About

When Concordia University Irvine stepped up to answer this challenge, it was committed to doing so as part of its mission and in line with the four themes of the university’s strategic plan. The ministry of worship is at the heart of disciple-making here at CUI and in Christian congregations everywhere. The directive, as expressed above, is explicit and an academic challenge worthy of our institution’s reputation. CUI’s stable of faculty and staff are distinctively equipped with the knowledge and wisdom to develop a field of study often characterized as a predominantly non-traditional pursuit. Our leadership’s decision to give additional prominence to the roles of worship, ministry, witness and service in our campus life provided the perfect “living-laboratory” environment required to give students the hands-on immersive experience needed to bring classroom concepts to life. And, of course, the addition of a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind facility that stands as a visible reminder of CUI’s belief in, and long-term commitment to, those looking to us to prepare them for their vocation. In short, this internal training initiative is an endeavor well worth our time, energy, and resources.

The Center for Worship Leadership (CWL) was created to be the externally-focused organization committed to the latent need for worship arts training in the church. As its mission states, the Center for Worship Leadership exists to provide empowered learning, experiences of common support, and professional inspiration for leaders of worship . Moreover, all CWL training is rooted in one or more of our three core competencies: Theology, Leadership, and Practical Skills. Professional conferences, single-day workshops, plenary presentations, published papers/articles, social media community, networking, worship resources, podcasting, a web presence, and consulting/coaching services are all ways in which the CWL provides training and support for the church-at-large.