Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation

by Timothy D. Son

Publisher:

Lexington Books

, 2014

Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation investigates the educational roles of ritual practices in the process of congregational identity formation. Son identifies and analyzes various kinds of Christian rituals with respect to how rituals influence the formational processes of a congregation’s identity. Based on Victor Turner’s ritual theory, this book also investigates the pedagogical and transformative efficacies of ritual practices within the dynamics of congregational education.

Contents

Part I: Discovering the Educational Efficacies of Ritual

1. Rituals for Congregational Formation
2. Ritual to Build, or to Deconstruct? Critical Reflection on Victor Turner’s Ritual Theory
3. Ritual Practice as a Process of Knowing

Part II: Educating Congregations for Identity Formation

1. Exploring the Anatomy of Congregational Identity: Learning Various Constitutive Elements of Congregational Identity
2. Painting a Congregation’s Self-portrait: Integrating Worldviews, Church Images and Core Values into a Congregation’s Self-images
3. Wrestling with a Cultural Goliath: The Challenges and Opportunities of Postmodern Society in Constructing Congregational Identity

Part III: Where Ritual Theory Meets Ministry Practice

1. Looking into a Portrait Artist’s Palette: Analyzing a Case Study of Ritual of Installation and Its Implications to Congregational Identity Construction
2. Practical Implications of Ritual Practice for Congregational Ministry

Appendix A—Survey Questionnaires
Appendix B—Worldview Test

Praise for Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation

Dr. Timothy Son has written an insightful book on the nature of religious rituals and practices for today’s expanding global society. While his focus is on Christian congregations, his understanding of ritual principles based on faithful practices can be applied to many other religious organizations. Son invites the reader to take a deeper plunge into one's own traditional identity, and in doing so to also discover contrasting ritual practices often neglected within our global neighborhood.

Academically rigorous, theologically sound, and spiritually rich, this book offers an insightful proposal for understanding intrinsic dialectics of ritual practices in forming and transforming congregational identity. Son invites and encourages us to have genuine conversations with our past, present, and future, and to discover a new sense of identity.

Son passionately writes how ritual practice forms, reforms, and transforms individual spiritual identity as well as congregational collective identity—not only in primitive society, but also in postmodern society. He presents fresh, new ideas with thorough knowledge for local congregational leaders, seminary professors and students, doctoral students, and workshop leaders.

Product Details

• Title : Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation
• Author: Son, Timothy D.
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Publication Date: 2014
• ISBN: 9780739183113

About Timothy D. Son

The Rev. Dr. Timothy D. Son joined the Seminary faculty in 2005 as assistant professor of Christian education and youth ministry. He brings more than 20 years of teaching and ministry experience to the position. He received his bachelor’s from Cornell University, his M.Div. and Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and completed his doctoral studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. His dissertation focuses on the “Learning through Rituals: Educational Roles of Ritual in the Formation of Congregational Identity in a Postmodern Society.†Son most recently served as adjunct professor in Christian education at New Brunswick Theological Seminary and New York Theological Seminary. His other teaching experiences include serving as assistant dean for student affairs and as professor at New Jersey School of Christian Education, project team member for congregational studies at Auburn Seminary and the Lilly Foundation Project, director of Christian Education Library at Princeton Theological Seminary (School of Christian Education), and program director for arts and crafts at French Wood Summer Academy. He was also appointed educator and seminar leader for the Three-Year-Educational Project of the Teacher’s Training Program at General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). His ministries include pastoring at four Presbyterian churches. Son has authored numerous publications focusing on Christian education, including Asian Americans and Christian Ministry, (Voice 1999). He is married to Angella Pak Son, associate professor of religion and psychology at the Theological School at Drew University, in Madison N.J. She specializes in the area of interdisciplinary study between Karl Barth’s anthropology and Heinz Kohut’s self-psychology. They have one daughter.