Institute of Liturgical Studies 2024

Creativity, Not Commodity: Curating the Church’s Liturgy in a Consumer Culture

April 9-11, 2024

It is no revelation that we live in a consumer culture in which our collective and personal economic well-being depends on our shared habits of material consumption. It is also no secret to those in ministry that the market economy driving this consumption – with its emphasis on personal choice – has an impact on how the local congregation positions itself within its ministry context or fails to do so. 

The role that consumer or market culture plays in our lives is so ubiquitous that we frequently fail to recognize its presence and influence over us. Even committed church folk will talk about “church shopping” when they move to a new location. 

The 75th annual gathering of the Institute of Liturgical Studies will turn its attention to this phenomenon. 

We will seek to better understand the ways in which consumer culture impacts liturgical life. How might that impact be countered through careful curating of the church’s liturgical theology? We will also be seeking practical guidance for what we, as church practitioners, might learn positively from those who work to drive consumer desires in the marketplace.

Join us at Valparaiso University on Tuesday, April 9 through Thursday, April 11, 2024 for Creativity, Not Commodity: Curating the Church’s Liturgy in a Consumer Culture