Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Day 1

Thinking of blogging for some time now, today I begin my postings on architecture and theology. Having graduated from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and completing a thesis on Christian education and architectural theology, I thought I might publish parts of the work. And, having done that, I thought I would discuss some books and articles I have read as well as express some of my own thinking on the subject. I hope you will find the work and the discussion interesting.

What is "architectural theology?" It is systematic and non-systematic theological beliefs expressed in man made built environments that shelter individual Christian people and various Christian communities. These environments shelter and express their rites and relationships. They are unique to every person/community they strive to serve, because God's call to Christians is extremely individual. It is a sensitive expounding of God's work in the hearts of people as they gather together in worship, discipleship, and fellowship.

This explanation is decidedly different from the term "liturgical consultancy." A liturgical consultant is largely concerned with beliefs about worship and its ritual, history, and function within a Christian community. She/he is also concerned with how those things might be expressed in the worship center space. On the other hand, an "architectural theologian" forms her/his work around the whole work and the whole space a Christian community occupies, and analyzes not only ritual, history, function, and form, but the spirit of its people and their interrelationships as brothers and sisters in Christ--and all this within a unique time and place. An architectural theologian seeks to analyze and synthesize as spiritual opportunities arise, not as pre-design process dictates. Ultimately, it encompasses professional Christian servanthood to the people of God as they know themselves to be.