Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Past and Present

Front Cover
Lukas Vischer
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003 - Religion - 432 pages
Worship renewal is now on the agenda of many Reformed churches, as the need for adaptation and new approaches is acutely felt all over. How can the church faithfully worship God in the midst of rapidly changing situations? How can it constructively relate to widely differing cultural contexts? What is its place in the wider ecumenical scene? In preparing a sweeping survey of Reformed worship across time and place, this volume provides some help to those engaged with vital questions like these.

Written by theologians and liturgical scholars from a wide range of churches and countries, these chapters explore the history of Reformed worship on every continent from the sixteenth century to the present. Surveying the most significant developments in the growth of Reformed worship, the book identifies the major "ingredients" that make the Reformed worship tradition distinctive and highlights those aspects of Reformed worship that are particularly relevant to present efforts at renewal. Indeed, an important component of this book is the inclusion of "A Common Reflection on Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Today," the result of a major consultation in January 2001 at the International Reformed Center John Knox.

Revealing the rich variety of forms and diversity of perspectives that have made and do make up Reformed worship worldwide, this volume will be a valuable resource for church and worship leaders both in and outside the Reformed family.

Contributors:
Hor ace T. Allen Jr.
Emily R. Brink
Livingstone Buama
Coenraad Burger
Bruno Bürki
Gerson Correia de Lacerda
Alan D. Falconer,
Kasonga wa Kasonga
Baranite T. Kirata
Elsie Anne McKee
Seong-Won Park
Ester Pudjo Widiasih
Alan P. F. Sell
Joseph D. Small
Bryan D. Spinks
Leonora Tubbs Tisdale
Lukas Vischer
Isaiah Wahome Muita
Geraldine Wheeler
Marsha M. Wilfong
John D. Witvliet

 

Selected pages

Contents

Reformed Worship in the Sixteenth Century Elsie Anne McKee
3
Bruno Biirki
32
Bryan D Spinks
66
Congregational Origins and Geographical Spread
83
Reformed Worship in the United States of America Marsha M Wilfong
107
New Emphases in Reformed Worship in the Twentieth Century Alan D Falconer
142
Reformed Liturgy in the South African Context Coenraad Burger
159
A Survey of Reformed Worship in Indonesia Ester Pudjo Widiasih
175
Baranite T Kirata
246
Geraldine Wheeler
261
A Common Reflection on Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Today
281
Elaborations on Some Contemporary Issues
309
A Church of the Word and Sacrament Joseph D Small
311
Emily R Brink and John D Witvliet
324
Geraldine Wheeler
348
Women Worship and Gods Reforming Spirit Leonora Tubbs Tisdale
371

Worship in the Presbyterian Church in Korea SeongWon Park
194
Reformed Worship in East Africa Isaiah Wahome Muita
208
The Cry and Quest for Liturgical Reform Livingstone Buama
216
The Congolese Experience Democratic Republic of the Congo Kasonga wa Kasonga
224
Reformed Worship in Brazil Gerson Correia de Lacerda
234
Reformed Perspective and History Horace T Allen Jr
390
Worship as Christian Witness to Society Lukas Vischer
415
Contributors
427
Index
429
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2003)

Lukas Vischer (1926-2008) was a Swiss Reformed theologian noted for his ecumenical efforts in both the World Council of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. He was professor emeritus of ecumenical theology at Evangelical Reformed Theological Faculty of Berne, Switzerland.