wfn.org | Worship arts fellowship gives top award to former SMU professor

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

July 9, 1999   News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.  10-71BP{369}

NOTE: A photograph is available with this story.

By United Methodist News Service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- Lloyd Pfautsch, a mentor for generations of
church music and worship leaders, has been given the top award of the
Fellowship of United Methodists in Music Worship Arts.

During opening sessions of the organization's biennial convocation July 8,
Pfautsch was given the Roger Deschner Award, created in 1991 to honor people
who have made significant contributions to the worship life of the United
Methodist Church.

Pfautsch retired in 1992 as professor of sacred music and director of choral
activities from the faculty of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern
Methodist University in Dallas, where he had taught since 1958.

Deschner, a faculty member at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, received
the first award named in his honor. He died of cancer in October 1991.

Pfautsch served as associate dean of the Meadows School for three years and
was director of the Meadows Chorale, the Mustang Chorale and the Choral
Union. He organized and conducted  for 25 years the Dallas Civic Chorus.

He earned degrees from Elmhurst (Ill.) College and Union Theological
Seminary in New York.  He also received several honorary degrees.

"Lloyd Pfautsch represents the best of the worship life of the church and
the best of what it means to be a choral technician and a disciple of Jesus
Christ," said the Rev. Douglas Grove- DeJarnett of Johnson City, Tenn., who
presented the award.  

Pfautsch said the award was particularly meaningful because it was named for
a longtime colleague at SMU who was best known for his significant
interaction with students. 

During the opening session of "Nashville Jubilee: a Sacred Celebration," new
leadership of the 2,200-member fellowship was introduced. Dan Francabandiero
of Jacksonville, Fla., is the new president of the fellowship council,
succeeding the Rev. Fred Lewis of Clear Lake, Iowa.  

President-elect is Diane Toogood, Rochester, Minn.; vice-president, John
Buehler, Baldwin City, Kan.; secretary, Robin Knowles Wallace, Delaware,
Ohio. Jurisdictional representatives on the council are: Northeastern, Grace
Bradford, Washington; Southeastern, Douglas Grove-DeJarnett, Johnson City,
Tenn.; North Central, Gloria Wendel, Van Wert, Ohio; South Central, Suzanne
Cate, Midland, Texas; Western, Judy Lewis, Montclair, Calif.  

The fellowship's offices are housed at the United Methodist Publishing House
in Nashville. The staff administrator is David Bone. Editor of the
fellowship's Worship Arts publication is David Wiltse of Rockford, Mich.  

______________
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