Minister
I developed an interest in music ministry at an early age, and was nurtured in that interest by the churches of my childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After the happy surprise of winning the high school division of a choral composition contest sponsored by Oklahoma Baptists, I was encouraged to develop the skills of composition for use in my ministry.
In 1986 I received a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition from the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University. I continued preparation for music ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, where I graduated with a Master of Church Music degree in 1989 (when the school was devoted to progressive thought).
At Southern Seminary I met my wife, Cindy, who is a gifted pianist/organist and church musician. We make our home in Knightdale, North Carolina, and joyfully share life with our two adult children, Ryan and Kelly, and their spouses, Jessica and Bryan.
In 2001 I gratefully became the Minister of Music for Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina - one of the most liberal and open Baptist churches in the United States. The congregation's welcome statement gives voice to the church’s identity:
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You are welcome here, beloved child of God. Everything that makes you who you are - your race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability or disability, body size, background, culture, every gift that makes you unique - reflects the image of the Divine. We accept and affirm you just as you are, and we invite you to join us in the sacred work of anti-racism, justice-love, and radical hospitality.
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It is in this inclusive context that I enjoy exploring ways that congregational, choral, and instrumental music can engage and express an ever-evolving humanity. For more information on Pullen’s Music Ministry go to pullen.org/music.
This website also incudes descriptions of my work as: Composer, Hymn Writer, and Teacher.
This website also incudes descriptions of my work as: Composer, Hymn Writer, and Teacher.
