Faith and Art: A Creative Exploration
An increasing number of organizations are searching for a Director of Music and the Fine Arts. These positions are part of a growing movement known as “arts ministry,” which focuses on the historic fine arts, including architecture and the visual arts, drama, dance, the literary arts, film, and human creativity itself. It is not restricted to worship, but rather opportunities for ministry in a wide variety of settings. Enhance your understanding of arts ministry and a form a plan for how to initiate and develop such a ministry in your church.
Michael Bauer
Michael Bauer is professor of organ and church music at the University of Kansas, where he developed the doctoral program in church music. He also serves as organist/choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Omaha. In 2001, along with colleagues from Kansas and Missouri, he founded IMAGO DEI: Friends of Christianity and the Arts, a Christian arts organization. He is a contributing author to the books Leading the Congregation’s Song (Augsburg) and A Tribute to Petr Eben (British Dvorak Society). He has written articles for CrossAccent, L’Orgue, and Reformed Worship. Recently, he published the book Arts Ministry: Nurturing the Creative Life of God’s People (Eerdmans). He has performed in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Russia. Every two years he directs a European organ study tour. With his wife, Marie, he has recorded a CD of organ works by Petr Eben (Calcante). He lectures widely about religion and the arts.