June 2019 Seminar: Worship for a Secular Age w/Gordon T. Smith

June 17-18, 2019—IWS Worship Seminar

Liturgy and Worship for a Secular Age will be taught by Dr. Gordon T. Smith. This event will take place during our summer on-campus intensive and is open to the public but requires registration.

Introducing Dr. Gordon T. Smith

Gordon T. Smith is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as Professor of Systematic and Spiritual Theology. He has been with Ambrose since the summer of 2012. He is also a Teaching Fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He received his M.Div. from Canadian Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Loyola School of Theology, the Ateneo de Manila University.

Dr. Smith is the author of a number of publications, including Teach Us to Pray, (IVP, 2018), Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal: Why the Church Should Be All Three (IVP Academic, 2017), Institutional Intelligence: How to Build an Effective Organization (IVP Academic, 2017), Called to Be Saints: An Invitation to Christian Maturity (IVP, 2014), and A Holy Meal: The Lord’s Supper in the Life of the Church (Baker Academic 2005).

He is married to Joella and together they have two adult sons. He is ordained with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (Canada).

Bookstore Spotlight
Preview Dr. Smith’s books in the IWS Bookstore.

Seminar Description

Liturgy and Worship for a Secular Age: Why It Is Imperative That We Be Evangelical, Sacramental and Pentecostal

Working from the premise that our social, cultural and political context is increasingly secular, we need to consider the implications for what it means to be the church “for such a time as this” and, in particular, what it means to be a worshiping community.  We need to ask:  What does Christian worship look and feel like when the church no longer has a privileged voice within a society and where those who are coming to faith have no religious background?


Register now online.


Seminar Schedule

Monday, June 17
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Chapel
9:15 a.m. Seminar Session 1
We Live [and Worship] in a Secular Age: Naming this New Reality
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Seminar Session 2
Finding Wisdom “For Such a Time as This”
12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. Seminar Session 3
Responses to Secularism Revisited
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. Seminar Session 4
Evangelical, Sacramental and Pentecostal: Why the Church Needs All Three
3:45 p.m. Free
5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:30 p.m. Practicum Presentations
Tuesday, June 18
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Chapel
9:15 a.m. Seminar Session 5
Ambrose, Augustine and the Imperative of Trinitarian Worship
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Seminar Session 6
Worship That Fosters Genuine Missional Engagement
12:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. Seminar Session 7
The Importance of Lament In Worship
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. Seminar Session 8
Worship That Lowers the Anxiety Level Around Here
3:45 p.m. Free
5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:30 p.m. Healing/Communion Service


Session Descriptions

DAY ONE

Session 1—
We Live [and Worship] in a Secular Age:  Naming this New Reality

What does it mean to speak of our times as pluralist and secular? What are the diverse ways in which Christians are choosing to respond to secularism, and what might this mean for Christian worship?

Session 2—
Finding Wisdom “For Such a Time as This”

We need wisdom to engage these challenging times. This session will examine the perspective of the exilic prophets, the early church, historic minority churches and the church of Western Europe, each providing wisdom for the church that seeks to live, witness and worship in a secular age.

Session 3—
Responses to Secularism Revisited

A workshop and discussion on the strengths and limitations of the current Christian responses to secularism.

Session 4—
Evangelical, Sacramental and Pentecostal:  Why the Church Needs to Be
All Three.

In today’s culture, the church needs all the wisdom and means of grace that it can get . To thrive in a secular age we need to get past what are essential false polarities.

DAY TWO

Session 5—
Ambrose, Augustine and the Imperative of Trinitarian Worship

To be truly Christian worship must be fundamentally Trinitarian. This has always been true, but the pre-Christendom Church fathers would make the case that when the church is in a minority position this is doubly imperative.

Session 6—
Worship That Fosters Genuine Missional Engagement

The church is a liturgical, catechetical and missional community. Liturgy, at is best, is not escapist or a mere distraction, but the action of the Holy Spirit that empowers the church to be Christ in the world.

Session 7—
The Importance of Lament in Worship

The wisdom of the prophets reveal the imperative of lament. Yet lament is not practiced in many Christian communities. Why is lament vital in a secular age?  How can we restore the ancient practice of lament in worship?

Session 8—
Worship That Lowers the Anxiety Level Around Here

The greatest threat to the church in a secular age is not external but internal. A key result of authentic Christian worship is the growth of faith and trust and the dissipation of fear.

 


Make it a Spiritual Retreat

You are welcome to craft your own schedule to incorporate additional time on campus to take in chapel sessions, visit classes, read and research in the library, or spend time alone in quiet meditation. You may plan to come early and stay longer if you’d like. Contact the IWS office. Let us know how we can help.

Registration

Full Seminar Cost: $175 (Early registration by April 15: $150)
One Day Only Cost: $90
Lunch is included in the registration fee.

About the author

Alumni Director, Practicum Professor, and DWS graduate.

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