2019-2020 Poppen-Young Lecture in Reformed Worship

Liturgy & Justice: the 2019-2020 Alvin J. Poppen & John R. Young Lecture in Reformed Worship

John Bell Visited the Reformed Church Center!

The Reformed Church Center at New Brunswick Theological Seminary is thrilled to be able to share that John L. Bell, internationally renowned author, teacher, worship leader, and congregational song enlivener from the Iona Community in Scotland, was the 2019-2020 Poppen-Young Lecture in Reformed Worship on Saturday, November 7.

John Bell is a Resource Worker with The Iona Community, who lectures, preaches and conducts seminars across the denominations.  He is a hymn writer, author and occasional broadcaster, but retains a primary passion for congregational song.  John is based in Glasgow and works with his colleagues in the areas of music, worship and spirituality.

John writes is about his plans for the afternoon and evening:

My initial thoughts regarding the session are:

1) A Biblical background to Justice being at the heart of God’s purposes, noting the gradually evolving realisation that justice was not just the prerogative of the chosen race but for all.

2) An exploration of how, within the developing world (particularly nations like El Salvador and South Africa) the call for justice has been incorporated into their worship life, and the relevance of texts such as the psalms of lament has become very real.

3) A reflection on how justice ultimately is a threat to those who misuse power, in the church as much as anywhere else.

4) A questioning of why some western Christians balk at the mention of justice and see it as synonymous with left-wing politics.

5) The implications of all this for life and liturgy.

I would envisage interactive participation and group conversations.

For more information please contact James Brumm, Director of the Reformed Church Center at jbrumm@nbts.edu.