Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Dismantles Church Music Studies

Tragic. Music is critical to a society and all the elements of it. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel

I have practiced my faith and worshiped at Southern Baptist Churches all my life. I have watched the Seminaries go from one extreme to the other all depending on the current President. This is a sad turn of events. Thank you for sharing.

That is sad but unsurprising news, my friend PO1 William "Chip" Nagel that the duo of Joe Crider and Chuck Lewis who "oversaw the destruction of the Southern Seminary music program" "are being brought to Fort Worth to help them overhaul the Southwestern School of Church Music."
I expect follow the money is causing the SWBTS to rethink their program.
a. School of Church Music and Worship with an 'emphasis in “worship,” with degree plans heavy in Southern Baptist theological studies, the history of Baptist worship, and practicums in ministry administration and small ensemble leadership.'
b. It seems they are trying to refocus on what underpins church music or at least should underpin it as develop that as a foundational understanding for students.
c. In administrations at most level including university pendulum swings are a matter of course and they always wing past .. and then swing back later asymptotically honing in on a solution. All-too-often when the solution is arrived at it is to an older and now moot problem :-)

1. "Full-time faculty positions have been reduced from 11 to 5. (Update: Most music specialists are gone. This includes Distinguished Professor of Music Theory and Campus Organist Jerry Aultman, who was nearing retirement age. A Go Fund Me has been established to help Professor Aultman and his wife with major expenses.)"
2. "According to reports, the new president of SWBTS has eliminated all performance degrees and applied concentrations, organ, piano, conducting, voice, and instrumental studies. Students with degrees in progress will be allowed to finish, but no new students will be accepted into these programs."
3. "Going forward, all degrees will reportedly have an emphasis in “worship,” with degree plans heavy in Southern Baptist theological studies, the history of Baptist worship, and practicums in ministry administration and small ensemble leadership."
4. "The School of Church Music, established in 1921 as the School of Gospel Music, is being rebranded, for now, as the School of Church Music and Worship."

FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas Col Carl Whicker Sgt (Join to see) SP5 Jeannie Carle SPC Margaret Higgins COL Mikel J. Burroughs Capt Dwayne Conyers SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL TSgt Joe C.