The Black Church Music Ministry Project Receives Prestigious Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
The Black Church Music Ministry Project Receives Prestigious Grant from the
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
With the support of presenting sponsor Andover Newton Theological School, the grant will fund two major symposia to bring music ministry thought leaders together in dialogue
Boston – August 1, 2013 – The Black Church Music Ministry Project (BCMMP) has received a worship renewal grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The grant will fund a year-long project in which the Black Church Music Ministry Project will present two major symposia (Nov. 16 and May 31) in the Greater Boston area. With the support of presenting sponsor Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS), each symposium will bring together leaders in the area of music ministry and serve as a space for dialogue, fellowship and community collaboration in support of BCMMP’s mission to serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry. The grant is one of 28 awards totaling more than $300,000 awarded for 2013 by the CICW to churches, schools and seminaries across North America.
“These projects have much to teach us,” said CICW director John Witvliet, “and we are eager to learn from them. But we know too that worship renewal is not something that human ingenuity or creativity alone can produce or engineer. It is a gift of God’s Spirit, a gift for which we pray, rather than an accomplishment we achieve. So, even as we announce these grants, and as we look forward to the work these recipients will do in the coming year, we also pray.”
“We are very grateful to receive this generous grant from CICW and thrilled to collaborate with ANTS to bring our organization’s vision to fruition,” said Dr. Emmett G. Price III, President and Founder, BCMMP. “With this support, we are able to further our goal of empowering and inspiring ministry leaders by bringing together leading minds for reflection and planning over the course of the coming year.”
The first symposium, Theological Reflection and Critical Dialogue on the Practice of Worship in the 21st Century, will take place on the ANTS campus on Nov. 16. A keynote will be followed by breakout sessions led by distinguished leaders that will offer time for facilitated conversation amongst clergy; managing music ministry leaders & musicians; as well as choir members, worship leaders and laity.
“Andover Newton Theological School has long been committed to forming imaginative and able worship leaders,” said Adam Hearlson, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Director of Wilson Chapel. “It is our pleasure to partner with BCMMP and support their valuable mission of training worship leaders in the greater Boston area.”
The CICW’s Worship Renewal Grants program is now in its 14th year and has seen more than 600 projects funded since its inception.
“This year,” said Betty Grit, manager of the Worship Renewal Grants program, “the CICW received proposals from 16 denominations, 24 states and four Canadian provinces.”
An advisory board of pastors and teachers from a variety of backgrounds assisted in the grant selection and the 28 proposals being funded represent congregations and schools from 11 denominations in 15 states and two Canadian provinces.
The Worship Renewal Grants Program is generously supported by Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1937, the Endowment’s major areas of concern are community development, education, and religion.
For more information on the grants program, including a complete list of this year’s grants recipients, please see: www.calvin.edu/worship
For more information about BCMMP, please see: www.bcmmp.org
For more information about Andover Newton Theological Seminary, please see: www.ants.edu
About the Black Church Music Ministry Project
The Black Church Music Ministry Project is an ecumenical, intergenerational organization founded on Biblical principles for the purpose of serving, nurturing and developing spiritual leaders within music ministry through research, the publication of resources, and hosting leadership training via forums, workshops and conferences. BCMMP is recognized for its dedication to musical and intellectual excellence as well as mentoring spiritually mature music ministry leaders. BCMMP prides itself on adhering to the unchanging Word of God, remaining accountable and committed to its ministerial call as well as exemplifying servant leadership.
Contact
Leah Riviere
BCMMP
Marketing & Publicity Manager
leah.a.riviere@gmail.com
