If we associate “theologian” with anyone in a congregation, it is usually the pastor or other ordained staff. Applying that term to our church musicians can seem like a stretch, especially when many church musicians lack the formal theological education clergy receive through master’s of divinity programs.
Part of the problem may lie in how we think about theology. If theology is mostly dried ink for a dusty classroom, then we may never learn to see musicians as theologians. But if one of the purposes””indeed, the chief purpose””of theology is doxology (the praise of God), then it is easier to see how the church musician does function as a practical theologian, complementing the theological role of the pastor. As David Arcus, adjunct associate professor of sacred music and Divinity School organist, told me recently, “Clearly, our tasks [of being musicians or pastors] are different. But we all share in the general responsibility of facilitating the praise of God.”
This is why I cannot commend highly enough the work of the Robert E. Webber [url=http://iws.edu/]Institute for Worship Studies[/url], training church musicians to think theologically.