wfn.org | [ARCHDIOCESE] 2005 Summer Institute of Theological Education

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2005

Contact:
Department of Religious Education at 617-850-1218
Vicki Pappas at pappas@indiana.edu

 "Church Music - A Ministry for the Orthodox Parish Family:Opportunities
and Challenges"
2005 Summer Institute of Theological Education to feature National Church
Music Program

Brookline - Once again, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America brings
together religious educators, clergy, and church musicians for a weekend of
learning experiences and stimulating interchanges at the Summer Institute
on Theological Education, to be held June 16-18 at Holy Cross School of
Theology. The Summer Institute is co-sponsored by the Archdiocese
Department of Religious Education, the National Forum of Greek Orthodox
Church Musicians, and the Holy Cross School of Theology. Three "tracks"
comprise the Institute: adult education, clergy, and church musicians.

The overarching theme of this year's Summer Institute is "Ministering to
the Orthodox Family."  Similarly, the theme for the Church Music program is
"Church Music: A Ministry for the Orthodox Parish Family." Sessions are
organized into five aspects of parish life where church music can foster
religious education and growth: 1) Congregational Singing, 2) Byzantine
Chanting, 3) Choir Development, 4) Liturgical Music for Youth, and 5)
Composing in English. The Church Music program is made possible through
Leadership 100, which provided a generous grant to the National Forum to
bring a national cadre of church musicians to serve as faculty for the
Church Music program.

The purpose of the Church Music program is to provide opportunities for
participants to explore issues related to expanding church music into a
more comprehensive parish ministry, to experience practical applications of
ideas, and to  motivate church musicians to offer their services and
talents to the parish as a whole. During the three-day Institute,
participants will hear thoughtful and practical guest lectures, panel
presentations, and participate in smaller practicum sessions.

The Summer Institute opens on Thursday evening, June 16, with a session for
participants of all three tracks. Dr. John Chirban will give a presentation
on "Enlivening the Family through Life in the Spirit." The Church Music
program opens on Friday with specific church music sessions, following a
welcome by the Rev. Frank Marangos, Director of the Department of Religious
Education. Metropolitan Methodios of Boston has also been invited to greet
participants with comments related to "Church Music: An Entire Parish
Ministry."  Dr. Vicki Pappas, National Chairman of the National Forum of
Church Musicians, will set the stage with an address entitled, "Church
Music ? Not Just in the Choir Loft!"  The Rev. Constantine Sitaras,
Director of St. Basil's Academy and the Center for Family Life,  will
deliver the Keynote Address, "Ministering to the Orthodox Parish Family:
Implications for Church Music and the Church Musician."

The next component of the Church Music program, on Friday afternoon, June
17,  will focus on Congregational Participation. The Rev. Michael Bird,
from St. Gregory in Mansfield, MA, will begin the discussion with
"Congregational Singing or Congregational Engagement?"	Then Dr. Tikey Zes,
choir director at St. Nicholas in San Jose, CA,  will give a
lecture-demonstration entitled "Organizing for Congregational Singing ?
Models and Demonstrations."  Participants will read through music suitable
for encouraging congregational singing.

On Friday evening, there will be two concurrent sessions, one for composers
and one for those interested in developing liturgical music programs for
youth. The Composers Workshop will be led by Dr. Zes, who will coordinate a
discussion and work session among composers related to composing for
English texts. The goal is to work together to develop a common  version of
"Christos Anesti" and "Aionia I Mnimi" that can be proposed for use in the
parishes.

The evening's Youth Session will be led by Joanne Kambouras, choir director
of Holy Trinity in Clearwater, FL and Chairman of the National Forum's
Standing Committee on Youth. She will speak on "Youth Music: Programming
for Involvement and Liturgical Education."  Phyllis Onest, Religious
Education Director of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, will share ideas about
"Gaining Clergy and Church School Support." Last, a panel will present
"Promising Practices: Parish Liturgical Music Programs for Youth."
Panelists will include church musicians who have developed junior choir
and hymnology programs for youth in their parishes and metropolises: Vicki
Pappas/Indianapolis, Heidi Mason/Brockton MA, Kathleen Powell/Portland OR,
and Elia Nicholas, Raleigh NC.

The two Saturday sessions focus on Byzantine Chanting and Choir
Development. Byzantine Chanting will occur in the morning, with a talk by
Stanley Takis of Lansing MI on "The Defining Characteristics of Byzantine
Chant." Father Seraphim Dedes will discuss "How to Start Learning to
Chant." Two practicum sessions are designed to help participants learn
model melodies and isons associated with each mode. Father Seraphim and
Richard Vanderhoff will be the instructors of these workshops. Saturday
afternoon's Choir Development session will begin with a keynote by the Rev.
Athanasios Demos, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Boston. His talk will be
entitled "The Role of the Choir - Historical, Theological, and
Ecclesiastical Background."  Kevin Lawrence will discuss "Choir
Recruitment, Retention, and Maintaining Commitment."  A panel of choir
directors will close the session, leading discussion about "Improving the '
Phronema' and Performance of Choirs."

Registration materials, lodging, and cost information are available online
at this website: http://www.holycross.hchc.edu/pages/summerinstitute. You
may also call the Department of Religious Education at 617-850-1218, or
e-mail Vicki Pappas at pappas@indiana.edu. Coordinating the Summer
Institute's registration and logistic arrangements are Presvytera Haidee
Marangos and Department staff. Constantine Limberakis of Hellenic College
is handling special arrangements for the Church Music program.

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