Worship in the 16th-Century Reformation: Theology and Practice
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1877
Special Issue Editor
Interests: liturgy; faith formation; sacramental theology; religious education; neuroscience; disability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue explores the theology and practice of worship during the Reformation in the 16th century. The Reformation brought about profound shifts in Christian worship, shaped by the theological convictions of reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and Martin Bucer. Their reconfiguration of liturgical forms and sacramental theology continues to influence global worship practices today.
We invite contributions that examine how the Reformers developed and implemented their worship theology, particularly in relation to key elements such as the Word and Sacrament, public prayer, confessions of faith, congregational singing, church architecture, and the sensory dimensions of worship. Submissions may also consider the wider cultural, political, artistic, and ritual implications of Reformation worship.
Key Research Questions
- How did the Reformers’ theological convictions shape their understanding of worship?
- In what ways did worship practices differ among Lutheran, Reformed, and other Protestant traditions?
- How was the relationship between the Word and the Sacraments understood and enacted?
- What roles did psalmody and congregational hymnody play in shaping worship and theology?
- How did the Reformers emphasize public prayer, confessions, and preaching—and how did these shape subsequent liturgical traditions?
- To what extent did the Reformers retain, adapt, or reject medieval liturgical elements?
- How were worship reforms intertwined with social, political, or ecclesial transformations?
- What theological insights from Reformation-era worship remain relevant for contemporary ecclesiological and liturgical reflection?
- How might 16th-century worship theology be appropriated in Evangelical, Reformed, Pentecostal, or digital worship settings today?
Interdisciplinary Approaches Welcome
To enrich scholarly reflection, we especially welcome interdisciplinary approaches that engage theology in dialogue with the following fields:
- Historical and Social Studies: Worship reform and its effects on political authority, civic culture, and popular movements.
- Philosophical and Theological Studies: Sacramental theology in conversation with scholasticism, Neoplatonism, or Renaissance humanism.
- Literary, Musical, and Artistic Studies: Impacts on Bible translation, homiletic literature, hymnody, and sacred architecture.
- Ritual and Anthropological Studies: Worship as embodied practice and communal identity formation.
- Comparative Worship Studies: Reception of Reformation liturgies in diverse modern worship contexts, including digital or global settings.
Call for Papers
Interested scholars are invited to submit a tentative title and a 300–400 word abstract for initial review.
The submission deadline is tentatively set for the end of January 2026.
Prof. Dr. Hwarang Moon
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- reformation worship
- 16th-century liturgy
- theology of worship
- Word and Sacrament
- sacramental theology
- liturgical reform
- worship and ecclesiology
- ritual and worship
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