Northcutt Lecture Theologian Speaks on Adoption

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Senior Research Fellow Dr. Emily Brink at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Mich., will present "International Adoption Agents: How Songs Find New Homes" as part of the Northcutt Lecture presented by Baylor University's School of Music.

The 24th annual Norcutt Lecture will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, in Meadows Recital Hall of the Glennis McCrary Music Building, 110 Bagby Ave., on the Baylor campus in Waco.

Brink will provide several examples of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that have been "adopted," from one country or culture to another.

"All Christians are members of Christ's body by adoption," Brink said. "How we understand our adoption in Christ has implications for how we adopt songs as well."
"I hope the concept of adoption will help us understand more deeply what unity in Christ calls us to, including embracing songs from different times and places, claiming them as our own," she said.
Brink earned her masters in organ and church music from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., and earned her doctorate in music theory from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
She is adjunct professor of worship and church music at Calvin Theological Seminary, with primary responsibility in the area of conference planning and global resources.
She co-edited The Worship Sourcebook and served as an editorial team member for Singing the New Testament; Hymns for Worship; and Global Songs for Worship.
Before coming to Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Brink was music and worship editor for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, founding editor of Reformed Worship and editor of the Psalter Hymnal; Songs for LiFE; and Sing! A New Creation. She serves on the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Christian Reformed Church, and the Seminary and Denominational Relations Committee of the American Guild of Organists.
The lecture is free and open to the public and for more information, call the Baylor University School of Music at 254-710-3991.
by Colton Wright, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805