National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts

Three seminary professors will participate in the National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts to be held on July 19-22 at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN. This conference, held every three years, regularly attracts more than a thousand WELS pastors, teachers, musicians, and lay leaders, making it the largest Lutheran worship-related event in the nation. On July 20, the conference will travel to the campus of Martin Luther College (MLC), our ministerial education school in New Ulm, MN. The visit to MLC will enable many WELS members to see the campus for the first time and to have their first worship experience in the new Chapel of the Christ.

Five services at the conference focus on different days of the Christian church year. Prof. Kenneth Cherney will be the preacher for the Easter Day service to be held in the Chapel of the Christ on the morning of July 20.

Prof. Richard Gurgel will present a three-session workshop for pastors entitled “Freshness and Variety in Proclaiming Law and Gospel.” The goal of the course is to refresh participants in the many different ways Scripture proclaims both law and gospel.

Prof. James Tiefel has had a leading role in this event since the first conference was held in 1996. He chaired the conference steering committee through the 2002 conference. He remains a member of the steering committee and continues to prepare and arrange the conference services and concerts. He has also served as opening service preacher, festival choir director, keynote speaker, and workshop leader. This year he will present a workshop entitled “Recruiting Choir Members and Vocalists” which will provide helps to pastors, choir directors, and lay leaders to promote the ministry of the choir.