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September 10, 2008
In Memory of Dr. Lyndel Vaught
I just received this notice regarding the death today of Lyndel Vaught. As many
of you know, Lyndel was professor of church music at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary and a 2004 alumnus of the Robert E. Webber Institute
for Worship Studies. He was a brilliant scholar with an insatiable
hunger for growing in his walk with God. He will be sorely missed.
Please keep Janet and the entire family in your prayers. A celebration
of Lyndel's life will be held at First Baptist Church of San Angelo,
TX this Saturday, September 13 at 2 PM.
The following is a news release from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary:
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Lyndel Vaught, professor of church music at
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary since 1993, died Sept. 10
of cancer. He was 63.
"
In the last few days of his life he spent his time encouraging others
in the assurance of salvation and the hope that lies ahead of all who
put their faith in Jesus," said
Stephen Johnson, dean of the school of church music at the Fort Worth,
Texas, seminary. Many seminary faculty, staff and students had visited
Vaught in the hospital, and a student-initiated prayer meeting had
been held for him the week before he died.
"
Dr. Vaught's heart for the future ministers that sat in his classroom
was well-known," Johnson
said. "His love for deep worship and active missionary involvement, most recently with
the Navajo, represented passions that occupied many of his conversations
and much of his time." During his sabbatical in the 2007-08 academic year, Vaught ministered to Native
Americans in New Mexico.
Southwestern President Paige Patterson recounted, "Visiting
him just a few days ago, I could not help being drawn to his Navajo
jewelry, which he faithfully wore even in the hospital. It reminded
me of his profound commitment not only to music and worship, but
also to missions."
Vaught's wealth of knowledge came from a broad range of life experiences.
While studying music at Oklahoma Baptist University, he met his wife
Janet. He went on to earn a master's degree in music from the University
of Oklahoma in 1968.
After graduation, he enlisted to serve in the Navy during the Vietnam
War, but he never made it to battle. During basic training, his officers
saw that he had a gift for quickly learning foreign languages, so they
sent him to language school followed by the Navy Officer's Training
School. He served in various roles across the country as an analyst
and specialist, eventually, working as a writer at the Pentagon.
Still, music remained his passion. He led worship for a small church
while he was in the military. When his tour of duty was over, he pursued
his doctorate in music at the University of Maryland. His first full-time
position in music ministry was at First Baptist Church in San Angelo,
Texas, from 1976 until joining Southwestern's faculty.
He began leading a senior adult choir and became energized by their
desire for the Lord. He even wrote a book, "Senior
Adult Choir Ministry -- Age Is No Excuse," which still is in print. While many people would think working with senior adults
would be dull in comparison to the fast-paced life in Washington,
D.C., Vaught once said if he were given another lifetime to work,
he would
spend the entire time in senior adult music ministry.
In recent years, Vaught combined his passions for worship, education
and technology to teaching online worship courses for Southwestern's
school of church music.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Andrea,
Christopher and William. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press
time.
----
Michelle Myers is a writer for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Grace and peace,
Jim Hart
Dr. James R. Hart
President, The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies
151 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073
1.800.282.2977
www.iwsfla.org
May 28, 2008
ROBERT E. WEBBER INSTITUTE FOR WORSHIP STUDIES HOSTS SEMINAR WITH DR. DON SALIERS
Renowned theologian/musician to speak at two-day seminar
ORANGE PARK, Fla– The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship
Studies (IWS) will host a two-day worship seminar with Dr. Don Saliers,
June 16-17, titled, “Humanity at Full Stretch: Worship and Spirituality
Today.”
Dr. Saliers is the William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor
of Theology and Worship, Emeritus, at Emory University’s Candler School
of Theology. For the past 33 years he has been organist/choirmaster
at Emory University’s Cannon Chapel, and has contributed to the United
Methodist Hymnal, The Book of Worship, and to the recent UpperRoom
Worshipbook. He lectures, preaches and leads retreats widely across
North America, and has taught regularly at Notre Dame, St. John’s,
Vancouver School of Theology and Boston College. He has served as president
of the North American Academy of Liturgy and the Society for the Study
of Christian Spirituality.
Dr. Saliers is the author and co-author of fifteen books
and over a hundred essays and book chapters. Among his recent publications
are Worship As Theology: Foretaste of Glory Divine, Worship and Spirituality,
Worship Come To Its Senses, and Music and Theology. In 2005 he wrote
A Song to Sing, A Life to Live, with his daughter Emily who is one-half
of the Grammy-Award winning Indigo Girls.
The seminar will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 151
Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, and is open to the public. The registration
fee is $120.00. For more information visit the seminar Web page at
http://www.iwsfla.org/alumni/seminar.html, or call the IWS office at
800-282-2977.
The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies is
the only institute in North America to focus exclusively on worship
education. It offers the Doctor of Worship Studies and the Masters
of Worship Studies degree programs, using a unique mix of in-class
instruction on its Florida campus and distance learning. Since its
founding in 1998, over 200 students from over 35 denominations in the
U.S., Canada and eight other countries have graduated from the Institute
for Worship Studies. Previous alumni seminar speakers have included
noted authors Brian McLaren and Dr. Harold Best, and well-known theologians
Dr. Stanley Grenz and Dr. Robert E. Webber.
