Installation&Acceptance

The Inauguration of Dr. James R. Hart

Second President of IWS

June 17, 2007

The Installation

Dr. John Lindsell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Honorable members of the Board of Trustees, distinguished faculty and administrators, staff, supporters, and friends of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies: By authority and vote of the Board of Trustees, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to present Dr. James Russell Hart to be inaugurated as the second president of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies on this day, June 17th, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2007. May God reign forever and may James, his servant, please Him well.

Dr. Hart, please step before me.

Jim, do you believe that you have been called of God to carry on the work of God as President of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies?

I do.

Do you solemnly and sincerely promise before God and these people assembled that you will administer the office to which you have been elected to the best of your ability and judgment, in conformity with the Bylaws and Constitution of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies?

I do.

Do you wholeheartedly agree to protect the mission of the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies?

I do.

By the power vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I hereby install you as the second President of the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies. May God richly bless your tenure.

I present this medallion as a symbol of the Office of President. Be among us to lead, envision, and direct the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies, serving Christ and his people in this place.

The Blessing

Dr. John Lindsell

President Hart, please kneel before the altar and receive this blessing, written especially for this service by Bob Webber.

Servant of God:

May God bless you with every blessing, especially in the areas of your calling.

May God’s presence be known in your calling to be a husband, father, parent, and friend.

May your house be called a house of prayer.

May the holiness of God be made known in your calling to be music director, choir director, worship leader and pastor. May those who sing with you rise
up and bless the Lord in union and harmony with the eternal Holy, Holy, Holy sung everywhere, by all, forever.

May the blessing of God rest on you as you preside over the Institute for Worship Studies and may you be the servant to all who serve. May your
heart be filled with passion, your mind with wisdom, your will with humble resolve, your spirit with joy, and may you always be grateful.

May your feet be swift to lead, your voice to encourage, and your hands to direct.

The Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you; may the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give
you peace.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I present to you Dr. James Hart, president of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

The Acceptance

Dr. Jim Hart

In September, Bob informed me that I was to assume the presidency of IWS. I told Bob that, although he was rarely mistaken about such matters, he was certainly wrong on this one. Like many of you present today, I have primarily worked and ministered in the realm of music ministry and worship leadership, and I haven’t lived in the academic world as he did, except as an adjunct instructor and here at IWS. I offered virtually every other IWS faculty and board member as an alternative, but he insisted that God has appointed me. Bob was a hard guy to turn down. So, with great trepidation, I agreed to serve.

A few weeks later, while driving to church, I was praying and even complaining a
bit to the Lord—well, let’s be honest, whining, about my sense of inadequacy in this position. In one of those Holy Spirit kind of moments, I was reminded of a well-known and oft-quoted Bob-ism. I may BE inadequate, in fact I AM inadequate,
and, in truth always will be, because none of us will ever reach the “truly adequate” mark in this life. But, I know a man. He IS fully adequate. He is standing at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for me and for you and for all of us. His name is Jesus, and, I am baptized into him.

Additionally, I have you, the IWS community, along with the local church communities, the two Grace Churches, Orange Park Presbyterian and Orange Park United Methodist. This is truly your school. Your love, your prayer, your support, and your encouragement to me and my family, and to one another is sustaining.

Mr. Chairman, honorable members of the board of trustees, distinguished faculty and administrators, staff, alumni, graduates, supporters and friends of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, and my dear wife and children, I accept this election to the Presidency of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Thanks be to God.

[06/17/07]