Brehm Center’s “Forming Hearts, Creating Art” conference draws more than 100
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02/20/09
Acclaimed musicians Gloria Gaither and C. Michael Hawn challenged a group of over 100 worship leaders from around Southern California on Valentine’s Day, February 14, to explore their hearts for God in a worship leadership conference. The annual conference, “Forming Hearts, Creating Art,” was sponsored by the Fred Bock Institute of Music in the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts at Fuller.
In her presentation, Gaither reframed the concept of “worship wars” and passionately urged leaders to produce unity for the Kingdom. As she talked about the many songs that have been birthed from the psalms of David, she urged her audience to delve into 1 and 2 Samuel to read about the trials that birthed David’s words. Hawn introduced seven cultural streams of congregational songs that have shaped hymnals since Vatican II. His overview encouraged creativity in those present as they take those songs into the 21st century.
Gaither and her husband, Bill Gaither, have produced over 700 songs, many of which of been awarded Grammy and Dove Awards. C. Michael Hawn is professor of church music at Perkins School of Theology and director of the Sacred Music Program at Southern Methodist University. He has published over 250 articles, books, and curriculum materials, and his global collection
Halle Halle: We Sing the World Round was used at the conference and given as a gift to participants.
Ed Willmington, director of the Fred Bock Institute, announced to conference participants the launching of a new website of resources for worship leaders, www.jubalhouse.com.
Next year’s “Forming Hearts, Creating Art” conference will take place February 13, 2010, and will feature as one of its guest speakers Gordon MacDonald, interim president of Denver Seminary, whose most recent book is
Who Stole My Church.