Deadline
All forms must be submitted no later than September 15 to process your application for membership at the January meeting.
The deadline to apply for membership at the 2024 meeting in Seattle has been extended to September 30, 2023.
Qualifications
A member of the NAAL is either a recognized authority in the field of liturgy, or a person who shares scholarly aims and goals of the Academy and is making a developing contribution to liturgical understanding and practice.
Typically, members of the Academy meet two of the following criteria:
- hold a doctorate in some aspect of liturgical studies or the equivalent academic or professional degree
- hold a professional position through which they contribute to liturgical formation, publishing and speaking
- hold a prominent professional appointment with their respective religious bodies and actively contribute to the development of liturgy
- demonstrate a steady and on-going commitment to the field of liturgy, or have contributed to it through work in the allied arts and disciplines
Visitor Requirement
Before applying for full membership in the Academy, candidates are ordinarily expected to participate at least twice in the Annual Meeting as approved visitors.
After participation in at least two annual meetings as an approved visitor, a liturgical scholar or practitioner is eligible to become a candidate for membership.
References
Each application must be accompanied by two references. Entering the names and emails of your references when you submit your application will automatically generate an email to each with a link to complete their reference online. You may also direct your references to the links below. Recommenders will have the option to automatically send a confirmation email to the applicant when they submit their reference. The applicant for membership is responsible for contacting their convener and another academy member to request a reference for membership and for confirming submission of references by the application deadline.
Deadline: All references must be submitted by September 15.
Membership Application Process
All documents supporting candidacy or reconsideration must be received by September 15 of any year for review by the Admissions Committee before election the following January.
The Membership Committee meets each year, normally in early Fall to consider the applications received and to recommend those candidates it regards as qualified for election by the membership.
By November 1 the chair of the Membership Committee will notify the candidates of the action of the Committee.
Candidates recommended for admission to the Academy will be invited to attend the next Annual Meeting. Candidates who are not able to attend the meeting may be elected in absentia.
Reconsideration
If an individual applicant is not successful in being elected to membership in a given year, it is the responsibility of that person to re-open consideration by submitting a renewed application with additional information prior to a regular meeting of the Membership Committee.
Expedited Membership
On occasion the Academy Committee may consider requests for expedited membership to established scholars in the field.
Membership Questions
Membership questions should be directed to the Delegate for Membership.