In Memory of Bob Webber
Today, at 6:10 p.m. Robert E. Webber left this life and his baptism is now complete. Bob was a teacher, mentor and friend. His work for Christ in this world is far reaching. He has taught so many people about the beauty and holiness of worship. He has inspired in the hearts of many a passion for God's people and a passion to lead God's people in true, vibrant, transformational worship. For those of you who don't know Bob, I will include his bio below, taken from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies website.
IWS is where my life intersects with Bob's. From the very first book I read for this degree, my life has changed, and how I do my job has changed. Bob, and the Institute has made my job infinitely more difficult, and infinitely more rewarding. A favorite saying of the students of IWS is that Bob has ruined us. We are ruined for anything other than worship that is rich with Scripture, deep in connection with the Body of all times, pregnant with escatological hope, awe-full of God's beautiful creation, joyfully Eucharistic in response to Jesus death and resurrection and wide open to the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, Bob for being an instrument for God, for trusting your life to God's will, and for sharing Christ's love through your expansive and graceful work.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nore demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-35, 37-39)
Dr. Robert E. Webber was born in the Congo of missionary parents, and was raised in the Philadelphia area. He earned the Th.D. from Concordia Theological Seminary, and taught at Covenant College. From 1968 to 2000 he served as Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. He has been appointed William R. and Geraldine D. Myers Professor of Ministry at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, beginning in the fall of 2000. Bob Webber started The Institute for Worship Studies in 1993, and is noted for his "Renew Your Worship!" Workshops across North America. He is the author of numerous books in worship and worship renewal, including Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, Worship Is a Verb and Worship Old and New. He served as editor of the seven-volume The Complete Library of Christian Worship (Hendrickson, 1993). Among his latest books are Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for Postmodern World (Baker, 1999) and The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenge of the New World (Baker, 2002).
IWS is where my life intersects with Bob's. From the very first book I read for this degree, my life has changed, and how I do my job has changed. Bob, and the Institute has made my job infinitely more difficult, and infinitely more rewarding. A favorite saying of the students of IWS is that Bob has ruined us. We are ruined for anything other than worship that is rich with Scripture, deep in connection with the Body of all times, pregnant with escatological hope, awe-full of God's beautiful creation, joyfully Eucharistic in response to Jesus death and resurrection and wide open to the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, Bob for being an instrument for God, for trusting your life to God's will, and for sharing Christ's love through your expansive and graceful work.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nore demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-35, 37-39)
Dr. Robert E. Webber was born in the Congo of missionary parents, and was raised in the Philadelphia area. He earned the Th.D. from Concordia Theological Seminary, and taught at Covenant College. From 1968 to 2000 he served as Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. He has been appointed William R. and Geraldine D. Myers Professor of Ministry at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, beginning in the fall of 2000. Bob Webber started The Institute for Worship Studies in 1993, and is noted for his "Renew Your Worship!" Workshops across North America. He is the author of numerous books in worship and worship renewal, including Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, Worship Is a Verb and Worship Old and New. He served as editor of the seven-volume The Complete Library of Christian Worship (Hendrickson, 1993). Among his latest books are Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for Postmodern World (Baker, 1999) and The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenge of the New World (Baker, 2002).
posted by Amy Stewart at 6:07 PM
5 Comments:
I saw your intro on the RevGal's site -- good to meet you and it was a blessing to read your words about Dr. Webber. I'm thinking about doing the doctorate in FL. Maybe we will meet some day in real life.
Welcome to the ring.
Hi Reverend mommy,
Thanks for your note and welcoming words. If you are considering IWS for your degree, I cannot say enough about the program. It has had an incredible impact on my life. If you every have any questions about it, please feel free to ask. I'm always happy to talk it up :).
Amy,
Peace and grace to you. Bob was a friend and mentor to many...including myself. Bob was an advisor/reader for my MTS in Liturgy. He was and is a great man. I will miss him sorely.
And welcome to RevGals!
Just want to say welcome to revgalblogpals. Good luck with your thesis. And thank you also for your post in memory of Bob Webber. I really liked his books. Have not met him. Look forward to seeing how it goes for you. Prayers for your journey.
What a wonderful tribute- welcome to revgals- looking forward to journeying with you.
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