Bridging the Spirituals and Liturgical Seasons

In an interview with Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Chapel Dean Luke A. Powery says, the spirituals "teach us about suffering before God and the life of faith."

He explains about his new book, Were You There? Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals, that, "It was a way to bridge worlds that don’t normally meet, where you bring the enslaved tradition, wisdom tradition, the understanding of God, the Bible -- all of that life -- together with this generally high-church following of the liturgical calendar. Underneath this is a reconciliation of sorts."

Read the full interview.

Also, listen to Dean Powery sing some of the spirituals during an Adult Forum session on Were You There?