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Mission Statement
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship aims to promote the scholarly study of the theology, history, and practice of Christian worship and the renewal of worship in worshiping communities across North America and beyond.
Founded in 1997, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), located at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an interdisciplinary study and ministry center dedicated to both understanding and revitalizing the practice of Christian worship. We are dedicated to using the unique resources of a Christian liberal arts college—with its collegial environment, international faculty and student body, wide interdisciplinary expertise, and culture of ongoing learning—to partner with congregations, denominations, parachurch organizations, professional organizations, and publishers to further our mission.
The implementation of this mission is guided by the following commitments:
(Click on the arrow to see relevant selected stories from our Vital Worship: Feature stories collection.)
| 1. Integration of Faith and Learning. Worship can be immeasurably enriched by rigorous study of the history, theology, and practice of Christian worship. The Institute intends to model the integration of faith and learning which is at the heart of Calvin College’s mission. | |
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| 2. World Perspective. We have much to learn from Christian worship in ancient North Africa and modern-day Korea, in medieval Europe and modern-day South America. The Institute intends to promote learning about and from Christian worship in all times and places. | |
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| 3. Inter-disciplinary Scope. Artists, theologians, cultural anthropologists, missionaries, musicians, historians, pastors, and sociologists all have unique insights into ways Christians may worship God more profoundly. The Institute intends to promote active discussions among practitioners of several disciplines. | |
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| 4. Wide Ecumenical Audience. The Institute intends to respect and cultivate the strengths of the Reformed, evangelical tradition in which Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary stand, as well as to engage Christians in other traditions. | |
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| 5. Constructive Purpose. The Institute is charged to encourage public worship that is both spiritually vital and theologically rooted, that has both integrity and relevance, and not to promote unnecessary divisions over worship styles. | |
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CICW also works in close partnership with Calvin Theological Seminary, especially in areas of continuing education and worship-related academic courses.
Funding for the basic operation of CICW is provided by Calvin College. We are also grateful for generous grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Luce Foundation, which have allowed us to significantly increase the range and scope of our programming.
Over the past several years, CICW has
- seen our annual Symposium on Worship grow in attendance from 400 to 1,500 annual attendees,
- awarded worship renewal grants to 175 congregations throughout North America, and 12 Christian college campuses,
- offered over 80 continuing education events in 25 states and provinces,
- published 20 books of either scholarly analysis or practical worship resources, including book series with Eerdmans and The Alban Institute, and a music series with GIA Publications,
- developed a program of web-based worship resources,
- translated worship-related writings into Spanish and Korean,
- co-sponsored conferences and seminars on such diverse topics as worship and evangelism, the music of Bach, the 35th anniversary of Vatican II, the practice of worship worldwide, worship and aesthetics, worship in post-modern culture, worship and technology, worship and biblical theology, and worship on college campuses,
- partnered with over a dozen professional organizations, parachurch organizations, colleges and seminaries in various publishing and continuing education events, as well as several agencies of the Christian Reformed Church, and
- mentored over 50 students at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary as active participants in Institute programs.
Other Institutes at Calvin College
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is one of thirteen centers and institutes at Calvin College, including
Each of these centers is designed to accomplish particular programmatic goals in research, publication, networking, or educational events in ways that draw on the wide expertise of Calvin faculty and staff, provide rich learning experiences for students, and offer significant resources for a wide audience, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Other Institutes of Worship
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is one of several worship centers at academic institutions around North America. They include these institutions.
Other institutions offering degrees in worship
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship collaborates with Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary for several academic courses and degree programs. A guide to other institutions that offer academic degrees related to worship is available.
Related Feature Story
Does Your Church Have a Worship Pastor Yet?
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