Symposium: Ritual and Liturgy in Times of War and Peace
War is raging in Europe and in other parts of the world. With increasing rhetoric about war and rising defence spending, war also seems to be coming closer. Anyone who follows the news cannot escape stories about war and the threat of war. During this (Dutch-language) symposium, we will explore how the themes of war, peace, reconciliation and remembrance are given expression in ritual and liturgy.
About the symposium
Are the wars addressed in church services; is this desirable, and if so, how? How do we commemorate the victims of wars, past and present? What ritual practices provide support and courage to soldiers during deployments?
The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Services, the Association for Liturgical Studies (VvL) and the Institute for Ritual and Liturgical Studies (IRiLiS) invite pastors, ministers, chaplains, liturgical scholars, ritual experts and policymakers to discuss these questions together.
Programme
- 10.00 Arrival and welcome
- 10.30 Opening by chair Samuel Goyvaerts (Tilburg University)
- 10.45 Erik Sengers, Professor of Issues in Military Chaplaincy (Tilburg University) and military chaplain. War Rituals: Ritual Practices in the Context of War and Violence
- 11.15 Deborah van den Bosch, Defence chaplain. Liturgy in a Secular World: Exploring the Sacred in the Military Context from the Perspective of a Protestant Chaplain
- 11.45 Gösta Huijs, humanist counsellor with the Dutch Ministry of Defence and the Netherlands Veterans Institute. Experiences from Humanism and the Ritual Repertoire during Military Missions
- 12.15 Questions and discussion
- 12.30 Midday meditation and lunch
- 13.30 Musical contribution, with Martin Hoondert (Tilburg University)
- 13.45 Petra Mergaerts, pastor and liturgical scholar, Chair of the Association for Liturgical Studies. May the Peace of the Lord Be with You Always! A Critical Analysis and Reflection from Pastoral Practice in Parishes
- 14.15 Dion van den Berg, former staff member of PAX. The Contribution of Rituals and Commemorative Practices to Reconciliation: The Case of Former Yugoslavia
- 15.00 Musical contribution, with Martin Hoondert
- 15.15 Closing remarks by Mirella Klomp (Protestant Theological University)
- 15.30–16.30 Drinks, conversation and networking
Practical information
- Date: Thursday 26 November 2026
- Time: 10.00 – 16.30
- Location: Landgoed Beukbergen, Huis ter Heide
- Cost: € 20 for VvL members and DGV staff | € 40 for non-members
A proceedings volume of this symposium will be published afterwards. More information will follow.
Landgoed Beukbergen is easily accessible by public transport and by car.
Registration
Those interested can register using the registration button at the top of this page.
