Verve for the visual: Reformed and Presbyterian churches and visual display art

Edward A Black

Etd

Verve for the visual: Reformed and Presbyterian churches and visual display art

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Edward A Black. Verve for the Visual: Reformed and Presbyterian Churches and Visual Display Art. Covenant Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e309537d-0adf-4d2f-aba0-d9d18e380743.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

E. A. Black. Verve for the visual: Reformed and Presbyterian churches and visual display art. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e309537d-0adf-4d2f-aba0-d9d18e380743

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Edward A Black. Verve for the Visual: Reformed and Presbyterian Churches and Visual Display Art. Covenant Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e309537d-0adf-4d2f-aba0-d9d18e380743.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Edward A Black

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In Copyright

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of visual art in connecting people to God's redemptive story through the congregational life and ministry of churches with a Reformed and Presbyterian heritage. It provides biblical theological reflection, guidelines, and ideas for the use of visual display art. The following research questions guide this study: 1. what led to the present or past use of visual display art? 2. what has been the result of using display art in congregational life and ministry? 3. what, if any, efforts are being made to change the role of visual display art in congregational life and ministry? This research is a qualitative examination of visual display art and its role in the past, present, and plans for the future of Reformed and Presbyterian congregations. This study uses information gathered from two focus groups and seventeen interviews to gain insight into congregations from seven different denominations, all with roots in the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition. Among the lesson learned from this study and research, the following insights form the central findings: 1. Biblical and theological reflection does not support a complete separation from involvement in or use of visual arts in the individual, family, or corporate lives of Christians. 2. The presence of visual display art in the buildings and programs of churches with a Reformed and Presbyterian heritage currently has limited scope; moreover, there is little knowledge among most members as to how these visual pieces came into use. 3. The evaluation of the use of visuals in the life of a particular congregation is informal and sketchy at best. 3. A few churches and strategizing and structuring for increased inclusion of visual art through creative committees.

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