The Institute of Liturgical Studies Shines as a Beacon of Lutheran Scholarship and Innovation
Every year, the Chapel of the Resurrection becomes abuzz with a tradition that is widely recognized not only on our campus, but across the entire country: the Institute of Liturgical Studies. This annual gathering of church leadership, congregations, and Lutheran partners aims to provide inspiration and high-level reflection for those who serve in the church. 76 years after its founding, the Institute continues to uplift connections and deepen conversations across the Lutheran faith.
The foundation of Valpo’s institute we know today originated in the 20th century with questions from American and European theologians that spurred a movement of reform in scholarship of early church worship. What began in 1949 as the Liturgical Society of Saint James – a group of Lutheran pastors in New York – found a home at Valpo upon invitation of former Valparaiso University President O.P. Kretzmann. President Kretzmann recognized the importance of liturgical history and practice in the life of the church and believed Valpo to be a place where it could grow and flourish. Fast forward to today and our University carries a leader’s reputation in the study of liturgical history and practice, historical prowess, and academic authority – serving as a bountiful fountain of worship, music, and discourse.
“I’ve been coming to the institute since I was a Valpo student. … As a think tank for liturgical practice, I was most influenced by the introduction of the new worship book, trying new liturgies, and understanding that some of these ideas can be introduced in congregations.” – Timothy Keyl ’82, MLM, Director of Lutheran studies at Yale Divinity School
“The two-and-a-half-day conference serves as a retreat for parish professionals. [Usually] coming from a period of pretty intense activity with Holy Week and Easter, what we hear from our regular attendees is that they come and receive spiritual blessings and worship opportunities – and they’re not in charge of anything,” explains University Pastor and Executive Director of the Institute of Liturgical Studies James (Jim) Wetzstein, M.Div.. “They can come and know that the people who are operating this event are doing so at a really high level.”
Preparing for such a prolific event is a massive undertaking. A year out from the Institute, Pastor Jim begins working with a well-versed, dedicated team: Director of Worship Sally Messner ’02, MSM, the Valparaiso University Division of Calling and Spiritual Life’s Events and Communications Coordinator Betsy Searle and Executive Assistant Rachel Webb ’08, and a diverse advisory council from respected institutions across the country. The eight members of the advisory council practice in a variety of church and academic settings, representing four denominations. Together, the team merges their different backgrounds, expertise, and individual networks to plan out each annual gathering – complete with plenaries, practicums, workshops, and exhibitors – almost a year in advance.
“This year’s event is happening in late April, because Easter is very late this year. That means we’ll take the rest of April and May to process and gather feedback. The advisory committee will meet on campus in June and, at that point, we’ll already know who next year’s speakers are and will be well on our way to identifying each of the workshop presenters,” Pastor Jim says. “By the end of the summer, into September, we’ll have a clear idea of what’s happening in Easter of 2026.”
“I came all four years as an undergraduate student [at Valpo]. … When I came back to serve a call here in town, I attended ILS again. … And I noticed, as we were gathered for worship, I could hear women’s voices. … It sounded like a real congregation of all of God’s people.” – Erica Gibson-Even’00, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church
A large portion of the preparation is establishing and building out the yearly theme. To fulfill its mission in facilitating meaningful conversation, the institute embraces ongoing learning about urgent questions in the church community. This year’s theme, Rites of Passage: Engaging Occasional Practitioners in a Secular Age, explores the declining participation in religious institutions across America’s religious landscape – even as many people continue to turn to churches at some of the most significant moments in their lives. Rather than jump to hasty conclusions or rush to judge occasional church-goers, the institute will be encouraging attendees to fully consider the possibilities of these occasions in order to prepare to serve a decreasingly churched culture.
This idea of occasional religious practice was introduced by Reverend Sarah Kathleen Johnson, Ph.D., at last year’s gathering. “It’s super easy for church professionals to think of those occasional people that way. Kathleen really advised us to avoid that; you’re imposing upon them your perspective,” Pastor Jim says. “Instead, you have to lend a listening ear. You’ve got to pay attention to the stories these people are bringing in with them. … It’s a much more sympathetic and humble interpretative lens.” What is it about the birth of a child, loss of a loved one, or baptisms that attract occasional church-goers? At this year’s conference, Reverend Johnson will be returning to continue that conversation with a number of workshops and two additional plenary speakers: Reverend Melinda Quivik, Ph.D., who has extensive experience surrounding funerals, and the University of Notre Dame’s Kimberly Hope Belcher, Ph.D., who will lend her expertise in communal worship in times of crisis.
“I started coming to ILS 40 years ago. One of my first experiences was in the Chapel when they had received an icon from Canterbury. The evening prayer processed down the aisle with two thurifers holding the book in the back…I just stood there in awe. … I’ve come ever since.” – Linda Kempke, Retired Musician and Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
“So, what I’m hoping folks will take away from this year’s theme is to recognize that when people from the broader community approach them because their mother has died and they need a pastor to comfort them, or would like them to attend the funeral, that they don’t see that as an interruption to their ministry,” Pastor Jim says. “Instead, they’d see it as an opportunity to be in ministry with them, instead of to or for them.”
As the institute gathers to explore these ideals and broaden our church community, we celebrate its role in the ongoing conversation of Lutheran faith and tradition. This gathering serves as a pillar of Valpo’s Lutheran Centennial, and our collective celebration of God’s faithfulness to our institution through music, worship, historical remembrances, and celebration. “The institute is a way Valpo serves the broader church. I think it’s a really significant expression of the University’s Lutheran identity,” Pastor Jim shares. “We’re not where we need to be yet, in terms of reaching non-Lutherans and becoming more ecumenical. But that is what the iInstitute is striving to accomplish in drawing in an increasingly wider circle of presenters. … We think there’s wisdom to be shared there. It also helps locate Valpo as a place of activity on the national-level in terms of scholarship and professionalism.”
“[Attending the Institute] has been one of the richest experiences for me from my time at Valpo. This is my church. These are my people. … I’m so grateful they keep coming back every year.” – Fred Niedner, Th.D., Former Senior Research Professor of Theology at Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University’s 2025 Institute of Liturgical Studies will take place on April 28–30 in the Chapel of the Resurrection and the Harre Union, with livestreams of the plenary addresses and worship available for any community member or curious mind to take part. As next year’s session will soon enter its planning stages, we encourage Valpo students, staff, faculty, and church members of our greater community to plan to observe these scholarly ideals at work.
