A Worship & Theology event
Thirteen years ago I got an email from David Crowder, inviting me to present at a church music conference that he was planning. It's certainly one of the craziest and awesomest events that I've ever attended, and I’m grateful to Crowder for the invite..
It also included a rather motley collection of musicians—from Hillsong London to Israel Houghton, Jars of Clay to the Civil Wars, John Mark McMillan to Isaac Wardell, Gungor to the Welcome Wagon.
On the second day of the conference, I shared a panel with Dan Haseltine, Charlie Peacock, Bob Kauflin, Matt Redman and David Dark. (What a crew.)
Afterwards, I found myself in conversation with Matt Redman, whom I've long respected and admired, and who now all these years later has invited me to present at a conference that he's planned for October 25, which will take place in Washington, DC, at the Museum of the Bible.
He asked specifically if I might do some of the "theological heavy-lifting" at the conference in a way that might enrich the work of songwriters, musicians and worship leaders.
(I'm considering doing a talk on a trinitarian theology of lament. Lord knows the church needs help to sing their griefs faithfully to God. But we’ll see.)
The title of the event is "WOR/TH," which is a mashup of "worship" and "theology." The strapline is: "Coming back to the heart (and mind) of worship." In Matt's own words:
"This is the heart behind WOR/TH—a series of gatherings pursuing healthy, honouring and helpful theology in our worship music."
Both Pat Barrett (author of "Good Good Father" and "Build My Life") and Jason Ingram (author of "Goodness of God" and "You Say," which he co-wrote with Lauren Daigle) will also be presenting, and it'll be great to meet them personally and to hear their reflections on their own craft and sense of calling.
If you'd like to attend or know someone that should be there, check out the "WOR/TH" link here. It should be a total blast and, God-willing, will result in songs for the church that invite God's people into the theological riches and depths of the gospel.
