Awet Andemicael on “Singing Theology” at Duke Divinity School

On Thursday, February 13, Dr. Awet Andemicael, associate dean of Marquand Chapel and lecturer in theology at the Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) and Yale Divinity School (YDS), presented a compelling lecture at Duke Divinity School. The event, part of the Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts (DITA), was titled “Singing Theology: Exploring Vocal Music-Making as a Way of Knowing God.”

In her lecture, Dr. Andemicael explored the idea that singing is not just a vehicle for conveying theological concepts but can itself be a practice of theologizing. She posited that through the act of singing, individuals might encounter and understand God in unique and transformative ways. Dr. Andemicael’s presentation is a precursor to her upcoming book, which will delve deeper into developing a “singing” theological method and a theological “voice” drawn from the lived experience of vocal music-making.

Dr. Andemicael engaged the audience with two perspectives on singing as a theological act. She discussed the traditional approach of singing as a medium for theological words and the less frequent method of theologizing through the act of singing itself. To illustrate the latter, she invited the audience to participate in communal singing, led by Professor Jeremy Begbie, DITA’s McDonald Agape Director and Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Research Professor of Theology. The interactive session proved both participatory and thought-provoking, prompting reflection on the theological implications of singing.

Drawing on the works of M. Shawn Copeland, Aidan Kavanaugh, Steven Guthrie, and others, Dr. Andemicael advocated for a “singing” theological method. She highlighted the transformative potential of practice-based theologizing, emphasizing that certain theological insights might be more accessible through singing than through non-lyrical theological methods. She concluded by stressing that engaging with our creaturely reality through singing can deepen and enrich our encounter with the immanent and transcendent God.

Dr. Andemicael will return to Duke in September 2025 to participate in the DITA2025 Symposium on Theology and the Arts, continuing the dialogue on the intersection of theology and the arts.