Societas Liturgica Report
by Adam Couchman
This year I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Societas Liturgica Congress in Paris, a global gathering of liturgical scholars, church leaders, and practitioners. The theme, The Liturgical Assembly in its Spaces, invited deep reflection on how worship spaces shape and are shaped by the communities that inhabit them.
The congress opened with a moving ecumenical liturgy in the newly rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral. Still bearing the marks of its 2019 fire, the cathedral has been restored as a centre of Christian worship. Led by the Archbishop of Paris in collaboration with Orthodox and Protestant leaders, the service embodied the congress’s commitment to visible Christian unity and shared liturgical life. The grandeur of the space, paired with its recent history of loss and renewal, gave the gathering a powerful and poignant beginning.
The reconstruction of Notre Dame was guided by a Chalcedonian-inspired design philosophy—“distinction without separation”—which avoids dividing the cathedral into liturgical and tourist zones. Instead, a liturgical axis guides visitors through a pilgrimage path that blends cultural and spiritual experiences. This approach reflects the theological depth and architectural intentionality that shaped the congress’s theme.
Later in the week, I joined a guided tour of Notre Dame led by outgoing Societas Liturgica President Gilles Drouin, who played a key role in the cathedral’s reconstruction. His insights into the liturgical reconfiguration of the space highlighted how architecture and symbolism can guide worshippers through a spiritual journey.
Participants came from every continent, representing a wide range of traditions and disciplines. The congress offered both formal presentations and informal conversations, exploring how liturgical assemblies engage with space in physical, cultural, and theological ways. Plenary sessions addressed sacred architecture, the adaptation of inherited spaces, and the evolving role of worship in secularised contexts.
Many papers expanded the concept of liturgical space beyond physical buildings. Presenters explored online worship and digital environments, considering how these reshape participation and formation. Others reflected on the emerging role of artificial intelligence in liturgical life, raising thoughtful questions about its potential and risks.
A standout moment was a panel on Contemporary Praise and Worship. Historically, even if not intentionally, Societas Liturgica has attracted those from formal liturgical traditions, but this session marked a deliberate broadening of reach. The scholarly depth and critical engagement with global worship practices signalled a welcome inclusivity and responsiveness to the lived realities of many churches from even more Christian traditions.
In seminar sessions, participants engaged in focused discussions on specialised topics. I presented a paper entitled A Round Church in a Square Hole: Indigenous Theologies and the Challenge of Decolonising Liturgical Space. Drawing on Aboriginal theologies, I argued that decolonisation requires more than symbolic gestures. It demands structural changes to how worship spaces are conceived, built, and used. The responses from participants affirmed the global relevance of these issues, as many communities continue to grapple with colonial legacies embedded in their liturgical environments.
Worship was woven throughout the congress, with morning and evening prayer offered in diverse styles. These moments of shared prayer provided a lived experience of the congress theme, as participants inhabited liturgical spaces from across different traditions. Liturgies were held in some of Paris’s most iconic churches, including the Reformed Temple near Luxembourg, the Jesuit church of St Ignatius, the Orthodox church of St Geneviève and St Parascève, and the parish church of St Eustache, where the Congress Eucharist was celebrated.
The congress was hosted in the heart of Paris, with academic sessions held at the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP), which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The event was jointly organised by five theological faculties—Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jesuit, and ecumenical—reflecting the congress’s commitment to both scholarly excellence and ecumenical collaboration. This was the first time these faculties had joined together in an event like this.
Beyond the conference program, informal gatherings and shared meals fostered rich conversations. Topics ranged from the practical challenges of ministry in multicultural contexts to the role of liturgy in addressing social concerns. These exchanges reminded me that liturgical scholarship is never just academic. It is deeply pastoral and rooted in lived experience.
Alongside the congress, I also participated in the biennial meeting of the English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC). Though not widely known by name, ELLC plays a vital role in shaping worship across the English-speaking world. It is responsible for key liturgical translations, including the current English version of the Lord’s Prayer, and collaborates with the Consultation on Common Texts on the Revised Common Lectionary. I was honoured to be elected as the incoming chair of ELLC. This role carries both privilege and responsibility as we continue this important work.
The Societas Liturgica Congress remains a vital meeting point for those engaged in the study and practice of Christian worship. This year’s gathering reinforced the importance of dialogue across cultures and traditions. It reminded us that liturgical assemblies are shaped as much by their spatial contexts as by their rites and texts.
The next Societas Liturgica Congress will take place in 2027 in Rio de Janeiro, with the theme From Inculturation to Decoloniality: Liturgy in a World in Conflict. This promises to be another significant moment for exploring how liturgy responds to cultural identity, colonial history, and contemporary divisions.
Adam Couchman is the Academic Dean at St Francis College.