McCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TOWARD A MORE OPEN AND WELCOMING TABLE: EUCHARISTIC THEOLOGY AND SOCIO-POLITICAL ETHICS IN THE REFORMED TRADITION A THESIS IN THE PRACTICE OF MINISTRY SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY by THE REV. ERIC 0. LEDERMANN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MAY2017 ~ iue/l,,.-1~ D ~BRIDE, Ph.D. REV. DR. JOHN D. SCHMIDT, Ed.D. Associate Dean of Doctor of Ministry Programs THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBMITTED WITH PERMISSION TO McCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FOR ITS DISTRIBUTION TO INTERESTED PERSONS ABSTRACT Eric O. Ledermann TOWARD A MORE OPEN AND WELCOMING TABLE: EUCHARISTIC THEOLOGY AND SOCIO-POLITICAL ETHICS IN THE REFORMED TRADITION Prior to 312 CE the Eucharist was a subversive act in protest of the exclusionary social, political, and economic stratification of the Roman Empire, and an eschatological statement of solidarity with those oppressed and marginalized by empire. Since the Church was adopted by the empire, it has suffered from a schizophrenic battle of identity between its collusion and its call to radical grace, hospitality, inclusion, and solidarity with those Empire seeks to marginalize. Using Cláudio Carvalhaes’ concept of "borderless borders," this paper challenges the Christian Church to consider the broader social, political, and ethical implications of Eucharist. A truly open table should be the hallmark and practice of the Church of Jesus the Christ, who ate with tax collectors and sinners. It should be a practice that guides our lives, individually and collectively, at all of our tables of fellowship, including the ones we still need to build. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Background ................................................................................................................................... 10 Research & Literature ................................................................................................................... 14 Greco-Roman Banquets ............................................................................................................ 15 Christian Banquets / Eucharistic Communion .......................................................................... 17 Eucharistic and the Reformed Tradition ................................................................................... 21 Ways of Living Influencing Ways of Believing ....................................................................... 24 Eschatological Imagination ....................................................................................................... 26 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................. 32 Objectives, Strategies, and Implementation .................................................................................. 35 The Project ................................................................................................................................ 37 Table Fellowship Narratives ................................................................................................. 37 Questionnaire ........................................................................................................................ 38 Sermon Series ....................................................................................................................... 39 Adult Education Class (outline) ............................................................................................ 40 Eucharist Experiments/Experiences ...................................................................................... 41 Border Fence Experience (UKIRK) ...................................................................................... 42 Stories of Exploration and Learning ............................................................................................. 44 The Radical Inclusiveness of God’s Love ................................................................................ 44 The Power of the Table ............................................................................................................. 45 Re-imagining the Eucharistic Table .......................................................................................... 46 Eucharist Beyond the Table ...................................................................................................... 47 Deipnon of Fellowship and Mutuality ...................................................................................... 48 Restructuring for a Eucharistic Life .......................................................................................... 49 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 49 Appendix A – Image of Typical Greek and Roman Banquet ....................................................... 56 Appendix B – Images of Un-Eucharistic Communion ................................................................. 57 Appendix C – Sermon Series: “Do This in Remembrance of Me” .............................................. 58 Part 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 58 Part 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 61 Part 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 65 Part 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 67 Part 5 ......................................................................................................................................... 70 Appendix D – Adult Christian Education Class Outline .............................................................. 74 Appendix E – Liturgy for Agape Feast: Redrawing the Borders of Love .................................... 82 Photos of the Agape Feast ......................................................................................................... 89 Appendix F – World Communion Eucharistic Liturgy ................................................................ 90 Appendix G – Reflection Narrative/Interview Request ................................................................ 94 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 96 Dedicated to my wife and children, that they may find in the Church a community of welcome and encouragement in their faith journeys, to those who struggle to find a community to which they can belong, and to the Christian Church that she may continually discover new ways of being in the world for the sake of the oppressed and marginalized. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am thankful to the community of Christian faith at University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona, for their tenaciously questioning and progressive spirit, their deep and searching Christian faith, their willingness to take risks, and their support in my pursuit of a Doctor of Ministry degree. I am thankful for the faculty and staff at McCormick Theological Seminary for the opportunity to be stretched and challenged in my faith and the practice of ministry through the Doctor of Ministry program. I especially want to thank the Rev. Dr. John E. Schmidt, my dedicated advisor, who challenged me and encouraged me, often in the same breath. The Rev. Dr. Jeff Japinga, director of the D.Min. program at McCormick through most of my work, was always supportive, encouraging, and understanding, and made sure there was coffee available for those long days of class time. Even more so, he presented himself as a partner in our endeavor, always ready to go out for a beer to talk about whatever we needed to talk about. The Rev. Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes was instrumental in giving focus and shape to this project with his counsel and his writing. His unwavering support was a strong encouragement along the way. You are an amazing teacher in the Way of Jesus, and a blessing to the Church—even as you challenge her to continue the struggle to broaden her perspective. If there is one person who has been most supportive and encouraging to me, even in my discouragements, it has been my wife, Sindy. She has pushed me and challenged me, and appropriately threatened me (lovingly) when I even hinted at not finishing. You are my best friend, my confidant, and the love of my life. I thank God constantly for bringing us together. I am also thankful for the support of my children, Sam and Dani. They encouraged my study and worked really hard to be quiet when daddy had to read, study, and write. You two continue to amaze me with your exploration and insights into the world. I know I can be hard on you sometimes. But, as so many parents say, it is because I love you, want the best for you, and believe God has blessed you and that you are capable of so much in this life. I trust that God will continue to guide you and encourage you to hone your gifts, discover new ones, and shape your contribution to the communal whole. Unfortunately, for too many worshipers today, the Sunday ritual enactment of the Lord’s Supper,