The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies announced several changes to its faculty during the biannual “Town and Gown” event during the January 2015 On-Campus Intensive Session.
Dr. Dinelle Frankland and Dr. Donna Hawk-Reinhard were approved as permanent faculty members, Ms. Susan Massey was appointed as Library Director (with faculty status), and Dr. Jessica Howe Jones was given an initial three-term appointment in a meeting of the whole faculty this term. “We welcome the instructional and formational expertise as well as the diversity in training and theological background that these new faculty members bring to our world-class faculty,” commented Dr. Eric Ohlmann, Academic Dean, in making the announcements.
Dr. Lester Ruth announced that he will resign at the end of the current term in order to pursue important work in the history of contemporary worship. IWS President Dr. James Hart stated, “Dr. Ruth has made remarkable contributions to the Institute for Worship Studies through his impeccable scholarship, his fine teaching, his passionate and contagious love for God and his rare sense of humor. He will be sorely missed.”
Dr. Frankland was Visiting Professor, teaching MWS 501 (A Biblical Theology of Worship) in the January 2013 and 2014 terms. She is Professor of Worship Studies and Academic Dean at Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln, Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree from Lincoln Christian University, a Master of Music in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. She has taught music and worship in Christian Higher Education since 1979. Dr. Frankland teaches regularly at TCMI Institute, a seminary near Heiligenkreuz, Austria that trains ministers from several Eastern European countries. She is the author of His Story, Our Response: What the Bible Says About Worship and travels throughout the U.S. as a speaker and worship leader. At IWS she enjoys interacting with a variety of students who are eager to further their education for the benefit of God’s Kingdom.
Dr. Hawk-Reinhard had been Visiting Professor, co-teaching DWS 704 (The Sacred Actions and Ministries of Worship) since January 2014. She serves the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri as Theologian-in-Residence at the Deaconess Anne House (Episcopal Service Corps) and as a faculty member of the Episcopal School for Ministry, Program for Theological Formation. She has taught as an adjunct instructor at Saint Louis University, Lindenwood University, and Covenant Theological Seminary in the areas of Christian formation and spirituality. She received a B.S. from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a M.S. and D.Sc. from Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in historical theology from Saint Louis University.
Ms. Massey is Head of Discovery Enhancement at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. She has held a variety of positions in academic libraries in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana for the past twenty-five years. Susan earned her M.L.I.S. from Louisiana State University and also received an M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Jessica Jones is a professor of Liturgy and Worship at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Jacksonville, FL Campus. She holds a Doctor of Worship Studies degree from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, both from Florida State University. Jessica has served as a choral educator and adjudicator for over fifteen years in addition to serving as a worship leader in the Anglican church. She leads women’s ministry events and is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of, and contributor to, the Communique for the Gulf Atlantic Diocese in the Anglican Church in North America. Jessica is grateful to partner her educational and writing experience with her background in worship and liturgy to mentor students as they complete the thesis process at IWS. Jessica lives in Jacksonville with her husband and two young children.
Dr. Ruth has taught at IWS for fourteen years. Since being added to the faculty in 2001, he has taught the first course in the Doctor of Worship Studies program, “The Biblical Foundation and Historical Development of Christian Worship” with Dr. Andrew E. Hill. He is the Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School and has previously taught at Yale Divinity School and Asbury Theological Seminary.
Profiles of all faculty members are available here.