The Sunday Sermon as Knowledge Product:

An Exercise in Social Epistemology

Dr. Daniel RolandThe Center for the Study of Information and ReligionSchool of Library and Information ScienceKent State University

Jeremiah Bryant, Graduate Research Assistant

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

2009 Annual Meeting

Wurman, Richard S. (2001). Information Anxiety 2, pp. 27-29

Social Epistemology

A framework for the investigation of the intellectual processes of society

A focus on the production, flow, integration, and consumption of all forms of communication throughout the entire social pattern

The study of those processes by which society as a whole seeks to achieve a perceptive or understanding relation to the total environment

Jesse Shera, “Libraries and the Organization of Knowledge.” pp. 15, 16, 27

Research QuestionsHow do clergy go about choosing a

Scripture text from which to prepare a sermon?

What contextual factors affect how a clergy member interprets Scripture?

What goals do clergy have for their sermons?

What role did the 2008 Presidential election have on the content of sermons delivered in the weeks leading up to the November 4 election?

Google search terms

Sermon “October 5, 2008” Baptist Sermon “October 12, 2008” ELCA Sermon “October 19, 2008” Nazarene Sermon “October 26, 2008” Presbyterian Sermon “November 2, 2008” UCC

Methodology

Full-text sermons pulled from the Internet

Seven denominations – U.S. Congregational Life Survey

Limitations

Analysis with DEVONthink Pro

Clergy Sample Distribution (88)DENOMINATION NUMBER STATES

Baptist 10 CA, CO, KY, NC, PA, TN, TX, WI

ELCA 22 CA, DC, IA, IL, IN, MT, NC, NJ, NM, OH, OR, TX, WI

Nazarene 3 CT, PA, NY

Presbyterian 19 AL, CA, DC, FL, IN, MD, MN, NC, NJ, WA

United Church of Christ

19 CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, MD, MN, NC, OH, OR, RI, WI

United Methodist 15 CA, DC, KY, PA, SC, TX, VA

Occurrences of “election”

Election Significant Sermons

Observations and Findings

◦Let the Word speak for itself◦Be true to the Word◦Let the Holy Spirit work

Questions and further research:

◦Clergy context◦Scripture selection system

Let the Word speak for itself

“And now particularly in this election season, it is very tempting to preach a sermon about religion and politics. These are vital issues, but the reality is that Jesus was not trying here to set down principles for church-state relations. And certainly not in a democracy, which didn’t exist at that time. As much as I might be tempted to do it, I don’t think we can be satisfied with even a principled and well-presented sermon on my views of the separation of church and state. That would be the easy way out. But the fact is that this event in Jesus’ life and his words here are much more difficult, much more demanding that that.”

Tennessee, Baptist, October 19, 2008, Matthew 22:15-22– Lectionary Gospel reading

Let the Word speak for itself

This idea that the church and state are separate is not really part of the Bible. In the Bible countries, nations, and states all have religions which are enforced by the state on all it governs.

I like our way better. It is with the birth of our own nation that separation of church and state emerges as a concept. Separation of church and state is a principle of religious freedom and toleration. It is valuable. And its sense can be supported, I suspect, by one or more of the meanings of Jesus’ saying, even if he probably did not have an American election in mind when he spoke these words.

And on this day, with an election so close, let us think about the importance of our freedom to believe and our freedom to vote. Many people want us to mix the two with more than a pinch of coercion.

Actually we should vote our faith and our values as long as we understand that our neighbor is completely free to do the same. On the church’s side, it is healthy for Christians of all stripes to refrain from using religious pressure on people to vote for particular candidates. It is your vote. That vote is a precious gift. Please render it this fall as you see fit.

Wisconsin, ELCA, October 19, 2008, Matthew 22:15-22– Lectionary Gospel reading

Be afraid“There is much that disturbs me about this campaign

and the candidates. But my underlying concern is regarding the progressive stranglehold of liberalism in the United States. I am angry that State Supreme Justices have declared marriages of two males or two females are legal, while legislators and executive branches are not standing up on the Christian principals our country was founded on. But the worst condition is that we—the Church of Jesus

Christ—is sitting silent. So, I need to talk about it!”  

Connecticut, Nazarene, October 19, 2008, II Timothy 2:1-7

Vote your faithIn 16 days those of us who are citizens of the United States will

have opportunity to exercise our freedom to vote. Though critically important, the Kingdom of God does not hinge on one election. There is much, today and much that day and much that night as votes are tallied, that will tempt us to give eschatological consequence to the outcome of an election. It is not so. There are those who maniacally and hysterically proclaim the demonization of one or another candidate. It is not so. We have the civic responsibility to discern the issues and cast our vote; but we also have the divine responsibility to remember the eschaton belongs to God and demons are not identified because someone’s opinions differ from our own or because someone’s political party differs from our own opinions.

Texas, United Methodist, October 19, 2008, Matthew 22:15-22– Lectionary Gospel Reading

The constitution of the Church

“The church always sees its life in two frames of reference.  First, it sees what everyone else sees – a world of struggle and pain and injustice.  Based on such visible evidence, there is not much reason for hope or joy.  War follows upon war, violence begets more violence, and the innocent suffer every day. Elections come and elections go, and not much seems to change, really, especially for the poor. But the church also has a second frame of reference from standing on its head, for it sees what others do not see, that God is at work in this world even today and will surely bring the world to a time of joy and peace. Such confidence enables people of faith to live in the present, aware that they are blessed, in spite of everything that would assert the contrary.” 

North Carolina, Presbyterian, Nov. 2, 2008, Matthew 5:1-12 – Lectionary Gospel for All Saints Day

Vote your faith“In 2 days we will vote in an election – if you haven’t already voted, and if

not, I urge you to do so – but we will vote in an election that has more significance than any other election in my lifetime of almost 50 years. We will elect either the first African American president or the first female Vice President ever. That is not what makes the election so significant though – it is the passion of the people. The desire and hope for a new day. Republicans and Democrats alike. For elected leaders that will not follow the same path we have been on. We are looking for leaders that will be honorable, that will lead with a vision for all the people. The whole world is watching us. Eager, even desperate, for us once again to join the world community instead of separating ourselves out and trying to run the world community. I think the saints in our lives would encourage us to vote, whomever it is we vote for, to be informed, to vote our conscience and our heart and our faith.” 

North Carolina, United Church of Christ, Nov. 2, 2008, Matthew 5:1-10 – Lectionary Gospel for All Saints Day

Fear not“This is my America, and I love it enough not to let it go.

Not to turn it over to anger and to hate and to the forces that would divide us.

And this is your America, too. So if you haven't done so already, then on Tuesday I enjoin you to exercise your Constitutional right - a right our forbears bought with their blood - and vote for your preferred candidate, whoever that may be.

Vote your heart and vote your values. Vote your hopes and your dreams. Mostly, vote your faith and not your fears, vote for the world you dream of, the world you believe in.

” 

North Carolina, Presbyterian, Nov. 2, 2008, Luke 1:30 “Fear Not!”

Thank you!

Daniel Roland, PhDSchool of Library and Information ScienceCenter for the Study of Information and

ReligionKent State University

http://csir.slis.kent.edu/

droland1@kent.edu