Renewal of Footwashing Practices Sparks Discussion Among US Churches

Recent discussions among US churches have sparked renewed interest in the practice of footwashing, particularly in the context of Maundy Thursday services commemorating the Last Supper and Jesus’ act of washing his disciples’ feet as outlined in John 13.

One theologian, Lisa Stephenson from Lee University, has conducted research on footwashing, noting its sporadic practice among Pentecostal churches outside of Maundy Thursday observances.

In South Carolina, Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia incorporates footwashing into their worship every few years as a powerful symbol of service and humility, a sentiment echoed by Ben Sloan, the church’s missions pastor.

While some denominations such as Catholics, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans include footwashing as part of their Maundy Thursday services, its presence and frequency vary widely across different traditions.

A study by the Mennonite Quarterly Review highlighted the decline of footwashing practices among Mennonite congregations, with concerns about discomfort and shifting cultural attitudes playing a role in this trend.

Although historical figures like John Calvin dismissed footwashing as a meaningless Papist ritual, there is a growing call for the revival of this practice in churches today.

In a unique move this year, Exeter Cathedral in Devon will see the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle lead the annual Chrism Eucharist service, marking a historic moment as the first woman to preside over this centuries-old tradition.