“The Musics of Indigenous Christians in North America”
Right Rev. Mark MacDonald
We are delighted and honored to have the Right Rev. Mark MacDonald, the Anglican Church of Canada’s first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, as our keynote speaker for SCSM Toronto 2019. Bishop MacDonald was appointed to this position in 2007, after serving as bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Diocese of Alaska for ten years. Following studies in Duluth and Toronto, Bishop MacDonald did graduate work at Luther-Northwestern Theological Seminary in Minneapolis; he holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Bishop MacDonald has had a long and varied pastoral and educational ministry, holding positions in Mississauga, Ont., Duluth, Minn., Tomah, Wis., Mauston, Wis., Portland, Ore., and the southeast regional mission of the Diocese of Navajoland. He is a third order Franciscan. He has published works on mission and ministry, faith and sacraments, multiculturalism, inculturation, creation and environment.
Bishop MacDonald’s keynote lecture, entitled “The Musics of Indigenous Christians in North America,” will explore historical and contemporary interactions between indigenous music-making and Christian missions in North America, including the use, adaptation, and translation of European hymnody by Indigenous Christians, and the use of Indigenous music-making in Christian devotion and worship. Moving from practical examples, Bishop MacDonald will articulate the key theological principles that underpin these practices. He will also briefly identify some areas for future research in this growing field.