Contemplating Queer Futures for Liturgical Studies : A Conversation

I was invited to contribute an article on the future of liturgical scholarship for an issue of Liturgy reflecting on the future of liturgical theory and practice over the next fifty years. Despite considerable effort, I got stuck. This time of pandemic isolation has been hard on me and the future in whatever area of my life looks bleak at the moment. In terms of our profession, threats abound to the humanities in higher education and to theological education in particular. Seminaries are struggling and “arts of ministry” positions will likely be the first to go. Congregations whom we serve are struggling, too, and facing a fundamental change in how they worship. I’m afraid we are behind rather than out in front of these issues. Our editors, wanting the work of the Queering Liturgy Seminar of the North American Academy of Liturgy (NAAL) to be represented
in this issue, suggested instead that I call together a group for a conversational approach to this topic. Hence, we are here. Let’s follow the guiding questions I sent you and see where we end up.

Just as a reminder they are:

What do you see as the major challenges to the field of liturgical studies? And, the opportunities? What has the space of the Queering Liturgy Seminar meant to you and your work?

What questions are you currently pursuing in “queering liturgy”?

What would you like to say to colleagues about the importance of this work, and how do you believe this work could redirect the field and shape an alternative future for the study and/or practice of worship?

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