June 23-24, 2025
Doing God’s Story in Worship: Assessing the Impact of Christian Nationalism on the Church’s Sanctuary
This seminar will be a meeting of two important considerations. The first will be classic theologies of worship that help us understand the wonder of what we get to engage in as the Church in worship. Four theologies will be considered: a narrative-based approach; a Trinitarian approach; a Christ-centered approach; and an approach that focuses on the future of God’s work. The second will be a look at types of Christian Nationalism—past and present, here and elsewhere—as those perspectives find expression in Christian worship. Beyond an introduction to the range of Christian Nationalism, we’ll use the theologies to get a better appraisal of what’s happening in Christian Nationalism-influenced worship.
The seminar is not designed or intended to be a discussion of politics, political figures or policies, although the topic might come up in a tangential way. The focus is on congregational worship practices as demonstrations of faithfulness to the kingdom of our Lord rather than the kingdoms of this world. We will explore how various approaches–whether to the left or to the right or even politically neutral–can derail worship practices as demonstrations of faithfulness.
Registration fees for the first registrant of your group (includes lunch!):
Registration fees for the second registrant of your group (includes lunch!):
Additional add-on meals available:
Just like being in the classroom again at IWS — or a great opportunity to see firsthand what everyone is talking about: the life-changing, ruinous experience called IWS!
The seminar will include eight stimulating sessions over two days and will take place live and in person during our summer on-campus intensive.
This event is open to the public but requires registration.
Lester Ruth has been a worship professor since 1998, teaching at Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music and Divinity School, Asbury Theological Seminary, the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, and, currently, Duke Divinity School. Prior to teaching, he was a pastor of four congregations in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has liturgical studies degrees from Candler School of Theology (ThM) and Notre Dame (MA, PhD). The founding convener of the North American Academy of Liturgy’s Contemporary and Alternative Worship seminar, he has just been elected vice-president of that organization, succeeding to president in 2026. An author or editor of fourteen books, he most recently co-authored (with Lim Swee Hong) A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship. Lester describes himself as a liturgical historian who maintains his pastoral sensibilities, always interested in seeing how classic forms of worship can renew congregations today.
Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville
1201 Kings Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
The official IWS hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville. The hotel is located in the San Marco neighborhood, 2.5 miles from campus. They offer a standard King bed or 2 Queen beds for a preferred nightly rate of $142, including the daily parking rate of $20.
Book online here or call 1-904-396-6111.
You are welcome to craft your own schedule to incorporate additional time on campus to attend 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.
Day & Time |
JUNE 23 |
JUNE 24 |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast (for purchase) | Breakfast (for purchase) |
| 8:30 am | Chapel | Chapel |
| 9:15 am | Seminar Session 1 Theological Touchstones for Worship: Worship Does the Story of God, Including the End Part 1 |
Seminar Session 5 Using the Touchstones: Assessing the Worship of “Covenant Nation” Christian Nationalism, Part 1 |
| 10:30 am | Break | Break |
| 10:45 am | Seminar Session 2 Theological Touchstones for Worship: Worship Does the Story of God, Including the End Part 2 |
Seminar Session 6 Using the Touchstones: Assessing the Worship of “Covenant Nation” Christian Nationalism, Part 2 |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch (included) | Lunch (included) |
| 1:15 pm | Seminar Session 3 Theological Touchstones for Worship: Through Jesus Christ, Worship Incorporates Us into the Dance of the Triune God, Part 1 |
Seminar Session 7 Using the Touchstones: Assessing the Worship of “Dominionist” Christian Nationalism, Part 1 |
| 2:15 pm | Break | Break |
| 2:30 pm | Seminar Session 4 Theological Touchstones for Worship:Through Jesus Christ, Worship Incorporates Us into the Dance of the Triune God, Part 2 |
Seminar Session 8 Using the Touchstones: Assessing the Worship of “Dominionist” Christian Nationalism, Part 2 |
| 3:45 pm | Free | Free |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner (for purchase) | Dinner (for purchase) |
| 6:30 pm | Practicum Presentations | Healing/Communion Service |
We will flesh out one of Robert Webber’s classic emphases, namely, that “Worship does God’s story,” with a particular emphasis on contemplating our worship today in light of the final consummation of God’s redeeming activity.
We will explore the wonderful opportunity afforded in worship for us to be drawn into the dynamics of the Triune God through our connection to Jesus Christ.
We will consider how our theological touchstones help us assess the worship of Christians who highlight their nation as a country with a distinctive relationship to God.
We will discover how the theological touchstones can help us evaluate the worship of those proclaiming dominion over their nation.