Baylor Center for Christian Music Brings "Innovator" to Campus

February 24, 2012
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Baylor University's Center for Christian Music Studies will present Karen Ward, an ordained Episcopal priest and the curator of All Souls' "PopUp Church" in Portland, Ore., as this semester's innovator of the Hearn Innovators in Christian Music Series.
Ward will speak at the 9:05 a.m., 10:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. chapels Monday, Feb. 27, in Waco Hall, 624 Speight Ave. She also will speak to the Baylor Association of Church Musicians at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Recital Hall II in Waco Hall. Ward will end her visit at Baylor with a Brown Bag Luncheon at noon Wednesday, Feb. 29, in Room 309 of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, 1100 S. Third St.
Randall Bradley, the Ben H. Williams Professor of Music and director of the church music program at Baylor, said Ward will speak about her experiences as an innovator and leader within the Emerging Church Movement, as well as issues in the area of church and culture.
"Karen is a thoughtful, innovative and sometimes prophetic leader. She has taken risks in her ministry and tried methods and strategies that are new and fresh," Bradley said.
"I am hopeful that she will expand our thinking and that she will cause us to think differently about our ministries, callings and the people we are called serve," he said. "Karen can bring perspectives on the gospel that we are likely yet to consider. As an African-American woman, Karen has transcended many barriers, and her story is one that has the potential to inspire Baylor students to transcend barriers that they are facing."
The Hearn Innovator in Christian Music Series is designed to bring trailblazers in the field of Christian Music to Baylor's campus. Guests in the series are on campus for three to four days to speak in classes, make public presentations and visit with students in small groups and one-on-one.
All lectures and events are free and open to the public.

by Carmen Galvan, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805