Center for worship and music (fw)

Director of the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience Rev. Dr. Cynthia A Wilson, an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church, has served as the Center’s director since its inception in 2015. She has performed everything from Handel to Mahalia, and from Bach to Boogie. She has toured the world, including several festivals of music and recording concerts and tours in Argentina, Brazil, Copenhagen, Denmark, the World Council of Churches in Brighton, England, and memorable fundraising events sponsored by Africa University in Seoul, Korea and at Carnegie Hall.

Wilson’s extensive discography includes ministry with Donald Vails and the Choraleers. Her profound solo interpretation of “With A Made Up Mind”, which she co-wrote, helped win the world famous gospel choir a Grammy nomination. Her most recent collaborative project is a documentary titled, Reflect, Reclaim, Rejoice: Preserving the Gift of Black Sacred Music, produced by The United Methodist Church. The project received an Emmy Award in January 2015.

Notably, she has also shared the stage with dynamic leaders and artists such as Richard Smallwood, Edwin Hawkins (“Oh Happy Day”), Nancy Wilson, Patti LaBelle, Shirley Caesar, Donald Lawrence, Cissy Houston, the legendary Lionel Hampton, and the late Rev. James Cleveland.

Wilson holds a doctor of philosophy in liturgical studies from Garrett-Evangelical, as well as a bachelor of arts in music education from Dillard University and a master of sacred music degree from Perkins School of Theology.

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Garrett

redefine seminary

CENTER FOR MUSIC AND WORSHIP IN THE BLACK CHURCH EXPERIENCE

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary serves the church and the world by preparing pastors, public theologians, and scholars.

We equip our students to proclaim the good news of the gospel, to foster deep spirituality in the lives of others, to serve with cultural competence and commitment to racial equity, and to lead transformative change for the well-being of all persons and creation. Located on the campus of Northwestern University, we offer rigorous, intellectually challenging academics paired with a commitment to intentional spiritual formation that trains the mind, body, and spirit.

Garrett-Evangelical offers master of divinity, master of arts, master of theological studies, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of ministry degrees. The seminary’s 4,500 living alums serve the church and society in every state in the United States and in 30 countries worldwide.

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60201 www.Garrett.edu | 847.866.3900 Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience Rev. Dr. Cynthia A. Wilson, Director Cynthia.Wilson@Garrett.edu | 847.866.3936

Forging our Future Endowment Campaign

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Garrett

G a r r e t t . e d u / M u s i cWo r s h i p C e n t e r

redefine seminary

CENTER FOR MUSIC AND WORSHIP IN THE BLACK CHURCH EXPERIENCE The Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience is a oneof-a-kind North American institute that will provide training in the sacred music of the Black church and beyond to musicians and worship leaders for the enrichment of congregational worship throughout the United States.

Our Purpose

Why now?

The purpose of the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience is two-fold:

There is a rich history of musical traditions and an exploding excitement in contemporary expressions of music and worship informed by the Black experience and perspective. This legacy, a gift to the church and to the world, is sadly now in jeopardy. Many programs that have historically stood as the vanguard for the training of musicians (vocal and instrumental), worship leaders, choral directors, pastors, audio/visual personnel, and others have closed.

• To provide training in the areas of sacred music and worship indigenous to the Black church and beyond for the revitalization of congregational worship. • To create an archive of music and scholarship that will preserve and promote the rich history of Black church music.

In partnership with the Center for the Church and the Black Experience, an academic initiative at Garrett-Evangelical, and the United Methodist Discipleship Resources: Strengthening the Black Church for the Twenty-First Century (SBC21), the Center seeks to recover the distinctive musical and liturgical heritage of Black churches, recreate and revitalize that musical and liturgical heritage, and strengthen the skills of music and worship leaders in Black churches.

To learn more about the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience, go to:

Garrett.edu/MusicWorshipCenter

Many African American churches now find themselves being served by gifted persons who have not had access to opportunities for sharpening their particular skills for the roles listed above. In addition, many churches are fiscally unable to offer sufficient salaries and benefits for full-time staff persons who hold degrees in these areas. This means that, all too often, these important positions are filled by parttime leaders who hold jobs in other fields, and who do not have the resources or time to consider seminary training in a degree program. Yet, these persons are seeking training opportunities that provide the tools needed to strengthen their gifts and talents.

A Vision for the Future The vision for the Center extends beyond offering theoretical approaches to vital worship. This Center encourages contextual, prophetic worship and song. Through fundamental and advanced course offerings, the Center aspires to restore and revitalize the ethos and pathos of corporate music and worship in communities across the nation. Of course, this can only be accomplished with the endowment of the Center and a distinguished faculty member in music and worship studies.

Thus, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is seeking $1 million to permanently endow the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience and $2 million to permanently endow a faculty chair in music and worship.

The endowment of the Center will provide the necessary operating budget for two intensives held each year, seminars and continuing education opportunities, and scholarships for attendees. The endowment of the faculty chair will position Garrett-Evangelical to attract and retain the very best in Black sacred music and worship studies.

We invite you to actively participate in the life and work of this important ministry resource by making a generous gift toward its endowment and the faculty chair. Outright gifts, pledges over a five-year period, and planned gift commitments are all welcome. Please fill out and return the enclosed Gift Intention Form at your earliest convenience, and help us reach the $3 million goal to endow the Center and establish a faculty chair.

Devoted to the Revitalization and Preservation of Music and Worship of the Black Church and Beyond