: Holy Communion Under Quarantine Adiaphora Be Subject to the Governing Authorities (Romans 13:1) Applying a Simple Rule Practical Reflections The Lord’s Supper in Lutheran Teaching and Practice Concluding Remarks References Chapter 10: A Simple Way to Invoke: Seeing the Ubiquity of Christ Through a Mystagogical Look Behind the Veil of Covid-19 Introduction Online Communion and the Ubiquity of Christ Problem of Nominalism Real Presence and the Replete Presence of God A Mystagogical Key to Guard us from the Despair of Nominalism A Simple Way to Invoke References Part IV: Led Out into the World Chapter 11: “In All Times and Places”: The Transcendence and Immanence of the Holy Spirit in a Diasporic Body of Christ Introduction: The Trauma of Dislocation and Diaspora Spirit and Body The Transcendent Word The Immanent Spirit A Transcendent, Embodied Church: Newly Inspirited Embodiments A Digital Diaspora: The Church in All Times and Places Conclusion: The Healing of Relocation in Diaspora References Chapter 12: Seeing God in Christ, Being Seen as the Body of Christ, Seeing Others as GOD’S Beloved: A Lutheran Reflection on the Church Post-COVID-19 Introduction Luther’s Theology of the Cross: Seeing God in Christ, Being Seen as Christ’s Body, Seeing the Vulnerable in Our Vocations Lutheran Passion Piety and the Discipline of Seeing Conclusion References Primary Sources Secondary Scholarship Chapter 13: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope: We Are Part of this, Together...Intercultural Connectedness as a Church After Corona Introduction Revisiting Intercultural Connectedness Rootedness During Exceptional Times Give Us Our Daily Bread, Rice, … and Tiffin When One Part Hurts, So Does the Other Spreading Hope and Not the Virus Being Lutherans in the New ‘Normal’ After Corona We Are Part of This Together Closing Remarks: Deeper Connectedness in One Body, One Spirit, One Hope References Appendix Chapter 2: Questions for Further Reflection and Discussion Chapter 3: SWOT Analysis of Churches Index