The Practice and Understanding of the Eucharist in the United Church of Christ: a Practical Theological Study
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Boston University Institutional Repository (OpenBU) Boston University OpenBU http://open.bu.edu Theses & Dissertations STH Theses and Dissertations 2011-01 The Practice and Understanding of the Eucharist in the United Church of Christ: A Practical Theological Study https://hdl.handle.net/2144/1408 Boston University BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Dissertation THE PRACTICE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL STUDY By John Tamilio III (B.A. Salem State University, 1990; M.A. Northeastern University, 1992; M.Div. Andover Newton Theological School, 1999) Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2011 Copyright © 2011 by John Tamilio III All rights reserved CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... vii Chapter INTRODUCTION: PRACTICAL THEOLOGY, EUCHARISTIC THEOLOGY, AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ................................................ 9 Preface ................................................................................................................................ 9 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 11 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................... 25 Limitations ....................................................................................................................... 29 I. THE PRACTICE OF THE EUCHARIST: A DESCRIPTION OF FIVE CONGREGATIONS .................................................................................................... 30 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 30 First Congregational Church of Kittery in Kittery Point .......................................... 31 First Congregational Christian Church United Church of Christ ............................ 42 Evangelical United Church of Christ ........................................................................... 52 First Reformed United Church of Christ .................................................................... 63 Imani United Church of Christ..................................................................................... 75 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 83 II. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FOCUS GROUP FINDINGS ......... 85 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 85 Comparative Analysis of Eucharistic Practices .......................................................... 88 Comparative Analysis of Eucharistic Understandings .............................................. 99 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 109 III. ANTECEDENT RESOURCES: THE EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH ............................................................................................ 111 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 111 Order of Worship for the Reformed Church (1867) ............................................................ 113 The Evangelical Book of Worship (1916) ......................................................................... 129 The Evangelical and Reformed Book of Worship (1943) ................................................... 137 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 148 iv IV. ANTECEDENT RESOURCES: THE CONGREGATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES ........................................................................................ 150 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 150 ´$Q2UGHURI:RUVKLSZLWK&RPPXQLRQµLQPilgrim Hymnal (1931) .................... 152 A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948) .................................................................. 157 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 165 V. THE HYMNAL THAT FAILED .............................................................................. 167 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 167 Service of Word and Sacrament I ............................................................................... 169 Service of Word and Sacrament II ............................................................................. 179 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 185 VI. THE BOOK OF WORSHIP: UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ......................... 187 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 187 Service of Word and Sacrament I ............................................................................... 188 Service of Word and Sacrament II ............................................................................. 203 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 218 VII. FUSING THE HORIZONS: TOWARD A EUCHARISTIC THEOLOGY IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ................................. 222 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 222 From Presence to Justice ............................................................................................. 225 Presence ................................................................................................................... 225 Faith ......................................................................................................................... 232 Forgiveness .............................................................................................................. 235 Tradition .................................................................................................................. 239 Justice ....................................................................................................................... 243 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 247 VIII. STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS: REVISED THEORY-LADEN PRACTICES............................................................................. 249 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 249 Mission, Reconciliation, and Tradition ...................................................................... 254 Meal to Mission ...................................................................................................... 258 Reconciliation .......................................................................................................... 263 v Tradition .................................................................................................................. 265 Tradition and Contemporaneity ................................................................................. 267 Tradition .................................................................................................................. 274 Contemporaneity .................................................................................................... 277 CONCLUSION: AREAS FOR FURTHER STUDY .................................................. 283 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................................. 290 vi THE PRACTICE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL STUDY (Order No. ) John Tamilio III Doctor of Philosophy Boston University School of Theology, 2011 Major Professor: Claire E. Wolfteich, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Spiritual Formation and Co-Director for the Center for Practical Theology ABSTRACT This dissertation explores the complexity of the understanding and practice of the Eucharist in the United Church of Christ as revealed in a textual analysis of the UCC Book of Worship (1986) and a qualitative study of five representative UCC congregations. Little has been written on this topic, save for several brief articles on the history of the theology of the sacrament in the two bodies that merged to form the UCC in 1957: the Congregational Christian Churches (CC) and the Evangelical and Reformed Church (E&R). This dissertation advances the topic through a practical-theological study that brings into critical conversation contemporary eucharistic practices in five congregations and a historical theological analysis of liturgical traditions in the UCC and antecedent denominations. Through this vii conversation, the study articulates common themes of a UCC eucharistic theology and explores implications for ongoing theology