In This
Issue
Click
to go to the article.
· From
the editor
· President's
column
· Faculty
column: Reggie Kidd
·
Alumna focus:
Teresa Ho
· Witvliet
seminar reflections
·
June worship seminar
· Alumni
and student news
·
Giving and bequests
·
Songs of Assent:
still singing
"Anamnesis"
defined
"God's activity is a
window into his character, so savoring redemptive history is essential to
knowing and worshiping God. The definition of Anamnesis is to
savor the identity-shaping significance of God's action, past, present and
future."
(John Witvliet, January 2010
Worship Seminar)
New photos added on the IWS Website
· Photos
from the
January Session
· Photos
from the
Witvliet Seminar
"What would it look
like to think about creating worship songs, artworks, etc. that link holy
"self-forgetfulness" with divine glory? How can we compose songs in which
emotional satisfaction is the by-product, but not the goal of the
music--music that resists narcissism?"
(John Witvliet, January 2010
Worship Seminar)
Simon Chan on
worship music and leaders
"If music is to fulfill its
intended purpose in worship, it has to be understood as an important
medium through which the various components of worship retell the
Christian story. . . . The real reason we worship is that we are a people
shaped by the Christian story. If this is so, can we simply entrust our
worship to worship leaders who have no such understanding?"
Simon Chan, (Liturgical
Theology: The Church as Worshiping
Community, 157)
January Session Resources
Audio files from the January
2010 session are being edited and added to the Website. Resources include
the Presidential Address, Convocation sermon, Worship Seminar sessions,
and chapel talks.
Here's the link.
Alumni Seminar
June 13-15
Dr. Simon Chan, Earnest Lau
Professor of Systematic Theology at
Trinity
Theological College in Singapore.
Seminar description link
Online registration link
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From the Editor:
Landmark Accomplishment
We're ten
years old, fully accredited, stronger than ever, still the same.
Accreditation is a milestone--a tenth year landmark that says something
very significant about what we do at IWS. We are recognized, approved,
accountable, bona fide.
As
important as this credential is, our shining achievement and rewarding joy
continues to issue from the lives of our students, alumni and faculty--the
IWS community--whose stories reveal an ever-growing chain of influence
that is spreading around the world, fueled by a passion for worship
renewal to the praise of our crucified, risen, ascended and coming Savior
and King, Jesus.
This
edition of Anamnesis continues the practice of celebrating this
dynamic community and the work the Lord is doing in its members and the
churches they serve. The featured alumna in this edition is
Teresa Ho of
Hong Kong.
Our first
January seminar was a great success. John Witvliet was a compelling
speaker; read the report below, and make plans for your recharging this
June with Simon Chan.
Lots more
in this edition of Anamnesis. Read on!
Kent Walters, D.W.S. (Alpha 2002)
Editor
President's Column: Accreditation and Staying Connected
by Dr. Jim Hart
As
most of you have learned by now, on February 17, the Commission on
Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education passed a
motion granting the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies full
accreditation! Dr. Eric Ohlmann, Director of
Strategic Planning and Accreditation, Dr. Eric Bolger, Academic Dean, and
Dr. Luder Whitlock, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees attended the
meeting with me and helped to field questions from the commission.
I want to
express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Ohlmann and Dr. Bolger who have
both contributed invaluably to the accreditation process, to Dr. Whitlock,
Dr. John Lindsell and the entire board of trustees for their support,
leadership and hard work in this pursuit, to the superb faculty and staff
for their tireless efforts and commitment, and for the prayers, support
and input of our stellar alumni and students. I
want also to thank ABHE for their encouragement, support and advice in our
pursuit of accreditation. In particular, I want to acknowledge Dr. Ralph
Enlow, Dr. Randy Bell, Dr. Larry McKinney and Dr. Tony Buchanan, along
with many others in ABHE for starting IWS down this road, for standing
alongside us, for encouraging us and advising us, and for partnering with
us to advance the Kingdom through worship renewal in the context of
Biblical higher education.
Thanks be to God.
Some of you have asked what you can do to continue
advancing the mission of IWS now that we are accredited. Here are some
ideas:
1. Pray for the mission of IWS. Particularly, pray for continued strong
enrollment, our strategic planning process and our development work.
2. Send us students, or names of potential students. The DWS program
tends to still have a strong draw (at capacity last session), but the MWS
has a little more room to grow (75% of capacity last session).
3. Come to the
alumni seminars to refresh, reconnect with classmates and faculty, and
re-experience the IWS ethos.
4. Consider a
regular financial gift to the Annual Fund and the Alumni
Scholarship/Grant Fund. We have met our fund-raising goals for the past
two years, but this year is considerably behind due to the bad economic
times. And, only 20% of the IWS alumni have been supporting the school
financially. We truly depend on the participation of all alumni in the
financial support of the school to keep advancing the mission as God has
called all of us to do. Please remember Jim Dodge's recent $5,000 matching
funds challenge for the Alumni Scholarship/Grant Fund.
5. Have you been getting all of our e-mails and communications? If not,
your IWS e-mail account (through Gmail) may not be set up as a forwarder,
or it may have the wrong forwarder.
Log in to your Gmail account to view your e-mail and make delivery
choices, or contact the
IWS office.
6. Let Kent
Walters and
me
know how your IWS education is impacting your life and ministry.
7. Are you receiving the
Webber Quote of the Week? More than 550 people receive these quotes
each week. Pray for the impact of Bob’s words on those who read; forward
the quotes to others and invite them to sign up to receive them; copy and
use the ad and hyperlink at the left on your Website or blog.
8. Join the
IWS Facebook group and the
AEF Facebook group.
Those are some ideas for you to stay connected to IWS. And,
we deeply need you to stay connected!! Although we confer degrees every
year, one never really graduates from IWS. The commencement ceremony is
just the rite of passage into the next level of participation in the life
and mission of the IWS community. Connections continue to form and grow,
relationships are deepened, and the Kingdom of God is advanced, both in
our lives and in our ministry contexts.
The Lord be with you,
James R. Hart, President
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Faculty
Column: Chanting the Psalms
by Reggie Kidd
As the credits roll in
the movie I Am Legend,
Bob Marley sings:
Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.

An artful choice.
Marley’s reggae music provides the movie’s central character, Robert
Neville (played by Will Smith), a slender line of hope. He’s reluctant to
believe that in his post-apocalyptic world there’s a God with a plan,
reluctant to believe even that any other non-zombie humans exist. Marley’s
voice from a healthier world helps him fend off despair.
Many of us know what it
is to feel cut off — to have no sense that there’s a master plan. The
driver from hell nearly runs you off the road. Cash flow is negative. A
relationship unravels. Evil reigns in the world, good is thwarted at every
turn. And you go: “Am I left alone?”
Will Smith had Bob
Marley’s reggae. I have the book of Psalms—and I have them in the ancient
church’s plainsong.
[Continue reading]
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Alumna Focus: Contextualizing our Training
by Teresa Ho
Around the world, graduates are working
to apply what they learned at IWS in their culture and context. Teresa Ho
(D.W.S., Nu 2008) is a shining example of the global impact of IWS.
She is pictured below on the left with her Dean at the seminary, Dr.
Angela Tam.
_____________________
It has been more than
two years since I went back to Hong Kong to teach at my mother school, the
Alliance
Bible Seminary. I was called to serve there while I was in the middle
of my studies at IWS, where I gratefully received the blessings of my
professors and fellow classmates in this move. It was a great challenge
for me to change my ministry from being a music pastor in a church to a
lecturer at a seminary. This is not a normal phenomenon; however, I was
granted special permission by both Dr. Gerald Borchert and Dr. Keith Ray,
who acknowledged my vision and supported my decision. Moreover, they
promised to offer guidance in my thesis writing as much as possible in
this difficult transitional time.
God’s providence is
sufficient! His guidance is marvelous and wonderful! The Alliance Bible
Seminary is a community of more than 200 full-time and approximately 300
part-time Bible students. I serve in the Church Music Department. My
responsibility is to teach church music courses, lead the seminary choir
and the handbell choir, as well as handle some administrative work.
Students are also assigned to professors in order to care for their
spiritual growth. Although this is very fast-paced and heavy-loaded work,
I enjoy my job. While I was writing my thesis, my work schedule was really
packed; however, by God’s grace, I was able to finish my thesis on time
and graduate with my Nu classmates in June 2008.
God further broadened my
vision by giving me a chance to see the need for worship ministry in
mainland China. In the past years, God has done miraculous work in China;
the number of Christians grew rapidly especially along the coastal areas. Therefore, there is a great need for Christian leaders who can go there to
teach the local Chinese leaders the biblical foundation of worship and how
to lead a well-planned worship. As Hong Kong is part of China since 1997,
it is easier for us now to reach the Chinese Christians and equip them
with what we learn from the West. To my surprise, these Chinese people
eagerly “thirst” for God’s word and treasure very much the opportunity to
praise and worship. I had a few opportunities to go to some nearby
provinces to teach during summer break. The experience was inspiring, and
my heart was rejuvenated every time I met with them. My prayer is that God
will raise Christian leaders who have the zeal to serve in China through
preaching, teaching, worship and church music.
In January, I had the
opportunity to meet DWS Chinese graduates Philip Chan, Sylvia Ooi, Perry
Chow and Kelvin Lam at the Calvin Worship Symposium in Michigan. We
enjoyed the time together and God gave us an opportunity to share our
lives and ministries. I am grateful to see how God put us together at IWS,
trained us and blessed our Chinese community. I remember what Dr. Carla
Waterman said to me the day I invited her to come and conduct workshops in
Hong Kong. She said that it is our responsibility to bring back what we’ve
learned at IWS and contextualize it in our own setting. Yes, God bless us
as we obey.
“He leads my way, He
leads my way; my God’s own hand is leading me.
His faithful follower I would be, for God’s own hand is leading me.”
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Witvliet Seminar
Reflections
The response
was overwhelmingly positive to John Witvliet's January seminar,
The
Beauty and Glory of the Triune God: Grounding Worship in the Doctrine of
God. John inspired us to think deeply and purposefully in dialogue
with theological concepts that became remarkably fresh and practical—even urgent—in relation
to worship in our churches. John
also delivered the Opening Convocation sermon,
A Rembrandtesque Epiphany(download
mp3 audio, 22:54).
Media
and print resources from the seminar are currently being edited. Some are
already completed and available on our
Website.
Click on
the thumbnail pictures below to see larger versions. More
photos
from the seminar are available
here.
  
? ? ?
Here are reflections from participants at the event:
I
attended my first IWS Alumni Seminar this past January with John Witvliet
from Calvin College. It was one of the best workshops I’ve attended on
worship (other than Bob’s, of course!), but John could do something Bob
couldn’t—sing! And he has a great voice! The outline appeared daunting,
but John skillfully lead us through all of it with many practical
exercises and great ideas on ways to introduce Ancient-Future themes in
worship [Joanne Webber, member of the IWS Board of Trustees].
My
wife, Glenda, and I decided to attend the recent alumni seminar as soon as
we learned it would be held in January. It was a joy to spend a few days
on campus and to renew old friendships. Dr. Witvliet's sessions were
wonderful. His content was rich, and his presentations were captivating. We
appreciated how well-prepared and articulate he was. Our lives and our
ministry were enriched by what he shared. I also appreciate Kent Walters’
commitment to keep the IWS alumni informed and involved. We look forward
to returning to campus again soon [Jonathan Nelms, Alpha, D.W.S. 2002,
pictured here with Glenda after the Convocation Service in January].
_____________________
Make plans now to attend our coming Alumni Seminars:
June 13-15, 2010 with
Dr. Simon Chan
(see below)
January 10-11, 2011 with
Dr. Don Davis
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June Worship Seminar, Event, Course . . .
Call it what you
will--Worship Seminar, Alumni Event, Post-graduate Course--because it is
all of these, and more. This annual (and for some, semi-annual) pilgrimage
to Orange Park functions as a seminar for personal inspiration and
spiritual renewal, an alumni event for re-connecting and sharing in
community, a post-grad course for challenging and enabling masters and
doctoral grads in the vital work of worship renewal in their ministries. I
hope you can participate this June. You know that you need to intentionally
plan for this kind of growth and personal rejuvenation in your life. So, I
encourage you to do just that. Register now for the early registration
discount.
Dates:
June 12-14, 2010
Speaker:
Dr. Simon Chan
Theme:
The Liturgy as the Epiphany of the Church
Dr. Simon Chan is the Earnest Lau
Professor of Systematic Theology at
Trinity
Theological College
in Singapore. His book,
Liturgical Theology: The Church as Worshiping Community, is another
must-read for everyone in the IWS community! View a list of Chan's
published works
here. For an overview of Dr.
Chan's teaching on worship, the church and the liturgy, follow
this link.
The June two-day seminar will
take place on Monday and Tuesday, but you are encouraged to arrive by
Saturday to enjoy the Alumni Lunch with President Jim Hart and Chaplain
Darrell Harris, Jim's Presidential Address, and alumni and class reunion
gatherings that evening. On Sunday, alumni are invited to process (with or
without regalia) in the Commencement Ceremony in which Dr. Chan will
preach. The Alumni Dinner Reception, which is always incredibly fun, immediately follows at Santioni's
Italian Restaurant. Check out the schedule
and seminar description links below for more details.
The
early registration fee is $125.00 through May1, excluding meals and lodging.
After May 1 the full registration fee of $150.00 applies. You may
register a fellow church staff member or your spouse for half price.
Seminar links:
Schedule and Seminar Description
Register online /
Register by mail
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Student and
Alumni News
Some of the reports
below were submitted by alumni and students; others were
collected from various sources and word of mouth.
Thanks to all who help keep us informed. That's the way it "oughta" be in
this community.
_____________________
Meg
Bellows, D.W.S., Delta 2004, writes: "I'm currently serving as
Associate Pastor at
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
in Lake Worth, Florida. This Spring I will complete a Masters in
Counseling Psychology at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Upon graduation and the sale of my home I will move to Houston
where I will work toward full licensure as
a mental health and marriage
and family therapist, hopefully working in a church setting. I covet the
prayers of my IWS brothers and sisters."
Kai Ton Chau,
D.W.S. candidate, Pi, was interviewed by the Herald Monthly (Canada
East edition), a Chinese Christian newspaper. An article was published
in November 2009, which traces the work of the Lord in Kai Ton’s life from
his college training as a musician, to this career as an accountant, to
his training at IWS and career change to college professor. Links:
Chinese version /
English version.
Paul Clark, D.W.S., Xi 2009, reports:
"I am conducting conferences with churches as part of my denominational
ministry with Tennessee Baptists, but I have accepted engagements outside
the state and outside the Baptist community as well. The conferences,
called "Worship
Renewal Through Congregational Singing,"
involve a mix of teaching, work with choir and church leadership, and
involving the congregation in congregational rehearsals for singing
worship. As an outgrowth of this ministry I am writing a book that is to
be published late this Spring by CrossBooks entitled, Tune My Heart to
Sing Thy Grace: Worship Renewal through Congregational Singing."
Larry Ellis,
D.W.S., Nu 2008; M.W.S., Beth 2005,
was recently interviewed on the Denver radio program Along the Way
about his book, Forgiveness:
Unleashing a Transformational Process. Access four short interview
segments here:
www.theforgivenessbook.com.
From
Phil English, M.W.S., Beth 2007 (Pictured on a typical day in the
throes of thesis writing): "Anticipation! As an MWS grad soon
to be a DWS
grad, the words "a good thesis is a DONE thesis" keep me going! I am the
Senior Pastor at a small rural church in Lion's Head, Ontario,
Canada—right on the 45th Parallel! We are experiencing renewal in a number
of ways, one of which is a renewal of Sunday morning worship. We are
embarking on the journey into Four Fold worship, and it is exciting! It
has been a struggle, but I'm fully anticipating great things as we learn
together what it means to gather for worship for the life of the world!
Also, I'm thrilled to begin as the director of a distinguished community
choir in our region, the Spirit Singers."
Bob
George, D.W.S., Theta 2007, shares: "We spent Christmas in Colorado
with our son, Jason, and his family. I taught a class on liturgical theology
for the local clergy last spring, and will teach a 2-day event in March
on theology and practical worship issues. In April I will teach a 4-day
event on the liturgical year. Janice is thinking very hard about
retirement from teaching this summer. She tries to encourage me to do the
same. We are hoping to go for a balloon ride in July and welcome another
grandson in April. Peace and love to all."
Craig Gilbert, D.W.S, Kappa 2007, recently underwent major heart
surgery.
He is expected to return to his work at
Sugar Land First United Methodist Church (Sugar Land, TX), where he
serves as Director of Music Ministries and Worship Arts, around Easter.
Julie Janisch, D.W.S
candidate, Tau, created a Stations of the Cross display for meditation
during this Lenten season. It is the culmination of her 703 project and
features the artwork of members of her congregation at
St. Andrew United Methodist Church in St. Albans,
VW. Check out the article and photos in the
Charleston Daily Mail.
David Leestma,
D.W.S., Zeta 2005, changed from the position of Executive Pastor to
Minister of Music at
Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX last year. David and his wife
Cathy are proud grandparents of their fourth grandchild, a baby girl born
to son, John and Katie Leestma last January in Oakland, CA. David says,
“Hi to all you Zeta's out there!”
Clair Lundberg, A.G.C.W.S., Epsilon 2003 shares:
"One of the exciting ministries I am engaged in is serving as a Director
of Travel Ministry for
Educational Opportunities through which I enlist and train tour hosts
to lead groups to various parts of the world. One division specializes in
music tours.
Contact
me for more information."
David
Manner, D.W.S., Xi 2009, has created a new blog entitled,
Worship
Evaluation: Asking the Right Questions. According to David, "The
purpose of the blog is to generate discussion by asking evaluation
questions of our worship to encourage worship renewal." David is
Director of Worship and Administration for
Kansas-Nebraska
Convention of Southern Baptists.
Bob
Myers, D.W.S., Theta 2007, reports: “I am leaving Huntington
University at the end of this academic year to return to full-time local
church ministry as Pastor of Worship at
First Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, SD beginning July 1. My reasons for
this change are two-fold: 1) Sioux Falls is less than ninety minutes from
both of my kids and my grandchildren, and 2) while I have really enjoyed
higher education, I know that the maximization of my gifts is in local
church. Huntington has begun a national search for my replacement (see the
job announcement and
Worship Leadership program description). I would love to see an IWS
grad fill the role. The program started with two students in 2005. Now
there are more than 20."
Merril
Smoak, D.W.S.,
Alpha
2002, has written a
series of articles on the church year published in LifeWay’s Let’s
Worship. He writes, “This coming June I will complete my 32nd year
here at
Trinity Baptist Church as Associate Pastor of Music & Worship. I am
beginning my 6th year of teaching at Olivet University's Jubilee College
of Music in San Francisco. The IWS experience continues to impact my
ministry and teaching in numerous ways. And speaking of grandkids, we now
have 7!”
Gabe Statom, D.W.S., Zeta 2005, reports that
in
August 2009, he became Director of Music at
Second Presbyterian Church in
Memphis, TN.
Thomas
Tyler, D.W.S
candidate, M.W.S.,
Daleth 2008, conducted a performance of Messiah at the Kennedy
Center in Washington D.C. this past December. His choir from
Shiloh Baptist Church, where he serves as Special Assistant to the
Pastor for Worship, received a glowing review, as did the soloists and
other musicians on the program. See the article in the
Kennedy Center Examiner.
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Giving to the Annual Fund
Please remember the work and mission of IWS in your giving.
Your participation at any level is vital and appreciated.
Checks should be made out to IWS, noted "Annual Fund"
and/or "Scholarship Fund" and sent to IWS, 151 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park,
FL 32073. Tax deductible donations may also be made online through the
Website (http://iwsfla.org/IWS/fla_contributions.html).
Gifts may be designated in memory or honor of a loved one, and/or may be
anonymous.
Donations of appreciated assets, such as marketable
securities, can be particularly beneficial to you and IWS. You can
maintain your current cash assets, while reducing your tax liabilities.
IWS acquires a tax free gift that would be sold at fair market value. Call
the IWS office for more information (1.800.282.2977).
Bequests
A bequest can create a legacy which generously provides for
the future of IWS and demonstrates love and support for the advancement of
our mission. The inclusion of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship
Studies in estate planning assures that your gift will have enduring
influence and impact.
If you are interested in a bequest, your attorney will need
to revise your will or add a codicil to be sure the bequest is left to
IWS. A copy of the bequest provision or codicil will need to be sent to
IWS for our files. Those making a bequest will be invited to become a
member of our Legacy Circle.
A bequest is a wonderful way to show a significant and
long-lasting commitment to the mission of worship renewal. For more
information, please contact the IWS office.
Your support of the ongoing mission of IWS is absolutely
critical to the work of real spiritual transformation through worship.
Thank you for your partnership with IWS.
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Songs
of Assent: Still Singing
Carla Waterman recently
taught a five week series for the Wheaton Women's Community Bible Study on
the scriptural passages that form the basis of her book, Songs of
Assent. The sessions were recorded and are available on her
blog site along with study guide notes.
Session 1: A Simple
Response to God’s Favor
Session 2: Fiat, Faith
and Fruitfulness
Session 3: A
Magnificent Song
Session 4: Mary’s Path
Session 5: What Mary
Modeled
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© 2010 The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies
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