Worship Arts Leadership Program Approved

contributing writers:  Nicole Lampe, senior, excerpted from The Concordia Courier
                                        Ann Ashmon, Director of Public Relations

In response to the growing need for training in contemporary worship arts and leadership in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia University Irvine approved a minor in Worship Arts Leadership at the December meeting of CUI's Board of Regents. This minor is open to all students. Students of Music, Church Work, Directors of Christian Education, and Directors of Parish Music have specifically expressed interest in the new minor.

The program addresses contemporary and traditional approaches to worship that are biblically grounded, theologically sound, and aesthetically pleasing. “The minor includes music, theology, song selection, how to put a service together and how to select a worship team,” said Dr. Steven Mueller, Dean of Christ College and Professor of Theology. The minor is specifically designed to provides training in a range of worship styles, the use of technology and media in worship, service planning, and the use of drama and visual arts. This will help give students the skills to evaluate, plan and implement services.  

Putting together the program was a joint effort of Christ College (School of Theology), the Music Department and Campus Ministry. The minor will be offered by Christ College, in conjunction with the University’s fine arts departments. Some of the classes for the minor are already offered at CUI, but others are going to debut next semester. If students have taken any of these classes, they can automatically count towards a minor in Worship Arts Leadership.

To find out more about Worship Arts Leadership at Concordia University Irvine, contact Carrie Fick at Carrie.fick@cui.edu or 949.854.8002, x 1407.