This session is based on an article in the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Music in Christian Theology, Vol. 3, which offers an overview of the role of music in the Christian Scriptures including the role of King David in the development of Israelite music, the place of the Psalms in First and Second Temple and synagogue worship, the ministry of the Levites as musicians, the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the Christian churches to ‘sing songs to one another,’ and the music described in the book of Revelation. The essay also explores the theological relationships between the imago Dei and music, and the importance of music in the practice of Christian worship.

Read Andy’s bio here.

This seminar will explore some of the surprisingly robust spiritual theologies of the early church.  How did these springs feed the Great Tradition? What wisdom can we begin to glean for worship ministry in the twenty-first century?  These questions and others will guide us as we dip our toes into this important era that was so deeply formative for our faith.

Read Alan’s bio here.

A distinguishing mark of North American Christian faith and practice is individualism, even excessive and, in fact, sub-Christian individualism—”me-and-Jesus” spirituality. Such individualism pervades our doctrines: ecclesiology, anthropology, hamartiology, eschatology, pneumatology, and more. We especially live these out in worship. Can our corporate worship, instead, help form a more faithful Christian spirituality in us? In this session, we will consider how worship can help us recover from me-and-Jesus spirituality.

Read Carl’s bio here.

Jeff Barker calls this a “silent lecture” on the value of the arts. Participants will be invited into a meditative experience with many art forms that have profound potential for personal application. 

Read Jeff’s bio here.

Dan explains that while serving in church ministry for forty-some years as a “moon,” he learned a lot about the “sun,” as well as staff relationships. He has served in a startup church, a university church, an urban church, and a suburban church, numbering a few hundred to over 4,000 and with a staff of a few to over eighty. The dynamics present in church staffs of any size are not always discerned. Relationships between the lead pastor and members of the staff (or board), while crucial, are not always smooth or even healthy. In this session, we will delve into some of the often unspoken reasons for staff challenges through case studies which should prove interesting, informative, and helpful.

Read Dan’s bio here.

“We live in a death-denying culture,” wrote Alexander Schmemann in For the Life of the World in 1963. More than fifty years later, we still deny death in our churches—churches that are filled with happy songs and seldom surrounded by cemeteries. But all of us will die. All of us will experience loved ones’ death. How can our worship honor death, those who have died, and those who have lost loved ones? This seminar will seek to answer this question through exploring the theology of death, historical examples that honor death, and contemporary creative application.

Read Amy’s bio here.

Christian worship renewal takes shape in patterns set in specific worshiping contexts around the world. In the past ten years, the Church has experienced significant shifts due to a global pandemic, the influence of social media, and trends established by denominational movements. Drawing in part from lessons learned from IWS-related praxis around the world, we will examine recent examples of ancient-future best practices in Christian worship.

Read Doug’s bio here.

Given the dramatic shift to live-stream and online worship in recent years, the unique concerns regarding permissions and copyright have expanded for worship planners and leaders. How do you know if the songs, liturgies, and images you have selected for use during a worship service comply with copyright standards? In this session, you will discover practical information that will help you ask the applicable questions and find answers for your immediate setting.

Read Jennifer’s bio here.