From the President

Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Friends of IWS,

“…Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11)

A foundational doctrine of the Christian faith is that God created the universe from nothing (creatio ex nihilo). Everything that is, therefore, is created and sustained by him, although he is other than everything that is. Every creature, animate and inanimate, naturally occurring or man-made, finds its ultimate end in worshipping its Creator. We who bear the very image of God have the wonderful, mysterious, and profoundly humbling mission of leading the entire creation to reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ, helping all of creation voice its worship, singing and exulting in the wonder, beauty, goodness and truth of our loving Father. Is there any higher call? Is there any doubt that worship is at the very center of the divine life, the beating heart of the gospel? Alumni, students and faculty of the IWS community are answering the call to be leaders of Christian worship all over the world, inspiring others to proclaim, celebrate, sing and enact the good news of God in Jesus Christ, and with him be poured out for the life of the world.

With great thanks to God, the 2017-18 fiscal year was another strong year at IWS. Enrollment remained strong, as did giving to the IWS Fund and the Scholarship Funds. IWS has continued its global initiatives, with 32% of our current student body holding non-American passports. At June’s graduation, 40 students received their degrees and embraced the commission to serve God through renewed worship, bringing our total number of graduates to 559. Thanks be to God! The impact of IWS is steadily growing worldwide while remaining rooted in the theological perspectives, relational sensibilities and pedagogical philosophy of its founder, Bob Webber.

Please take a moment to read in this annual report how IWS students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees are making a real difference across the globe. The ongoing fulfillment of our mission is truly a team effort, a team that includes each of you. Many have taken their places in their support of our mission by investments of time, talent, treasure and prayer, and we are deeply grateful. We are relying on your generosity toward God and your prayers to continue building the foundation we need for a secure future. Your gifts are wisely invested in our students and the mission of our beloved institute.

My wife, Carol, and I would like to invite you to participate with us sacrificially and joyfully in the mission of our school. As Galatians 6:6 states: “One who is taught the Word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” IWS is good ground into which you may sow your seed of spiritual and financial generosity toward God. Together let us all thankfully, joyfully and generously support the Lord’s work in the supremely important and Kingdom-building activity of worship renewal through IWS.

Grace and peace to you,
James R. Hart, President

From the Chair of the Board of Trustees

Dear Friends,

It is always a privilege to thank the many supporters who have come alongside IWS through prayers and generosity. Our work at IWS, providing a theological and practical foundation for the renewal of Christian worship, is so important in the life of the church worldwide. Last session I attended a practicum where our students applied what they learned into a worship experience. It was wonderful to see the classroom learning transformed into practice! The scholarship and creativity of our faculty and students is inspiring!

IWS continues to focus on the biblical, historical, theological, and cultural lenses of worship in an ancient-future context. We are also working on a second accreditation, adding membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), which will result in another significant milestone for the school. Our international presence and influence is growing through the GROW Center and through the many international students who travel to Florida twice a year.

So thank you for standing with us. Your continued, faithful gifts and prayers are such an encouragement to us as we seek to continue IWS’s tradition of excellence in worship studies.

In His service,
John Lindsell, Chair, Board of Trustees


The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies Board of Trustees

Dr. John H. Lindsell,
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Eric Bolger,
Vice Chair of the Board
Rev. Dr. Wayne Freeberg,
Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. James R. Hart
Dr. Kai Ton Chau
Mr. Don Moen
Ms. Joanne Webber, Esq.
Mrs. Patricia Witt
Trustees Emeriti
Dr. Melva Costen
Rev. Dr. Luder G. Whitlock

Spotlight

You can see additional testimonies from students and graduates on our YouTube channel. For even more news about students, faculty and alumni, check out Anamnesis.

Ouida Harding

Ouida Harding

D.W.S. Alumna (2011)

Jeremy Perigo

Jeremy Perigo

D.W.S. Alumnus (2013)

Wil Brown

Wil Brown

M.W.S. Student

Alexandra Carlson

Alexandra Carlson

M.W.S. Alumna (2017)

Janie Blough

Janie Blough

D.W.S. Alumna (2014)

Will Harris

Will Harris

D.W.S. Student

Thank You

Thanks be to God for those who give of their prayers, time, talent, and treasure! We would be unable to continue in our mission without your generous giving.

Leader ($10,000+)

Karen Carpenter & Edward Marram
Linda & Hugh Evans
Darrell & Janet Harris
James & Carol Hart in memory of Bob Webber
JCT Foundation
Yilee & Ted Lo
The Murray Family Trust in memory of Rick & Sherry Murray
Daniel & Nancy Sharp
Patricia Witt

Benefactor ($5,000+)

David & Darlene Garmus
Jim & Mimi Hawkinson
Wendy & Brad Layland
Sandy & Nancy Morris
The Pine Tree and Myrtle Fund ~ Isaiah 55
Joanne Webber

Partner ($2,500+)

Gerald & Doris Borchert
Constance Cherry
James & Judy Dodge
Robert & Janice George
Don & Laura Moen
Sarah & Francis Monaco

Investor ($1,000+)

Jeffrey & Lisa Allred
Jim & Mary Kay Altizer
Dianna & Dennis Andrews
Jeremy & Susie Buffam
Paul & Kristina Cherry in memory of Ruby Cherry
Rusty & Caroljo Creighton
Karen & Gene De Young
Philip & Pat Dorflinger in honor of Pat Dorflinger
Dave & Cindi Ellison
Epiclesis: An Ancient-Future Faith Church
Grace Anglican Church
Grant United Methodist Church in memory of Ruby Cherry
Edna Grenz in memory of Stanley J. Grenz
Myles & Helen Henderson
Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church
Andrew & Teri Hill
Heather Hood
Lou & Angela Kaloger
Liechty Homes, Inc.
John & Stephanie Lindsell
Eddie & Faye Lockamy
Christi Matteson
George Moore
Michael & Mary Moratto
Dean Moyer
Ella Munn
Mark & Courtney Murray
Woodrow & Rosella Nail
Doug & Margy Nihoul
Suzanne & Eric Olmon
Ken & Sue Polsley
David Porter
Bill Price in memory of Robert E. Webber
Darla & Dan Robinson
Sawgrass Asset Management, LLC
Jack & Rosanne Van Marion
Kent & Candy Walters
Gregory & Jan Wilde

Supporter ($500+)

Jeff & Karen Barker
Cort & Annette Bender
Jack & Kay Bliss
Sally & Steve Boes
Eric & Janet Bolger
Brad and Rhonda Bradford in memory of James W. Bradford
Dinelle Frankland
Wayne Freeberg
Susan & Choppy Goforth
Carl Hanes in memory of Ruby Cherry
Steve & Janet Huntley
Joe & Mary Jamerson
Bob & Catherine Johnson
David & Cathy Leestma
Jae Lesley
Timothy & Mandy Cheng Li
Kendall & Cindy Lord
William Maxon
Nationwide Foundation
Erika & Joseph Nieves
Lois Pannabecker
Michael & Kim Ramey
Rune & Diana Rasmussen
Barbara Reid
David & Rhonda Riegert
Janet & Mark Sawicki
Jonathan Wong

Contributor ($100+)

Travis Abercrombie
Gary & Sue Achtemeier
Kathryn & Jeremy Albers
Frank & Sharon Alters
Lindel & Kristee Anderson
Joan Averett
Diane Baltaeff
Gregory Barmer
Margaret Bellows
Mike & Jo Berg
Jeff & Libby Berk
Nancy Beyer in honor of Jack Van Marion
Janie Blough in memory of Ruby Cherry
Kayleen & Bill Bobbitt
Anthony & Kimberly Bolkema
Linda Borecki
Albert & Anita Brauer
Chris & Erin Brewer
Mary Jane & Ken Brewer
Dewey Brown
Marcus & Cyndi Brown
Robert Burns
Thomas Burns
Erik Buxton
Lisa & Rocco Canora
Robert & Sarah Cecire in memory of Ruby Cherry
Jayne & Wiley Chambers
Sunny Chang
Kai Ton & Wendy Chau
Vernon & June Charter *
Harold Cherry in memory of Ruby Cherry
Jessica & Scott Coleman
Judy Congdon
John & June Conlin
Chris Cook
Alan & Lisa Cooper
Florence Craw in memory of Ruby Cherry
Marvin Crawford
Richard & Alana Cummings
Leona & Harry Davis
Christian & Sharon Diffenderfer
Dale Dirksen
Linda Dufresne
Jay Dyrland
Paul Edgerton
William Eichorn
Larry & Jill Ellis
James & Shirley Erikson
Jacquelene & Sutton Farnham
Janet Faulkner
Stewart Fenters
Julia & Daniel Fitzpatrick
Stephen & Suzanne Flint
Ryan Forbes
Frank & Berit Fortunato
Patrick Friesen
Don Fugate
Irwin Gabriel
Keith Gaddis
Teresa Gardner
Kenneth Gehrels
Chris & Adair Gillette
Dawn & Glenn Gilmore
Shawn Gingrich
Nancy Ginsburg
Buzz & Susan Glade
Grace House Counseling Center
Jody & Michele Hale
Gary & Sherrell Hallquist
Jun & Dorothy Harada
Louise & Robert Hardage
Allison & Todd Hastie
Carol & Peter Hayes
Christopher Headley
Joyce Herness
Karen & Mark Hetrick
Teresa Ho
Carol & Tom Hochhalter
Wallace & Joan Horton in memory of Edward J. Kollmann
Susan & Rob Huckaby
Chi Kuen Hung
Nicole Jordan
Gloria & Paul Kilian in memory of Ruby Cherry
James & Linda Knarr
Joshua Lavender
Kenton Lee
Larry & JoAnn Leisher
Yat Hin & Hung Wai Shan (Christine) Leung
Karen Lewis
Juan & Beatriz López
Samuel Lott
Clair Lundberg
David Madeira
John Magnuson
Gaylord Makowski
Ken & Pat Makris
David Manner
Beth & Roy Markham
Deanna Martello
Gary Matthews
Glenn McClure *
Stan & Betty McKee
Linda & Torin McKenzie
Janice McNair in honor of Jeff Barker
Barbara McNeely-Bouie
Ken Michell
Lou Millson
Ray Moore
Patricia Myers
Jonathan & Glenda Nelms
David & Mandy Nelson in memory of Joel James Trestick
Nancy Nethercott
Carol & Odis Newbern
Rory & Sue Noland
Phil & Jenny Nubel
Mike O'Brien
Eric & Eunice Ohlmann
Carl & Chris Park
Israel Ramirez
Rew & Susan Randolph
Alan & Elissa Rathe
Doug & Diane Reader
Chuck & Robin Rinke
Christopher & Janet Roberts
Renée & Dan Runyon
Gary & Cheryl Rushing
Fred & Vicki Schert
David Smith
James & Sue Smith
Sandra Spencer
Robert Sproul
Nancy Stokes
Jon & Jada Swanson
Sue & Dana Talley
James & Lisa Taylor
Thrivent Choice
Steven & Audrey Tice
Sandra Treffinger
Trinity Church
Herbert Tsang
Paul & Angela Turner
Richard & Bonnie Van Voorst
Emily & Jim Vermilya
Cathryn Vitek
Brian Walker
Lin Yu Wang
Mark Watson
Elizabeth Wetherby
Barry Wilson
Shirley Woo
Michael & Susan Woods
Teck Beng Yeo
Alan Yu
Zion Song Music

Donor (up to $100)

Rebecca Abbott
Kathryn & Gerald Agresti
Timothy & Cheryl Albers
Warren Anderson
Otis Autry
Leslie Barnes
Don Barrick
Robert Becker
Patrick Bennett
Robert Beyler
Przemysław Bogdan
Domini Boling
Lori & Jeff Bond
Tim & Phyllis Borchert
Walter Brath
Connie Bull
Virginia & Ronald Cameron
Deborah Cannarella
Erika & Eric Carpenter
Jennifer Carroll
Giovanny Castro
Tami & Jeff Cinquemani
Scott & Kory Cobb
Michael & Katie Cromwell
Doug & Heidi Curry
Michael Dennis
Sandra Dinkins
Tim Dishongh
Lori Elbert
Mike & Danielle Euwema
Don & Rachel Frazure
Jennifer Freeman
Isaac Gaff
David Gallaugher
Shannon Garrett
James Gibson III
Charles & Cynthia Goodman
Gary Gregory
Timothy Gregson II
Valerie & Ben Juengel Grissom
Clifton & Lynnette Harris
Jennifer Harris
Donna Hawk-Reinhard & Doug Reinhard
Jeffrey & Laura Holmes
Samuel & Elise Horowitz
Patricia Howard
Angela Isselhardt
R. Kevin & Marian Tan Johnson
Jessica & Bruce Jones
Jonathan Michael Jones *
Jacob & Bobbie Kaufman
Kristin Keller
Lisa Kemp
William & Amy Kirkwood
Melody Kuphal
Timothy Lam
Judith Laoyan-Mosomos
Stephanie Lawrence
Budianto Lim & Lidya Siah
Khiet & Karl Lin
Cheryl Lindsay
Dorothy Lowell
Katherine Lyerly
Jeremy Lyzenga
Greg Magruder
John & Darlene Markin
Todd Marshall
Marguerite & William Martin
Evelyn Martinez
Susan Massey
Sharon & Gene Maszy
Genilyn McCaffrey
Carol McDaniel
Jeffrey Meeks
Sarah Meggers
Kendra Mikols
Simon Miner
Keith Molberg
Steven Moll
Chris Monroe
Christopher & Amanda Montgomery
Jeff M. Moore *
Cindy & David Mullennix
Dan Mullis
Robert Myers
Andrea Nelson
Matthew Packer
Jerry & Lorri Patterson
David Pedde
Jeremy & Angie Perigo
Daniel Perrin
Carl Peters
Stephen Phifer
Ira Pinkston
Jennifer Pittman
Stanley Pylant
Cauly & Roger Redenius
Laura Ritter
Karen Roberts
Ken Rushing
David & Sandy Satterwhite
April & Ashton Scott
Mark Scott
Tommy Shapard
C. Scott Shepherd
Dannell Shu
Carol Sittema
Matthew Sloma
William Small, Jr.
Bob & Ellen Stamps
Lana & Tim Pollard
Susan Stobe
Paul Sunderland
David & Niiang Suum
R. Mark & Ruth Anne Thornton
Cindy Tomei
Nancy & Don Truex in memory of David Pannabecker
Brian Turnbow
Samuel Ward
Elizabeth Weatherby
Sharon & William Welsch
Julie Wiebe
Jolie Williams
William & Betsy Wolf
Vincent Zarletti
* These gifts were received after June 30.

Legacy Giving Circle

Members of the Legacy Giving Circle have committed to honor IWS through endowed giving and/or estate planning.

Gerald & Doris Borchert
David Garmus
Jim & Carol Hart
Brad & Wendy Layland
Dyton & Tammy Owen
Gene & Claire Partlow
Dan & Nancy Sharp

Endowed Funds

The Floyd and Mary Sharp
Scholarship Fund

Host Home Sponsors

Sharon & Frank Alters
Charles Arnold
Lance Atkinson
Kay & Jack Bliss
Debbie & Bob Brinley
Bunny & Jim Cannon
June & John Conlin
Jane Cook
Leona & Harry Davis
Sheila & Mike Del Charco
Katelyn & Zac Duncan
Rosemary & Bill English
Danielle & Mike Euwema
Barbara Folmar
Darlene & David Garmus
Cynthia & CW Goff
Joyce & Malcolm Hanson
Allison & Todd Hastie
Carol & Peter Hayes
Carolyn & Paul Hinckley
Elise & Samuel Horowitz
Molly & John Howze
Mary & Joseph Jamerson
Ruth & Ken Johansen
Judy & Robert Kermitz
Faye & Eddie Lockamy
Beatriz & Juan López
Velma Marvin
Mary & Ken Maszy
Sharon & Gene Maszy
Christi & John Matteson
Holly McMurry
Ann & Luke Memminger
Cinda & John Merrill
Teri & Art Mills
Lou Millson
Courtney & Mark Murray
Margy & Doug Nihoul
Cathy & Jay Patterson
Sue & Ken Polsley
Melissa & Dave Pruette
Mary Reilly
Cathy Sanders
Janet & Mark Sawicki
Brenda & Mark Scott
Jim & Lisa Taylor
Shelley & Dave Vignola
Catherine & Jack Webb
Judy & John Widergren
Jon Yost

Gifts In-Kind

Danny Austin
Constance Cherry in memory of Ruby Cherry
Deermeadows Baptist Church
Larry Ellis
Gregg & Kristin Friend
Grace Anglican Church
Tom Kraeuter
Eddie Lockamy
Mark Murray
David Pannabecker
Ken Polsley
Fred Schert
Kent Walters
Patricia Witt
Isabella Wong

Volunteers

Scott Coleman
Rusty Creighton
Kaitlyn Duncan
Cynthia Goff
David Garmus
Dakota Hawkinson
Jim Hawkinson
Gordon Jensen
Jessica Jones
Ken Polsley
Sue Polsley
Kenny Roberts
Mark Scott

Host Churches & Schools

Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL
All Saints Episcopal Church Jacksonville, FL
Grace Anglican Church Fleming Island, FL
San Jose Episcopal Church Jacksonville, FL
St. Mark's Lutheran Church Jacksonville, FL

Partner Churches & Schools

CrossView Church Snohomish, WA
Crossroads Presbyterian Church Mequon, WI
First Christian Church Winter Park, FL
First Reformed Church Holland, IL
First Assembly of God North Little Rock, AR
Trinity Wesleyan Church Indianapolis, IN

Jacksonville-Area Community Supporters

DEX Imaging
Farnham Dentistry
Grace Anglican Church
Grace House Counseling Center
The Gunn Insurance Agency
Karen's Catering
Logo Xpress
Team Alters
TLC Total Lawn Care
Vector A/V
Waste Not Want Not

President's Advisory Council for Excellence Members

Cort Bender
Lori Boyer
Ken Brewer
Rusty Creighton
Carmen DeLisi
Jim Dodge
Greg Driskell, Chair
Alesia Ford-Burse
David Garmus
Jim Hawkinson
Greg Holton
Steve Huntley
Joe Jamerson
Eddie Lockamy
Pat McSweeney
Francis Monaco
Sarah Monaco
Doug Nihoul
Mark Scott

July 2017 - June 2018

The Year in Review
 

  • Melva Costen

    October 2017

    The IWS library adds 270 linear feet of shelf space to accommodate expanding collection made possible by donors. Dr. Melva Costen, long-time board member, is awarded Trustee Emerita status.

  • choral music

    December

    The local community marks the season of Advent with IWS at our annual Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols.

  • Dr. Donna hawk-Reinhard preaching

    January 2018

    IWS welcomes 27 new students, including our first student from mainland China. Dr. Lou Kaloger joins the faculty to teach MWS 503: Contextualization, Spirituality, and Christian Worship. Dr. Donna Hawk-Reinhard preaches at Opening Convocation. Former professor Dr. Carl Park returns to facilitate the Contextualized Worship and the Mission of God in the Local Church Seminar. A representative from the Association of Theological Schools observes a portion of the on-campus intensive and meets with members of the IWS community.

    GROW Center Co-Directors Dr. Frank Fortunato and Dr. Nancy Nethercott introduce plans for India projects during Calvin Symposium on Worship.

  • Dr. Frank Fortunato

    February

    Dr. Fortunato joins an International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE) teaching team to teach on issues related to worship and the church in India.

  • Dr. Nancy Nethercott

    April

    Dr. Nethercott travels to Norway and Poland, teaming up with alumni Dr. Rune Rasmussen (2015) and Dr. Przemek Bogdan (2014) to lead a workshop on missional worship. Dr. Nethercott and former IWS professor Paul Neeley join a ministry team in Kosovo and Albania for two weeks, serving as biblical worship trainer and ethnomusicologist, respectively, resulting in 20 new songs for worship in the Albanian language.

  • Dr. Jim Hart

    May

    IWS co-sponsors the National Worship Leader Conference in Nashville. Dr. Jim Hart teaches several workshops on worship.

  • Dr. Hans Boersma

    June

    IWS welcomes 22 new students, including our first students from Egypt and Vietnam. Dr. Reggie Kidd preaches at Opening Convocation. IWS celebrates the graduation of 40 new alumni and awards Dr. Hans Boersma the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. For the first time in IWS history, real-time audio and video of the Commencement service is broadcast over the Internet. Dr. Boersma preaches at the Commencement service, then remains on campus to facilitate the Enchanted Worship: Sacramental Ontology and Christian Liturgy Seminar.

    The board welcomes new trustee Dr. Kai Ton Chau, a 2011 alumnus. The Association of Theological Schools accepts IWS as an Associate Member. IWS will work toward acquiring Accredited Member status over the next several years.

Financial Report

For the year, Charitable Giving receipts totaled $304,638 (Unrestricted, Restricted, and Gifts-in-Kind). Fiscal Year Revenue totaled $923,323 and Total Expenditures were $873,057.





click graphs to enlarge

Arlicia Biggers-Dotson presenting Isaiah 6

Support IWS

We cannot say it enough: the ongoing work of forming servant leaders in Christian worship renewal worldwide depends upon generous gifts from our community. Please consider how you may participate with us in the renewal of the Church through a financial contribution and click an option below.

 

Give Monthly

Set up a recurring donation by electronic check or credit card (select “Give this amount monthly” on the form and adjust the term length as desired).

Give Now

Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or electronic check (or make a one-time gift by other means).

Planned Giving

Are you among the 70% of Americans without an up-to-date will?

Ways to Support IWS

  • Donate by check (mailed to IWS, 4001 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207), cash (in the office only, please), or credit card or electronic check (online)

  • Automated monthly giving (by credit card or eCheck, or through your own bank's online bill-pay feature)

  • Matching corporate gifts

  • Gifts of securities/stocks

  • Electronic transfer of funds

  • Planned (legacy) giving

Giving Opportunities

  • Leader $10,000 & up

  • Benefactor $5,000–$9,999

  • Partner $2,500–$4,999

  • Investor $1,000–$2,499

  • Supporter $500–$999

  • Contributor $100–$499

  • Donor up to $100

Legacy Giving

We encourage the members of our community to employ long-term estate planning to maximize their legacy to their loved ones and to their charitable interests. We also strongly urge them to seriously consider IWS as one of their priority charitable interests. While the annual support of the IWS community is absolutely crucial to the fulfillment of our sustainable mission, deferred support like Estate Planning can leave a Kingdom legacy with an impact that spans generations. This kind of gift is the single most significant act of generosity toward God that most of us will ever perform.

For more information on this or any way of supporting IWS, call the office at 800-282-2977.

 

Give Monthly

Set up a recurring donation by electronic check or credit card (select “Give this amount monthly” on the form and adjust the term length as desired).

Give Now

Donate to the IWS Fund or Scholarship Fund today by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or electronic check (or make a one-time gift by other means).

Planned Giving

How much thought have you given to what is potentially the single-most generous gift you'll make?