Institute of Liturgical Studies: Deadline for Early Registration Is Drawing Near

Join us at Valparaiso University, April 9 – 11, 2024 for “Creation, Not Commodity: the Church’s Liturgy in a Consumer Culture.”

Early registration (before February 29) is $275.00 and increases to $325.00 after that date. For first-time attendees and retired people, registration is only $200.00.

Kent and Rhoda’s seminar (Tuesday afternoon, April 9) costs an additional $75.00.

To register for the conference, click here.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Consumer or market culture’s role in our lives is so ubiquitous that we frequently fail to recognize its presence and influence over us. Even committed church folk will talk about “church shopping” when they move to a new location.

We live in a consumer culture in which our collective and personal economic well-being depends on our shared habits of material consumption. Those in ministry know that the market economy driving this consumption – with its emphasis on personal choice – impacts how the local congregation positions itself within its ministry context or fails to do so.

In its 75th year, the Institute of Liturgical Studies will turn its attention to this phenomenon.

We will seek to understand better the ways in which consumer culture impacts liturgical life. How might that impact be countered through careful curating of the church’s liturgical theology? We will also be seeking practical guidance for what we, as church practitioners, might learn positively from those who work to drive consumer desires in the marketplace.

To see the list of speakers, click here.

KENT & RHODA’S SEMINAR AT ILS

Adult Faith Formation: A Prophetic Challenge to Religious Consumerism

A consumer culture challenges the church on two fronts. From within, an “attractional” pattern for outreach has commodified the church and its message. From without, the marketplace is recognizing the spiritual void in our secular culture and is pitching its wares with promises to provide “a sense of identity, purpose, meaning, and community” (Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways, 131, 107).

We are convinced that robust adult faith formation practices and rich rituals are a prophetic challenge to these internal and external issues. This seminar will offer background material on adult faith formation, facilitate small group studies and discussions, and lead participants through experiential learning on ritual.

https://www.valpo.edu/institute-of-liturgical-studies/ils-2024-speakers-and-sessions/

To register for the conference, click here.