19
Feb
2026

Anamnesis 54: February 2026

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Anamnesis: The IWS Community Newsletter

Contents

From the Editor:
Thanks Be to God!

By Kent Walters, D.W.S., Director of Alumni Activities

Lament and Thanksgiving

The closing of IWS, the end of an era, prompts profound emotion from those of us in the IWS community. This is a time of lament in which we feel and express the truth of our sadness and loss. Lament is healthy; lament is healing. You are invited to that soul posture as you read this edition.

The closing of IWS prompts another profound response—thanksgiving: gratefulness for everything good and memorable, for the clear and tangible proof of God’s hand of blessing these past 27 years in our individual lives and in the people and places we serve because of IWS. You will see the thread of thanksgiving woven throughout this edition. Giving thanks is what God’s people do—in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18).

What about Bob?

By the way, those who knew Bob Webber realize it is not disrespectful for me to refer to him by his first name. He insisted on it from day one at IWS for all the faculty. No “Dr. this” or “Dr. that.” It was part of the intended familial ethos of a community where everyone was on equal footing humbly seeking truth in Jesus. “Doing theology in community.” There was and is plenty of respect for our leaders.

What about Bob? What would Bob say? He would be grateful. Grateful for you—the over 1200 individuals who have studied at IWS.

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?  Indeed, you are our glory and joy” 1 Thes 2:19-20.

Bob would be grateful for the international reach of his vision through our students from some 41 different countries. He often spoke of the global impact of worship renewal that would be carried by IWS graduates to their home countries where they would launch similar training programs for the renewal of the Church. He would be grateful for faithful faculty, staff, and administrators who caught the vision and served selflessly, tirelessly, and sacrificially for sake of worship renewal evidenced in the spiritual transformation of lives, churches, schools, and missions for the glory of Jesus Christ. Listen to Robert Webber’s last sermon, “Worship Does God’s Story,” preached at Harbert Community Church, Harbert, MI, Sep 10, 2006 seven months before his death.

Sermon Audio: Worship Does God’s Story, Robert Webber

Ultimately, it is not about Bob, IWS, or any one of us. God gave Bob a vision. He listened and completed his task. God is closing IWS, but his heart for forming worshipers will continue until the Lord Jesus returns. The truth about transformation, new life, is that it occurs only through death.

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (Jn12:24).

Imagine IWS times 2 or more? If passionate programs for worship studies spring up at Fuller Seminary and Southwestern Theological Seminary (both are facilitating the transfer of our credits) and other institutions that are accepting our students, imagine the exponential results. This is God’s vision, God’s seed, for God’s glory. Thanks be to God!

Links and Resources

Here are links to video resources from the January 2026 session.

Your Contact Information

As far as I understand, everything @iws.edu will be closed at the end of June 2026. That means the website, Populi, @iws.edu gmail accounts, etc. will no longer function. Most of you receive communication from IWS through your @iws.edu email address that may forward to your external address. Please update your contact information in Populi now with your non-IWS email. If you have trouble logging into Populi, contact Ken Rushing or Kent Walters, or just email your information to me. Thank you.

One Final Edition of Anamnesis

I anticipate one final edition of the newsletter toward the end of June 2026 in which we will celebrate and honor our last graduating class. They will bring the total number of degrees we have granted to over 800! Thanks be to God! Also, some of you were not able to send your words of farewell in time for this edition. No worries. I will include those submissions in the concluding edition. Please send them between now and mid-June. Thanks.

Return Home to IWS–One Last Time

Since an in-person Commencement in Jacksonville has been confirmed, plans are in full motion for a Final Alumni Event: A Fitting Farewell Dinner in conjunction with our final Commencement in June. See the article below. Save the dates: Saturday & Sunday, June 20-21, 2026. Plan to return home–one last time.

Now, let’s give thanks together for the memories and blessings expressed from this community in the articles that follow. And, as always, the Lord be with you!

President’s Column:
The President’s Address

By Constance Cherry, D.Min.

In 1999, Dr. Robert Webber began the tradition of offering a “President’s Address” twice each year, during the January and June sessions. These addresses were scholarly reflections, sharing research and perspective on matters related to worship. Dr. Jim Hart continued that tradition, and I have been honored to do the same.

At the beginning of our January 2026 online session, I delivered my fourth President’s Address. Given the unique season we are in, I shaped this one a bit differently, blending elements of sermon, exhortation, an update on the state of the school, and a vision for the future of IWS. It is an 18-minute message offered on January 7 to those attending the session. My hope is that it will be informative and, I trust, encouraging.

Faithful. Forward.

The President’s Address Video

Chaplain’s Column:
Rays of Hope

By Jonathan Nelms, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

President Constance Cherry appointed Jonathan Nelms as the third IWS Chaplain, January 1, 2026. Jonathan has been serving as Acting Chaplain since September 2025. She expressed, “Jonathan is hopeful, spiritually mature, and deeply rooted in our community as a member of the very first IWS class (June 1999). For twenty-six years, he has been an active and supportive alumnus.”

“As we grieve our loss, let us cherish our shared experience and ‘be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1 Peter 1:3).”

Since I first set foot on campus in Orange Park with the Alpha Class on a muggy June afternoon in 1999, IWS has been a significant part of my life. It has not only been an anchor through changing seasons of ministry, but a place of inspiration for me and my wife Glenda. Due in part to Bob Webber’s “ruinous work”, we planted a church in 2011 and since then our annual pilgrimage to campus for the alumni seminars has become a lodestar for us, a reminder to assess our direction and at times to recalibrate our focus. We will miss that centering influence in our life, but the mission of IWS will continue to guide us.

“Despite the clouds of grief, I see rays of hope.”

Last September, Dr. Cherry asked me to serve as chaplain for IWS, and because I owe so much to this institution, I was honored to accept this volunteer position. As I started hearing from faculty, students, and staff, I quickly realized that my primary role as chaplain would be to comfort those whose grieve. Yet, despite the clouds of grief, I see rays of hope.

Healing Power of Memories

The Lord promises to comfort those who mourn, and I experienced his comfort while preparing my daily chapel messages for the January 2026 session. As I reflected on my own classes at IWS, I took time to review my class notes from those early years as well as some photos and memorabilia. Revisiting those memories was cathartic, and I found my grief beginning to shift from denial to acceptance. For even as some of us remained online and wept together after the conclusion of the last chapel service, I found comfort in knowing that the Lord is indeed near to the brokenhearted. So, as you grieve, I challenge you to revisit your memories, your photos, and even your IWS class notes with confidence that the Lord offers healing for each of us. To some degree, all of us share our institutional memory as well as our institutional grief.

An International Community

I found hope in the evening practicums as students gave us snapshots of how they lead worship in churches that literally span the globe. As I saw their faces and heard their voices, my heart was moved with tenderness for each of them. I also found hope in recognizing how IWS has grown from a small, homogenized group of students into the international community of believers that it is today. Truly, the diversity of nationalities and cultures that I saw on the screen presented a beautiful collage of the Church worshiping for the glory of God.

God’s Vision

I also find hope in the commitment of Fuller Seminary to steward the vision of IWS. As Dr. Cherry reminded us in her presidential address, IWS was not the vision of Robert Webber alone, but it was God’s vision imparted to Bob and consequently to all of us as alumni. Along with the good people at Fuller, we, too, carry the torch of that vision. How will God’s desire for worship renewal and the ethos of IWS be manifested in your sphere of influence?

A Living Hope

Anamnesis is not only the title of this newsletter, but it is an active memory that informs the present just as prolepsis is a certain hope for the future. Bob Webber often reminded us that the Lord calls his disciples to live in the shape of the cross: a cruciform life with one arm holding to the past, one arm reaching to the future, and Christ always at the center. As we grieve our loss, let us cherish our shared experience and “be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

Report from the Academic Dean

By Robert Redman, Jr., Th.D.

Dr. Robert Redman

Since the announcement of the IWS Board’s decision to close the Institute by the end of June, IWS staff and faculty have been working to make sure that MWS and DWS students can either finish their degrees by the end of the January term or transfer to another school. A particular challenge in finding teach-out partners has been the uniqueness of the DWS degree; only a couple of other schools offer it, neither of which were suitable partners. Fortunately, Fuller Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have stepped forward to partner with IWS to provide paths to graduation for students who won’t graduate.

Fuller is adopting DWS courses as directed studies in its DMin program to help students who have more courses to complete. For their part, SWBTS will allow students who have started the thesis to complete the work they have begun, working with Southwestern faculty including Dr. Marc Brown, D.W.S., Omega 2014, an IWS alum, and Dr. Dan Jordan, who studied with Robert Webber at Northern Seminary.

To date, nearly two-thirds of IWS students have made arrangements either to complete their programs by June or transfer to a partner school. About 50 students have finished DWS 704 and are at some stage in the thesis process. Unfortunately, not all of them will be able to finish the thesis in time and will need to transfer to a partner school. So that they do not leave IWS with nothing to show for their accomplishments, Dr. Cherry has decided to award the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Worship Studies (AGCWS) to these students at our Commencement ceremony in June.

Lament for a School
So, remember. Remember.

By James Hart, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

Our former IWS President publishes the blog, Adoratio. This article and the related posts“After the Doors Close” and “The Loss of a Miraculous Collection“ (see article below) express the grief many of us share at the closing of our beloved institution. Thank you, Jim, for helping us grieve. The only way to the other side of grief and sadness is through it. We journey together.

“What was begun in hope is now entrusted to memory.”

There are losses in the life of the Church that are not merely organizational, but spiritual. They leave a silence where prayer once rose, and an absence where formation once took place.

Dr. James Hart

The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies is closing.

What was begun in hope is now entrusted to memory.

I worked at the Institute for 25 years, and 17 of those as president. The semiannual opening convocations had a longer version of the following printed in the service booklet:

The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies was conceived in the early 1990s by Robert Webber, born of a vision to form pastors, worship leaders, theologians, and lay leaders in worship that was biblically rooted, historically informed, theologically rich, and culturally engaged. What began with a first class of twenty doctoral students in 1999 grew into a global community, serving students from across the United States and more than thirty countries, conferring 797 doctoral and master’s degrees over twenty-six years. Hosted first by Grace Episcopal Church and later by Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, IWS became a place where worship was not only studied but lived.

Robert Webber died April 27, 2007, after an eight-month illness. In January 2007, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to change the name of IWS to the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in honor of the vision, accomplishments, and contributions of Robert Webber.

The Institute was ecumenical, embracing and serving the whole church in its many expressions and variations of the Christian faith.

What was begun in hope is now entrusted to memory.

These are the basic facts of the existence of the Institute, affectionately known as IWS. But the facts do not reveal the depth of the influence the school has had around the globe in impacting millions of lives for the sake of Christ and his Kingdom. That can certainly be celebrated. But the decision to close the school, ending its current influence and legacy, not to mention future possibilities, calls for a deep lament.

Continue reading here.

Alumni News

Heather Hood, D.W.S., Gamma 2003

Congratulations to Heather for 40 years of ministry at the same church! I asked her to share a brief update.

I started ministry as Director of Music at Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN in August 1985. In December 2025, the 40th Anniversary of my ministry was acknowledged in worship [pictured at right] with a commissioned setting of a choral and instrumental piece, “Arise,” by composer, Josh Bauder who is one of my colleagues at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. My current position at the church is Director of Traditional Worship, overseeing all elements of planning worship and related choir programs, supervising staff, and serving on a staff ministry team for large-picture visioning and ministry coordination. Outside of the church I   am the Assistant Conductor of the Minnesota Chorale, the Principal Chorus of the Minnesota Orchestra. I serve on the faculty of the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, a non-denominational Christian college in the Twin Cities, where I have taught classes on worship and music ministry, and am currently a sabbatical replacement director for two university choirs and a collaborative accompanist.   

Bryan Wilson, D.W.S., Xi2 2021

We celebrate with Bryan on the 2025 publishing of his book Ten Commandments For Life and Ministry: A Guide to Spiritual Blessings for Pastors, Worshipers, and Leaders in the Church. Congratulations, Bryan. May God bless this book for the enrichment and growth of his kingdom. Bryan is Worship Pastor at Cross Community Church, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Alumni: Remembering Our Alma Mater

Eric Bolger, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

One of my fond memories of the Alpha class was our trip to St. Augustine. I remember going to the beach, seeing Bob working on his tan, and swimming in the ocean with him. I don’t remember anyone else getting in the water, but I may be wrong. The Alpha class experience was the beginning of my and my church’s conversion to ancient-future worship. Our church is unusual for an Evangelical Free Church. We celebrate Communion weekly on Sundays, observe the Christian year, and follow the four-fold structure of worship, among many other Bob-influenced practices. I’m so grateful for his impact and the impact of IWS on my own spiritual practice and that of Harvest EFC.

Linda Borecki, D.W.S., Zeta 2005

Indelible Memories

Four-fold worship; doing God’s Story;
IWS anthem “Cows in the Field;” Fighting Acolytes;
Eric Wyse’s “The Lord’s Prayer” (Jan 2008 Chapel worship recording);
Jim Hart’s “Agnus Dei;” grits for breakfast in the refectory; Alpha class/alpha males;
Zeta evening worship backlash and change of protocols; healing services;
Gordon Jensen and Cort Bender audiovisual wizards; Kent Walters moderator/mediator!;
Zeta class Southern Baptists robed and chanting;
metanarrative
Grace Episcopal renovated sanctuary; sound of cicadas;
Orange Park warm moisture-laden air; Santorini’s Italian Restaurant;
Chaplain Darrell Harris’s stories of the movement of the Spirit; Dunkin’ Donuts;
Lester Ruth: “What bearing does the Trinity have on our worship?”
Zeta class theological arguments that sidetracked our professors;
Simplified Anglican chant psalmody
Carla Waterman and Reggie Kidd’s baptismal renewal service;
Gerry Borchert: “God bless you!”
RIP Zeta classmates Ken Gehrels, David Leestma, Gary McCoy, Lyndel Vaught
Bob Webber’s laugh
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Tami Cinquemani, M.W.S. Tsadi 2015

IWS was where I discovered the Spirit behind the passion I have for worship. The professors and staff invited questions and a deeper understanding of the purpose of Scripture and the story we tell in worship each week. I will be forever grateful to Jim Hart and the potential he saw in me as well as a cohort of individuals whom I consider forever friends.

William Eichorn, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

I always tell students about our first meetings in Orange Park, we all sat in the normal U-shape configuration, and as I looked around the semicircle most everyone had a laptop, and there I was with my yellow pad and pen! Did I feel out of place. The instructors started sharing their knowledge, and after about 20 or 30 minutes of inner torture (I was lost), I gingerly lifted my hand, took a deep breath, and said, “I’m sure that I am the only one who needs it, but can you explain what you just said?” There was a chuckle around the table as I was sinking lower in my seat when one of the other Alphas whispered in my ear, “Thanks for being brave enough to ask the question!” That was the beginning of a wonderful journey with the “Bob” experiment! Peace be with you all.

Julia Fitzpatrick, M.W.S., Tsadi 2015

These photos say 1000 words! Always keep singing His praises!

Julia Fitzpatrick & Fred Heumann June 2015
MWS 503 Class June 2014

Don Fugate, D.W.S., Delta 2004

Among my favorite memories of my time at IWS was the incredible singing in the small chapel on the original church site in Orange Park. It was glorious. I’ll always cherish the times listening to and sharing with Chaplain Darrell Harris and hearing him pray that the Holy Spirit would do a “ruinous” work in our lives! I was stretched and inspired by the faculty and our cohort. Seeing Dan Sharp weep while reading the Word of God has had a lasting impact on my life. Quite simply, IWS has been one of the greatest spiritual and educational experiences of my life. I am eternally grateful.

Teresa Gardner, D.W.S., Tau 2011

My time at IWS from 2006-2011 was, and continues to be, transformative. What I had previously learned from 30 years of worship study, training, and experience was confirmed, deepened, strengthened, matured, and graciously met with so much I did not know. All of my instructors’ vast wealth and treasure houses of Spirit-led knowledge and experience helped us grow in our understanding and application of God’s Word and His gifts in worship. Each of them has left an indelible mark upon my life. The faculty and staff not only taught me through excellent academics, but by Christlike example and, perhaps even unknowingly, provided guidance for my Christian journey. The deep fellowship and rich community developed lifelong, and thankfully eternal, relationships through our LORD Jesus Christ. When it occurred to me that I was in my last official Chapel Service, I cried. I am so very thankful that God put me with the teachers, fellow students, and entire community of IWS. I will treasure you always. May God bless you and keep you.

Jan Johansen, D.W.S., Omega 2 2026

My time at IWS remains one of the most meaningful seasons of my formation. IWS helped me name and deepen convictions that had been growing for years, especially the way worship shapes faith, community, and everyday life. Through shared reading, prayer, and conversation, I learned to see worship far more than as music or leadership from the platform, but as the church’s ongoing response to God’s work in the world. The rhythm of study and reflection stretched me, but it was the people who left the deepest mark: classmates who became friends, mentors who listened carefully, and professors who modeled both wisdom and humility. Together, we wrestled with Scripture, tradition, and the realities of ministry in ways that were honest and hopeful. IWS did more than equip me with tools; it formed my heart, clarified my calling, and shaped how I continue to serve the church with gratitude and care.

Jim Knarr, D.W.S., Iota 2 2018

Though my time at IWS has been brief, my earned doctorate is so much more than just a degree. IWS profoundly shifted my approach to worship, not music, but worship. With a more sound biblical approach to worship, I am now in a much better head space when preaching and teaching anything biblical. My approach is now simple; how does anything I speak pertain to worshipping God? Thank you IWS faculty for your investment. Thank you for allowing me to return regularly to invest in those students who followed me. I will miss my bi-annual trips to IWS. I will miss seeing the faculty and staff. I will miss the powerful multicultural worship I experienced every time I was on campus. Godspeed to all.

John Kreutzwieser, D.W.S., Iota 2006

20 years ago. What a ride! Bob Webber was one of the most impactful people in my life! picture L to R (Iota Grads 2006) Sharon Kivell, Nancy Nethercott, John Kreutzwieser, Kara Mandryk, Susan Huckaby, Michael Owenby.

Iota Grads June 2006
Bob Webber & John Kreutzwiezer

Johnny Markin, D.W.S., Nu2 2020

One of my enduring memories was a Monday morning chapel that had an ethnodoxological focus. I was asked to lead a song in French that I had originally written in English that had been translated by some Québécois worship leaders. The look of panic on the faces of my fellow vocalists (especially Angie McLaughlin) as they tried to form the funny-sounding syllables was priceless! The blessings of those services that transcended culture were immeasurable and made IWS a global community!

Michael Murchison, M.W.S., Het2 2022

It became a tradition for our cohort, on the last day of each IWS intensive, to read together the Liturgy for Leavings from Every Moment Holy. Those words seem particularly fitting now; they read in part: “Even in our goodbyes there is a blessing, for the sorrow of parting is a measure of the depth of the bond we have come to share in Christ. . . . Grant, O Lord, that we might take our leave of one another now, feeling a right joy for the blessings of the hours we have shared, even as we feel a bright and hopeful sorrow at their close. Friends and saints and fellow pilgrims, we part now in the confidence that in our diverging paths we walk the same road, fanning the same flame, and that in time we will meet again in a fellowship forever unbroken.” Pictured at the right L to R: Michael Murchison, John Caddell, M.W.S. 2021, Kendall Bolam, M.W.S. 2021, Josh Head, M.W.S. 2022.

Bob Myers, D.W.S., Theta, 2007

In August of this year, it will be 20 years since my thesis was accepted. I graduated ten months later in 2007. I was “ruined,” to be sure.  But my life dramatically changed for the better, and I have had many different opportunities to serve Christ and his kingdom since then. I transitioned from being a worship pastor to launching an undergraduate program in worship leadership. Seven years later, I began a new season of ministry as a senior pastor serving Baptist congregations for ten years. I published a book on worship history through Webber Institute Books and I served as the General Editor for five years. Now, semi-retired, I have the privilege of serving as a part time pastor to a senior community where many different Christian traditions are represented. I could never have anticipated where my experience at IWS would have led me, but I am extremely grateful for Bob Webber, Jim Hart, the IWS faculty, and our alumni family.

Patricia Myers, D.W.S., Delta 2004

One quote from Constance Cherry which I think about very often: “You can go to church and not be changed, but you cannot meet God and not be changed.” Oh, that we would meet God in our worship services!

Michael Owenby, D.W.S., Iota, 2006

We are all beneficiaries of God’s use of Robert Webber! My heart is heavy with appreciation for God’s training us in worship, for worship experiences (thanks IWS Chaplains), for life-long friendships, for healing conversations, for mealtime zaniness, and for examples of leaders, staff, and Board who have given their all! We are better servant-leaders because of our IWS experience. Our churches are better. Thank you, classmates and teachers for your part in shaping me. We have truly been part of a life-giving and precious out-pouring of God!

Bill Price, D.W.S., Gamma 2003

While I am deeply saddened at the close of official ministry for IWS I am profoundly grateful to the Lord, to Dr. Webber, and to those who have led so well after his passing. We are tempted to see this as the end, but this ministry has touched hundreds of churches and thousands of lives. I was blessed to follow Dr. Bob from his early days of weekend seminars and cassette tape distribution. He was a kind, godly man. Like A.W. Tozer before him, he was blessed with a keen understanding of how evangelical worship had strayed from its best principles and vision for a worship with biblical, theological and historical roots. 

During my first session, our class was divided into five cohorts and each assigned a night to lead worship after which the service would be analyzed by the rest of the student body and faculty. Our team prepared a service for the first evening and I (not knowing any better) delivered a brief sermon. In the feedback afterward, Bob commented, “Bill, you weren’t supposed to include a sermon, but for a Bob Jones grad that was pretty good!”  He and I shared “escape” from a common undergraduate experience, something we celebrated each time we met. 

Dr. Webber and IWS had a profound impact on the church for nearly 50 years, from his book Evangelicals On the Canterbury Trail to the final commencement of IWS this June. My life was changed. I have been a better servant, a better leader, a better pastor and a better worshiper for my time with Dr. Webber and IWS. God bless you all. 

Merril Smoak, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

The IWS Alpha class experience with Robert Webber continues to be transformative in my life ministry and teaching. There were 20 students in the first class cohort; many of us were graduates of Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. The first night after dinner we gathered in the chapel and Bob led us to worship around a wooden cross laid out on the floor. The SBC graduates wondered, “What in the world have we gotten ourselves into?” That initial worship experience was indeed transformative and continues in my life today! Thank you, Bob Webber and IWS faculty for leading me to study the biblical basis and history of our Christian worship.  

Robert Still Jr., M.W.S., Beth 2007; D.W.S., Rho2 2023

While attending my first session at IWS in January 2005, Robert Webber memorably skewered narcissism in worship in his Convocation address. At one point he said, “You know the line in the song, ‘I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about You’? I’m sure they mean well, but it’s often about me singing about You—so in the end, it’s still all about me!” That night I wrote a parody song: “It’s all about me: The Bob Webber Narcissistic Un-Worship Song”. Lyrics here. Lead sheet here. The bridge—dubbed “The Lester Memorial Bridge”—was unapologetically un-Trinitarian! I sang it for my cohort in Greg Wilde’s worship history class. They loved it. Later Dr. Webber and the Board visited our class and someone suggested we sing it for them. I was sure I was about to get expelled. Instead, Bob laughed and loved it! He had me sing it at lunch, and exclaimed, “This should be the IWS theme song!” Bob’s warmth and encouragement affirmed my calling in worship and missions. I remain deeply grateful for Bob Webber and IWS and trust this legacy will continue to bear fruit in worship leaders around the world for generations to come.

2025 It’s All About Me: The Bob Webber Narcissistic Un-Worship Song (by Rob Still; MP3 2:04)

Resource: It’s All About Me (lyrics)

Resource: It’s All About Me (lead sheet)

Robin Ziegenfuss, D.W.S., Delta 2004

As a member of the Delta class, my first session at IWS was startling in many ways. Back then each class was responsible for a practicum worship service during each session. One presentation that year was a Veneration of the Cross service. As we entered the sanctuary, it was dark and a large wooden cross stood in the front. At some unplanned point in the service the cross fell forward with a resounding thud that reverberated throughout the space. No one spoke a word! It was one of those impromptu moments when no one knew quite sure what to do. After a minute or two (seemed like forever!) Bob Webber approached the cross lying on the floor, knelt down and placed his forehead on the foot of the cross and prayed. I was undone! IWS changed me forever and continues to expand my understanding of worship.

Faculty Farewells

Jeff Barker, DWS 702

Remember this portion of the story of God, as it is written in the book that we love:

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it in the day of Christ Jesus.”

From the Apostle Paul and Professor Jeff

Andrew Hill, DWS 701

Dear IWS Community, I heard Bob Webber say on numerous occasions, as he envisioned and developed the institute, that: “IWS exists for the sake of the students.” That is, IWS was designed to be an “agile institute,” flexing to meet student’s academic expectations, and the church’s need for trained worship leaders—in ever changing cultural contexts. As time went on, one could say that: “IWS exists because of the students.” That is, IWS alumni were the best promoters and the most effective recruiters for the institute. As the institute transitions, we can say that IWS will continue to exist in the lives and ministries of our alumni. IWS President Robert Webber delighted in charging the graduates at commencement to take on the high calling of serving as “doctors of the church.” IWS-trained worship leaders will continue to bring worship renewal to the Christian church for generations to come—for the glory of God, the praise of Jesus the Messiah, fully enabled by the Holy Spirit. Amen! Shalom.

Carl Park, BIB 501

Here are three words I’ve often used to describe IWS. First, “beautiful.” Beautiful worship, beautiful oneness, the beautiful presence of God. Another word is “communal.” Most schools talk about communal learning, but IWS’s learning is communal in a way that most do not experience. As a teacher, it was beautiful to eat together, worship together, and become friends with students. A third word is “special.” Honestly, I don’t expect to have another school experience quite like it; I grieve the loss of it, but mostly I’m thankful to have been there. I’m thankful to Andy Hill and Jim Hart for bringing me on and keeping me on. I’m thankful to Sandy Dinkins and Karen Lewis and everyone in the offices for making me feel like I belonged. I’m thankful to all the rest of the faculty and students for making it so fun. And I’m thankful to God for this gift of IWS. 

Sandy Dinkins
Sandy Dinkins
Karen Lewis
Karen Lewis

Alumni Feature: Janie Blough, Créteil, France

By Janie Blough, D.W.S., Rho 2014; M.W.S., Beth 2006

A Global Resonance: Carrying the IWS Flame Overseas

As the preparation for closing the doors of our beloved IWS is in process, I feel sadness along with a mix of nostalgia and profound hope. I find myself reflecting on the true heart of my experience: the remarkable faculty and staff who guided us through biblical and theological teachings and their personal lives.

The theological seeds planted during my time at IWS have blossomed into a global mission that continues to span borders and denominations. For years, I have had the privilege of carrying the ancient-future vision through teaching at an evangelical Bible institute, an evangelical seminary, local church workshops, and ecumenical contexts primarily in France and Switzerland but also throughout the Francophone world. Watching students discover for the first time the four-fold order and the cosmic triumph of Christus Victor is a constant joy, especially when I see it being put into practice.

While I am especially indebted to Dr. Constance Cherry, whose teachings as well as others from my own denomination,have provided an important blueprint for my teaching, it has been the collective wisdom of the entire faculty that has built the foundation of my ministry. Each professor contributed a unique stone to this biblical and theological bedrock, which I now share thousands of miles away from the United States. This gratitude extends equally to the administrative staff and the many others who used their gifts behind the scenes; their dedication ensured that the IWS community functioned as a healthy, vibrant body for the sake of the world. In this sense, it seems very important to remember that the seeds planted by the IWS program continue to be scattered and yield a harvest that spans the globe as it is passed on from generation to generation.

As the current chapter of IWS draws to a close, I am reminded that while one may plant and another water, it is God who gives the growth (1 Co 3:6). I am deeply thankful that this legacy is finding a new home. May its mission and values continue to flourish as a foundational part of a new program.

Alumni Feature: Mark Davison, Manitoba, Canada

By D. Mark Davison, D.W.S., Pi 2011

Daniel J. Levinson, in his book, The Seasons of a Man’s Life, defined the term “good enough mentor,” to describe those special people who speak into and inform our lives and callings. I’ve been blessed with a number of these special angels as I’ve grown in my faith and Christian identity. Bob Webber was one of these special mentors for me.

Bob and I crossed paths several times before I started my studies at IWS in 2007. Those who knew Bob likely noticed that he had a rare charism in that everyone who had an interaction with Bob felt special in his presence. He was an encouragement to me through every interaction that we had and I do believe that his voice was also deeply prophetic for me, especially as I pondered my special identity as a Priest at the Table.

My first conversation with Bob was in 1992 at a diocesan clergy retreat in Manitoba. Bob was there to talk to the diocesan clergy about growing in the great cause of leading well in a liturgical and sacramental setting. His words were very timely for me, in that as a soon to be ordained Priest, I would be presiding at Communion in a few weeks. Apropos to that, I will never forget that first Communion service. I experienced a special indwelling of His presence as I presided, being spiritually in persona Christi. I will never forget that experience.

My second personal experience with Bob occurred around a diocesan worship education event on liturgical renewal in 1996. I was a member of the committee organizing the event and somehow convinced the committee that inviting Bob would be a good thing for the diocese. And it was! Bob’s charm, warmth, sincerity, clarity and ability to convey a message of hope and Christian practice was clearly felt by all who attended.

My next conversation with Bob occurred in Victoria in1999. A local Baptist church brought him in to do some teaching on worship. I remember him sharing about the beginning of IWS. As I recall, at that time IWS was primarily focused educating of pastoral musicians. But, nonetheless, the seeds were sown for my future membership as a student at IWS.

My fourth, and sadly last, conversation with Bob was by phone in 2006. I was feeling restless and unsettled in my ministry. I had neglected my own needs due to a very challenging season in ministry. On a day off, I had the realization that “I need to do something good for myself.” This realization, almost immediately, led me to finding Bob’s email address and writing to him requesting a phone chat if he had the time. Within minutes I received a call from an unknown number in Michigan. Thankfully, I responded to the unknown caller was not a telemarketer but Bob. During that conversation, Bob asked me about my ministry and where I was experiencing joy in it. It was easy for me to quickly say “while celebrating the Eucharist.” Bob, then, told me that IWS had expanded its student base to include pastors and educators. Well, I got pretty excited when he said that. I then remember him saying “we don’t have any students currently focusing on the Eucharist” followed by “I think that you should enroll in IWS!” Wow! My last recollection of that interchange was my asking Bob if he remembered the joy he felt on Christmas morning as a kid. He replied in the affirmative to which I responded, “That’s how I feel now!” I knew that I had just been given a great gift!

I enrolled in the DWS program and joined the Pi class in January of 2007. When I arrived that first morning, I was most excited to see Bob. Unfortunately, I found out that Bob would not be there as he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was devastated and I asked myself, “Without Bob what am I doing here?” Despite that shock I didn’t fly home but stayed for my first intensive. And it was so good! Very good! I loved the community, my professors, the worship, the food and all other things IWS. I was with my tribe and I knew it. And I kept coming back.

All of my work at IWS was focused on the Eucharist and liturgical renewal. My applications of what I was learning brought a new excitement to the members of my parish. I received an invitation from the Archbishop of Uganda to present my thesis practicum there. It was challenging but also very useful experience. I grew there and am thankful!

A lot has changed in my life since I graduated from IWS. I have retired from parish ministry in the Anglican Church in North America/Anglican Diocese of Canada and Lyn and I have moved from beautiful Brentwood Bay in British Columbia to a lakeside cottage on beautiful Lac du Bonnet in Manitoba.

Living rurally means that churches are few and far away. Thankfully we’ve landed in at Abundant Life Chapel, a Pentecostal church that is doing a great work serving the people of that area. We have come to love our new church family and that love has been reciprocated.   

In conversations with our dear Pastor James, he has shown a keen interest in finding deeper meaning and experience in the Eucharist. He’s not exactly an “Evangelical on the Canterbury Trail, but, like me, appreciates the integration of evangelical, charismatic and sacramental sensibilities into the life and outreach of the church. He gets “Real Presence.” I’ve taught the congregation on the priesthood of all believers (finding your priestly identity) and on the practice of Advent. James recently shared that the video of that Advent exchange garnered the most views online than any other Sunday sermon. Very encouraging! In February, we will be doing another Q & A series on the Eucharist. Pentecostals love to experience the presence of the Lord and this quality of the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, I feel, is a good thing to unfold for the congregation.

I would like to share my thanks to all the dear souls that I’ve met and been blessed by through IWS. This includes all the faculty, staff, students, volunteers and my home stay hosts Bob & Janie Simpson who made IWS a special Christian refuge for me. I know that things are changing, and being an Anglican I hate change, but I pray that this transition will be a good thing for His Church.

Blessings to all you dear ones, Mark.

A Call to Multiply the Voices of Worship Renewal

By Pres. Constance Cherry, D.Min.

Webber Institute Books was created to serve the founding vision of Robert E. Webber and the Institute for Worship Studies: to form servant leaders in worship renewal by remembering that the road to the future runs through the past. Through this publishing initiative, IWS has offered the church thoughtful, scholarly, and pastorally grounded voices engaging worship’s biblical roots, historical development, theological depth, and cultural expression.

As IWS prepares to close, so too does the Webber Institute Books publishing initiative. This moment carries both grief and urgency.

These books were never meant to be an endpoint. They were seeds.

Their purpose has always been to stimulate reflection, provoke conversation, and renew worship across the global church. The task now passes—decisively—to the wider IWS community. The need for faithful, rooted, and courageous voices has not diminished. It has intensified.

Let the renewal multiply through you—in classrooms, sanctuaries, rehearsal rooms, manuscripts, sermons, and communities around the world. Carry forward the work. Tell the story. Shape the church’s worship for generations to come.

We want to take a moment and acknowledge the fine work of those who have paved the path for us. Each has given voice to the work of our Triune God in their lives as they have been impacted by the transforming vision and mission of IWS.

Below is the full list of books published through Webber Institute Books. Each title is available for purchase by clicking the link provided on each title.

The work now lives wherever IWS graduates, faculty, students, and friends continue to think deeply, worship faithfully, and lead courageously.

May the voices multiply as we move Faithful. Forward.

The Loss of a Miraculous Collection

By James Hart, D.W.S., Alpha 2002

I lament the loss of one of the earliest and most fragile testimonies to the faithfulness of our loving Father: the IWS Library. What is being dismantled now was once given to us as sheer gift. The Library Collection was an early testimony to the faithfulness of God in resourcing the IWS educational experience. This little-known miracle of the early days of IWS needs to be remembered. The first six DWS graduating classes and the first four MWS graduating classes of IWS had no library resources of their own. We purchased what we could, borrowed what we were allowed, and worked where doors were opened. I personally camped out in the library at Virginia Theological Seminary during the summer of 2001 to use their resources.

I was four months into my position as president-elect of IWS in February 2007. I received a letter from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), announcing our first official site visit for our pursuit of accreditation with that body. Within days, I was in Orlando holding meetings with ABHE and with our board vice chair, Dr. Luder Whitlock. In both cases, I asked one question: what would be a dealbreaker for IWS? The answer was the same: the library.

At that time, we had approximately 300 books on campus. When I asked how many would be required, the answer again was the same: aim for at least 10,000 volumes appropriate to the curriculum.

My first call was to Bob Webber. Although he had already given most of his library to Northern Seminary, he offered all that remained, which was approximately 3,000 books. I also spoke with the pastor of our host campus, the Rev. Kurt Dunkle. Kurt served on the board of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (USA) near Sewanne, TN. They had a warehouse of approximately 10,000 volumes accumulated from the collections of retired priests and bishops in the Episcopal Church. After one phone call, the SPCK gave us permission to take anything we wanted or needed.

With two brief conversations, we had the promise of 6000 volumes, but no means to get those volumes to Orange Park.

Continue reading here.

Commencement 2026 and Final Alumni Event
A Fitting Farewell

Alumni are encouraged to make it a weekend “back home” at IWS one last time.

25th Commencement of IWS

Our 25th Commencement is scheduled for Sunday, June 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church sanctuary with a standup reception following. When announcing the Commencement, President Cherry wrote: “This service will be sacred and historic for IWS. To conclude our twenty seven years by gathering together in one place is a profound gift. It allows us to celebrate our graduates, give thanks for God’s faithfulness across these years, and entrust the continuation of our mission to Fuller Theological Seminary, who will lead our sacred work of worship renewal into the future.”

A Fitting Farewell Dinner

With the joyful news that our final Commencement will be held on campus, we are moving forward with plans for an Alumni Dinner Event on Saturday evening, June 20, in the Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church fellowship hall. Our recent survey of the alumni indicated a very positive response to this idea.

Details are being finalized for the Final Alumni Event, but initial plans include a catered dinner and a program of sharing memories and gratitude to God. A discounted IWS rate at an area hotel is in the works for alumni who register for the event. Cost for the dinner is pending. Admittance will be by prepaid registration only. Look for an announcement with full details and registration information soon. Be sure I have your email address. Contact me.

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About the author

Alumni Director, Practicum Professor, and DWS graduate.
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