The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS) is a non-denominational graduate theological school (emphasizing worship theology) which employs a hybrid course delivery system combining intensive on-campus pedagogy and distance learning methods. The administrative office of the school is located in Orange Park, Florida

Orange Park, Florida

Orange Park is a town in Clay County, Florida, USA, and a suburb of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island, Lakeside, and...

; several nearby churches and schools combine to provide classroom space for on-campus intensive sessions.

History

IWS was conceived of in the 1990s by worship theologian Robert E. Webber

Robert E. Webber

Robert Eugene Webber was an American theologian known for his work on worship and the early church. He played a key role in the Convergence Movement, a move among evangelical and charismatic churches in the United States to blend charismatic worship with liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer...

, who intended to provide doctoral-level theological training to Worship Leaders and Music Ministers, who often complete Master degrees in areas like music or theology, and thus lack the divinity credentials to enroll in Doctor of Ministry

Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...

 programs. The first student cohort began matriculating at what was then called simply "The Institute for Worship Studies" in June 1999 with a class of twenty Doctor of Worship Studies (D.W.S.) students. The Masters of Worship Studies (M.W.S.) program began in 2002. After Dr. Webber died in 2007, the Board of Trustees voted to rename the school in his honor, and it has been called "The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies" ever since. In 2008, IWS was named "Best of the Best" by Worship Leader Magazine in the area of Worship Education and Training.

Accreditation

The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies was granted accredited status by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education

The Association for Biblical Higher Education

The Association for Biblical Higher Education or ABHE is a nationally recognized accrediting agency in the United States. It is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...

 in 2010, having become a member of the same in 2005.

Doctor of Worship Studies (D.W.S.)

The doctoral program consists of four core courses, the Practicum, and the thesis course, for a total of 34 credits. The program is similar in rigor and philosophy to a Doctor of Ministry degree.

• DWS 701: The Biblical Foundations and Historical Development of Christian Worship
• DWS 702: Sunday Worship: Music and the Arts
• DWS 703: The Church Year
• DWS 704: The Sacred Actions and Ministries of Worship
• DWS 702P-704P: The Practicum
• DWS 801: The Thesis Course

Master of Worship Studies (M.W.S.)

The master's program consists of four core courses and the ministry internship, for a total of 30 credits.

• MWS 501: A Biblical Theology of Worship
• MWS 502: The History of Christian Worship
• MWS 503: Spirituality in a Postmodern World
• MWS 504: Cross-cultural Perspectives in Christian Worship
• MWS 601: The Ministry Internship

Faculty

The IWS Faculty consists entirely of adjuncts who almost all teach full-time at other schools. Faculty members hold positions at such schools as the University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...

, Duke Divinity School

Duke Divinity School

The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of thirteen seminaries founded and supported by the United Methodist Church. It has 39 full time and 18 part time faculty and over 500 full time students. The current dean of The Divinity School is Richard B. Hays, who replaced...

, Wheaton College (Illinois)

Wheaton College (Illinois)

Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...

, the Candler School of Theology

Candler School of Theology

Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...

 at Emory University, Northwestern College

Northwestern College

Northwestern College can refer to:*Northwestern College in Bridgeview, Chicago, and Naperville.*Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.*Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota....

, College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian liberal-arts college, with its campus at Point Lookout near Branson and Hollister, Missouri, United States. It is south of Springfield on a campus, overlooking Lake Taneycomo...

, Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination...

, the Perkins School of Theology

Perkins School of Theology

Perkins School of Theology is one of Southern Methodist University's three original schools. The theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J...

 at Southern Methodist University, Reformed Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary is a non-denominational, evangelical Protestant seminary. RTS's first campus remains in Jackson, Mississippi, United States though the school has expanded to include several additional campuses.-Founding:...

, and Northern Seminary.

• Andrew E. Hill, Ph.D., Academic Dean
• James Abbington, D.M.A.
• Jeff Barker, M.F.A.
• Eric Bolger, Ph.D., D.W.S.
• Doris Borchert, D.Min. (Professor Emerita)
• Gerald Borchert, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus)
• Constance M. Cherry, D.Min.
• Vaughn Crowe-Tipton, Ph.D.
• C. Michael Hawn, D.M.A.
• Reggie Kidd, Ph.D.
• Keith D. Ray, D.Min.
• Lester Ruth, Ph.D.
• Daniel L. Sharp, D.M.A.
• Jack Van Marion, D.Min.
• Emily Vermilya, M.W.S. (D.W.S. Candidate)
• Kent Walters, D.W.S.
• Carla Waterman, Ph.D.
• Greg Wilde, D.W.S.

Board of Trustees

• Dr. Gerald Borchert
• Dr. Karen Carpenter
• Dr. Melva Costen
• The Rev. Dr. Wayne Freeberg
• The Rev. Dr. James R. Hart (ex officio)
• Dr. John Lindsell (Chairman)
• Mr. David Neff
• The Rev. Dr. Tim Roberts
• Ms. Joanne Lindsell Webber