In this conversation with Dr. John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, we talk about making change in our churches in a week-by-week process, the importance of resources to validate aspects of ministry that aren't currently supported, and - the big one - how important teachability and curiosity is to leadership.

About John Witvliet:

John D. Witvliet is director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and professor of worship, theology, & congregational and ministry studies at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. He is editor for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies Series (Eerdmans), author of The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction and Guide to Resources (Eerdmans), Worship Seeking Understanding: Windows into Christian Practice (Baker Academic), and collaborating editor for several hymnals, children’s books, and scholarly books, including Worship in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Change and Continuity in Religious Practice (University of Notre Dame Press).

Enjoying this podcast episode? Click here to find other Music and the Church episodes, or subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.

A Transcript of Strengthening Congregational Song with John Witvliet, on Music and the Church Ep. 43

Teachability in Church Leadership

Sarah Bereza: Let's talk about the wealth of resources for church musicians out there.

John Witvliet: So many different areas of study in a really robust worship conference or a robust academic conference a on church music that can inform the life of a church musician. It's the the story of a hymn that you might not sing next Sunday. People have reflected on performance practice of a favorite style of music. It's people who reflect deeply on how people receive music and how people find music to be healing and the role of music and pastoral care. And you know, how many different disciplines can strengthen the life of a church musician - it's ethnomusicology, it's also music education, music therapy, history of music, history of liturgical music, it's so many different areas of reflection.

Sarah Bereza: I'm hearing this and thinking and yet so often for a church musician, there's only one area that they have very much exposure to.

John Witvliet: Exactly right. Yeah. And actually for any of us, I think there can be fear and trepidation to learn from areas where we feel less strong. We feel not sure of ourselves.

Sarah Bereza: It can be scary to be the newbie.

John Witvliet: It is. And in perhaps it's a willingness to grow, a desire to grow, a kind of curiosity - you know, a growth mindset. It's true in every area of life, but certainly in church leadership where a desire to grow and a spirit of being teachable might be one of the top criteria. Churches would be healthier places if teachability were one of the key criteria for every single leadership position.

Sarah Bereza: So we just need to end the podcast right there because there's the message.

John Witvliet: Right, right.

What are your church's crucial areas of growth?

Sarah Bereza: You have been part of the grants program at the Calvin Institute of Worship for quite a while now. And so you've gotten a different, maybe a different kind of angle on growth and music in churches because you're looking at it from not just an academic perspective, but a grantor perspective, not just as a practitioner in the church. Can you tell us about that?

John Witvliet: Sure. So it is a great joy every year to receive grant applications from teams in worshipping communities. These are collaboratively produced proposals. And they really represent the deep yearnings of a church. There's a pastoral discernment process that goes into a grant application. Essentially, we're inviting churches ask the question, "What is a an especially crucial area of growth that you feel God is calling your congregation...