General Information
Lift EVERY Voice: Centering Young People in Worship & Song
Dates: July 25 – 26, 2013
Location: Seminary Hall
Co-Directors and Plenary Speakers: Mark Miller and Rev. Tanya Linn Bennett, PhD.
Many of today’s youth and young adult, the Millennial Generation, claim that the institutional church is irrelevant and does not touch their souls and speak to their spirits. This year’s Summer Music Institute focuses on the needs and wants of the next generation, exploring and imagining worship and music to bring them closer to each other, closer to the church, and closer to the One who offers life-saving, grace-filled Love. Join us for these two days of lectures, worship experiences and workshops, equipping ourselves as worship leaders to meet the challenge and the joy of worshipping with the Millennial Generation.
Leadership
Biographies:
Mark Andrew Miller
Mark Miller believes passionately that music can change the world. He also believes in Cornell West’s quote that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” His dream is that the music he composes, performs, teaches, and leads will inspire and empower people to create the beloved community.
Mark serves is Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School and is a Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University. He also is the Minister of Music of Christ Church in Summit, New Jersey. Since 1999 Mark has led music for United Methodists around the country, including directing music for the 2008 General Conference. His choral anthems are best sellers for Abingdon Press and his hymns are published in “Worship & Song”, “Sing! Prayer and Praise”, “Zion Still Sings”, “Amazing Abundance”, “The Faith We Sing”, and others.
Mark received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Yale University and his Master of Music in Organ Performance from Juilliard.
Rev. Tanya Linn Bennett, PhD.
An ordained elder in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, Dr. Linn Bennett serves as University Chaplain/Director of the Chapel & Religious Life at Drew University. Tanya is also Associate Professor of Christian Practice at Drew Theological School, and teaches in the areas of emerging worship, educational ministries, and church and society, with particular interest in youth and urban ministries. Her Ph.D. from Drew is in Sociology of Religion; her research work focused on the Millennial Generation and Christian Church. Tanya served on the worship team for the UM General Conference 2008, and will be a delegate in 2012. She has designed worship for the NEJ 2011 Jurisdictional Conference, the Reconciling Ministry Network 2012 Convocation, the Love Your Neighbor General Conference gathering 2012, and the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. She leads worship and workshops for various national and global United Methodist events, and has led retreats and seminars throughout the Northeast Jurisdiction. She can be reached at tbennett@drew.edu.