Lutheran Student Movement-USA

1978

 

78-6Resolution on Clowning

 

Background

 

Paul writes in I Corinthians 1:26-31 that “God mad the foolish to shame the wise” and in I Corinthians 4:10 “We are fools for Christ’s sake.”  The fool and the clown are synonymous words for one another.  During the Middle Ages in the Church, clowning was used during the Feast of Fools.

 

“The Order of Christ the Clown” was conceived in the summer of 1975 in Corvalis, Oregon, through the sharing of ideas gained from Mrs. Arlene Trapp, a working clown.  Mrs. Trapp had worked with the Rev. Floyd Shaffer, an American Lutheran church pastor who served a parish in Columbia, Maryland and is an active and competent clown.  These ideas lead to a group of ten persons coming together to study “Non-verbal communication in Worship.”  On November 23, 1975 (The Sunday of Christ the King), a worship service was led at Grace Lutheran Church in Corvalis, and so the “Order of the Clown” was born. 

 

Why then should we have clowns in Church?  The question is perhaps best answered in the paper “The Order of Christ the Clown.” (Reference 1) “Because clowns can communicate the failings, fancies, and foibles of human beings (i.e. their sinfulness); and the otherness of God (i.e. His grace).”  We clown to praise His name.  In that sense we are worship leaders.  Perhaps clowns would just be entertainment.  But there’s more …clowning can communicate.  Sometimes actions speak louder than words.  Sometimes when we don’t say so many words … the WORD comes through more clearly.  The “Order of Christ the Clown” seeks to proclaim the WORD. 

 

Resolved

 

1)      That LSM-USA recognize the clown alley registered with Clowns of America, Inc. among the members of LSM-USA.

 

2)      That the clown alley will meet once each year at the National Conference.

 

3)      That from its members, workshops will be held at the National Conference to provide experiences for clown training. 

 

References and Resources

 

1)      “The Order of Christ the Clown”, Rev. Michael Meyer, Lutheran House, 211 NW 23rd, Corvalis, Oregon 97330.

 

2)      The Clown and the Crocodile, Joseph C. McLelland, John Knox Press, 1970 (now out of print).

 

3)      The May issue of the Bond Magazine, published by Lutheran Brotherhood.