Deadline
All forms must be submitted no later than September 15 to process your application for membership at the January meeting.
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. If you are concerned about some aspect of the membership process, please feel free to reach out to the Delegate for Membership.
Typically, members of the Academy can articulate their commitment to the field of liturgy, or have contributed to it through work in the allied arts and disciplines and meet one of the following criteria:
- hold a doctorate in some aspect of liturgical studies or another relevant academic or professional degree,
- hold a position through which they contribute to public worship, liturgical music, publishing, or speaking, or
- hold an appointment with their respective religious bodies and actively contribute to the development and practice of liturgy.
Visitor Requirement
Before requesting full membership in the Academy, candidates are expected to participate at least once in the Annual Meeting as approved visitors.
After participation in at least one annual meeting as an approved visitor, a liturgical scholar or practitioner is eligible to become a candidate for membership.
References
Each request should be accompanied by two references, one from the convener of their primary seminar and another from a different academy member who knows the candidate. 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. Should the applicant for membership feel they do not know a member well enough to request a second reference, they may request an interview with a member of the Executive Committee through the Delegate for Membership. The results of this interview will be shared in writing with the Membership Committee in place of the second reference.
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, where they attend the Business Meeting, which elects the candidates for membership. 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.
Membership Questions
Membership questions should be directed to the Delegate for Membership.