Mercersburg Society

MERCERSBURG TODAY is a website dedicated to
providing easy access to the writings on Mercersburg Theology, along with other books and articles of interest on the
general subject. In addition, the site will provide new articles from various authors which will bring the insights of
the Mercersburg Theology into the contemporary practice of the church. The site will also provide news of the Society
as well as registration information for the annual convocation.

SOCIETY BOARD NEWS

Proposed Constitution 2025

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Dear Fellow Mercersburg Society Members:

I thank everyone who helped to make the Convocation such a memorable event.
During our two days the enduring significance of the doctrine of the Incarnation was explored from a variety of perspectives. My paper outlined the Mercersburg heritage’s focus on the glorified humanity of Christ as the impartation of God’s perfections to human nature. For Nevin, mortality was suffused with immortality; God became human so that humans could become divine. As a counterpoint, Bruce McCormack’s paper concentrated on the receptivity of God the Son to all the ordinary human joys and woes experienced by Jesus of Nazareth. Put simply, the difference between them was that for Nevin the most important exchange in the Incarnation was from the divine to the human, while for McCormack the most significant exchange was from the human to the divine. Hopefully, these two dynamics are not mutually exclusive. Tekoa Robinson then showed how these incarnational themes, especially God’s self-emptying love, could be indirectly communicated to contemporary people unaffiliated with Christian institutions; overtly doctrinal language need not be used. The pastoral panel further explored the ways that the theme of Incarnation is manifested in liturgy, preaching, and congregational culture. The ecumenical panel then discussed the different expressions of Incarnational themes in various Christian traditions. The culminating worship was a glorious enactment of these motifs in music, words, and actions. Many thanks to all.

Next year’s Convocation will explore the Mercersburg heritage in relation to the visual arts and architecture. The Mercersburg theologians and pastors had a keen sense of the power of stone, brick, and pigment to convey spiritual messages. They were partly responsible for the revival of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, as well as the Protestant appropriation of an iconic style and pre-Renaissance painting. Please contact me if you have any ideas about speakers and sub-themes.

We are excited by the possibility that the Order of Corpus Christi may hold its annual retreat in Lancaster immediately after our Convocation. The spiritual and theological orientations of the Order and the Mercersburg Society overlap in mutually enriching ways. This convergence would enable individuals to stay for both events and benefit from both organizations.

For next year’s Convocation we welcome volunteers for the program committee, the pastoral and ecumenical panels, and the hospitality committee. Suggestions for the subthemes in the program are also very appreciated. Please email them to me.

The Board has adopted a revised version of our Constitution, taking into account our embedded status in the Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ (soon to be the Keystone Conference). Soon this will be on our website.

Peace,
Lee Barrett
President, Mercersburg Society

“‘God Was in Christ Reconciling the World’:Why We Still Care”

Lancaster Theological Seminary
555 West James Street, Lancaster, PA 17603

Confirmed Speakers:
The Rev. Dr. Bruce L. McCormack, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Rev. Dr. Lee C.
Barrett, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA.
Tekoa Robinson, Villanova University

The Mercersburg Theology asserted that the Incarnation of God in a human life is central to the Good News. That was a
counter-cultural message in an era dominated by revivalism, rationalism, and incipient secularism. Nevertheless, this
theological movement inspired a liturgical and spiritual revitalization that is still relevant today. This 2025
Mercersburg Convocation will investigate the power of an Incarnational theology. Lectures will explore the
Incarnational theology of our ancestors in the faith, current reflections on the significance of God’s presence in
Christ, and contact points with the spiritual hungers of people today. A panel of ecumenical guests will explore
parallels in other Christian traditions, and pastors and small groups will discuss the implications of these
perspectives for the life of the churches and the practice of ministry. Ample time will be given for fellowship with
friends old and new, and for prayer and worship.

Download and print a copy of the brochure.