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From our Founder
Robert E. Webber (1933-2007)
Dear Reader,
 Here
is a question I have heard again and again: “Where can I go to study
worship—not music—but worship?”
The Institute for Worship
Studies was founded with that question in mind. More and more professors of
church music, music ministers of the local church and pastors realize there
is a gap in their education. They have the music education and the skills
for music and worship leadership, but they lack the knowledge of the
biblical foundations, historical development, theological reflection and
cultural analysis for effective worship ministry in today’s world. The
Institute for Worship Studies was founded to meet this need and prepare
leaders for the changing task of worship ministry.
Here is what I have
observed in the last few decades: music ministry and worship leadership have
been going through a significant change. Formerly, a music minister or a
worship leader was only in charge of music or worship leadership. Their
task was to oversee a division within the church that concentrated on
everything musical pertaining to public services. But now, music and
worship leadership has evolved into a pastoral ministry. The ministry
includes more than the entire musical life of the church. What was once
only music is now worship teaching, worship evangelism, worship spirituality
and even counseling. Most music and worship pastors are not prepared for
the shift. At the Institute for Worship Studies
we know this, and we are prepared to help.
The Institute for Worship
Studies does not offer music courses. We assume our students have this
knowledge and skill. Instead, we concentrate entirely on the process of
helping them become worship pastors.
Being a worship pastor in
today’s complicated world is no simple matter. Worship needs a foundation
in the theological disciplines, in the personal disciplines of spirituality,
in the disciplines that create and sustain community, and in the
disciplines that empower all the ministries of the local church.
Training in the
disciplines of worship is the goal of the Institute for Worship Studies. We
teach those who teach, lead those who lead and pastor those who pastor.
If this is the kind of
education you have longed for, and if you qualify for our Doctor of Worship
Studies or our Master of Worship Studies, we would love to hear from you.
We exist to serve you as you serve your local church or teach in college or
seminary.
The Lord be with you,
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