Bachelor of Arts in Music for Worship Arts & Ministry
The call of the worship leader is the call of a servant. Worship leaders are to be individuals who disown self-glory and self-preference and lay down their lives to serve the body of Christ through the mission of facilitating authentic, Spirit-filled, corporate worship in the house of God. The music for worship arts and ministry program emphasizes theological foundations of worship in the church and provides an extensive internship/mentorship program through church plants and influential church bodies nationwide.
Worship Leadership 360°
We believe that the calling to lead God’s people in corporate worship is a tremendous responsibility and we are committed to training the next generation of worship leaders for the church. Worship leadership requires a diverse set of skills and personal characteristics and our Worship Arts & Ministry degree is designed with these traits in mind.
Our Worship Leadership 360° program equips students for lasting ministry success in five key areas:
- Spiritual Discipleship — our first priority is enabling students to grow in their relationship with Christ. We foster discipleship throughout the use of peer mentoring, Chapel participation, and regular times of worship and biblical teaching.
- Skill Development — students develop the necessary musical skills to lead worship in the 21st century, including voice, guitar, and keyboard as well as music directing.
- Personal Growth — one of the distinguishing features of our program is regular coaching by our faculty members. Rick Muchow, former worship pastor at Saddleback Church, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table as he coaches and mentors our students.
- Academic Preparation — in order to be successful in ministry service, worship leaders must combine skill development with rigorous academic and theological training. Our dedicated faculty challenge our students to think deeply and become difference makers in the world for Christ and his Kingdom.
- Ministry Experience — our worship students are required to serve in a local church in some capacity each semester and their monthly coaching sessions unpack ministry issues and help students learn from them and implement solutions that will pay tremendous dividends both now and in the future.
Worship Forum
The “hub” of the undergraduate Worship Studies program is Worship Forum. Each week our worship studies majors and minors gather together and have the opportunity to hear from gifted local, national, and international worship leaders, musicians, theologians, and writers. These times of in-depth teaching feature expansive Q/A sessions where our students engage in dialogue with these personalities.
Professor Hector Jimenez guides our undergraduate worship studies program and leads our students in their Worship Leadership Demonstrations. Each week in Worship Forum students are given the opportunity to lead a worship set and receive constructive, but detailed feedback. Over the course of 8 semesters, students will have the experience of leading in multiple styles, languages, hymns and worship songs, all while receiving top quality instruction and leadership.
Guiding Principles
Diversity of Style
A hallmark of CBU’s Worship Arts and Ministry degree is to develop students to be proficient in a vast array of musical styles and technical arts, preparing them for success day one in whatever culture or church the Lord calls them. As the Church in America attempts to connect with existing and emerging subcultures through worship style, the musical skill-set of the worship leader / pastor must be increasingly diverse. In addition, today’s worship leader is called upon to incorporate an expansive palate of technical (AVL), studio production, and even theatrical elements in each worship experience. CBU’s objective is to prepare future worship leaders to be competent in a multitude of styles — from modern band-driven to choir and/or orchestra models, from hymnody and liturgy to multi-cultural music — equipping them to utilize these eclectic styles individually, or in concert, to create a coherent, unified, and powerful worship experience.
Depth of Preparation
One of the most exciting dimensions of the Worship Arts and Ministry degree is its focus on training men and women to be successful pastoral and professional leaders in the church. It isn’t enough for the modern worship leader to be a skillful musician or have a strong platform presence. The role requires skills as a leader, pastor, counselor, administrator, motivator, organizer, manager, theologian, and communicator. With a strong concentration on personal character, pastoral skills, and professional aptitudes, this program draws from a cross-section of disciplines to prepare students to be strong and wise leaders as they manage resources, projects, and the people the Lord has placed in their sphere of influence.
Clarity of Purpose
The call of the worship leader is the call of a servant. Worship leaders are to be individuals who disown self-glory and self-preference and lay down their lives to serve the body of Christ through the mission of facilitating authentic, spirit-filled, corporate worship in the house of God. Through emphasizing theological foundations of worship in the church, the calling of a shepherd, and through an extensive internship/mentorship program through church plants and influential church bodies nationwide, CBU prioritizes preparing the hearts of worship leaders to assume their role as servants in the example of Christ.
Degree Information
The Bachelor of Arts in Music for Worship Arts and Ministry is a fully-accredited degree in music and worship leadership. In addition to training in fundamental musical skills, students develop the ability to lead worship vocally and instrumentally. Their university academic studies are joined by rigorous theological training in worship studies as well as a minor in Christian Studies where they will study with our renowned faculty in the School of Christian Ministries.
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