Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Institutions represent and pass on philosophies, values, and goals that help define and propagate the cultures they represent. When those cultures experience massive changes, their goals, values, and philosophies are significantly challenged. Over the last several decades, perhaps nothing in the culture of Protestant and evangelical church life has changed more than corporate worship. Institutions called to train leaders for the music and worship ministries in local churches have experienced no less upheaval than the churches they serve. Although the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has trained church leaders for music and worship leadership in various ways since 1859, the period between 1980 and 2019 arguably saw the most significant upheaval. In the face of changing job competencies, large cultural shifts, and changes in educational philosophy, the faculty and administrators of Southern Seminary honorably manifested Joachim Neander's phrase, "Ponder anew what the Almighty can do." Through its data-infused narrative, Ponder Anew seeks to provide a case study understanding how institutions and churches can fulfill their mission in the midst of significant and sometimes tumultuous transition.
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Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Institutions represent and pass on philosophies, values, and goals that help define and propagate the cultures they represent. When those cultures experience massive changes, their goals, values, and philosophies are significantly challenged. Over the last several decades, perhaps nothing in the culture of Protestant and evangelical church life has changed more than corporate worship. Institutions called to train leaders for the music and worship ministries in local churches have experienced no less upheaval than the churches they serve. Although the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has trained church leaders for music and worship leadership in various ways since 1859, the period between 1980 and 2019 arguably saw the most significant upheaval. In the face of changing job competencies, large cultural shifts, and changes in educational philosophy, the faculty and administrators of Southern Seminary honorably manifested Joachim Neander's phrase, "Ponder anew what the Almighty can do." Through its data-infused narrative, Ponder Anew seeks to provide a case study understanding how institutions and churches can fulfill their mission in the midst of significant and sometimes tumultuous transition.
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Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do: 160 Years of Change in Worship Leader Training at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Overview

Institutions represent and pass on philosophies, values, and goals that help define and propagate the cultures they represent. When those cultures experience massive changes, their goals, values, and philosophies are significantly challenged. Over the last several decades, perhaps nothing in the culture of Protestant and evangelical church life has changed more than corporate worship. Institutions called to train leaders for the music and worship ministries in local churches have experienced no less upheaval than the churches they serve. Although the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has trained church leaders for music and worship leadership in various ways since 1859, the period between 1980 and 2019 arguably saw the most significant upheaval. In the face of changing job competencies, large cultural shifts, and changes in educational philosophy, the faculty and administrators of Southern Seminary honorably manifested Joachim Neander's phrase, "Ponder anew what the Almighty can do." Through its data-infused narrative, Ponder Anew seeks to provide a case study understanding how institutions and churches can fulfill their mission in the midst of significant and sometimes tumultuous transition.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798385241736
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date: 08/21/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 238
File size: 34 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Marcus W. Brown is Assistant Professor of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving nearly thirty years in full-time worship ministry with local churches, Brown and his family relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, in 2022 where he mentors the next generation of church musicians and worship leaders.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do offers a thoughtful look at the relationship between church and theological education as they each seek to navigate their way through times of change. In this case, the change has to do with church music and styles of worship, the place of worship leaders and musicians, and how they are educated and prepared for ministry. Marcus Brown, who has provided the insights in this helpful and data-informed study regarding Southern Seminary, is to be commended for his careful research from which church and denominational leaders, as well as faculty and institutional leaders, will continue to learn in the days to come.”

—David S. Dockery, President, International Alliance for Christian Education



“We need this study to help us navigate our future, a future that should be marked by our institutions doing more listening to our churches and less prescribing how they should sound; more focused on preparing students for ministry and less on protecting a particular artistic preference.”

—From the foreword by Joseph R. Crider



"As historical researchers are reflecting on the contemporary worship movement in America, an easily overlooked component is the story of the educational institutions that found themselves having to respond. Marcus Brown has graciously and thoroughly addressed this gap for the tale at Southern Seminary. Having lived this story, I am thankful to proclaim that he has provided a fascinating account of something that can only be truly understood in retrospect and fairly evaluated by a third party. He has skillfully provided both."

—R. Scott Connell, Professor of Church Music and Worship, SBTS

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