Music Conference shows need for more indigenous music

Ethnodoxology. “Ethno what?” you’re probably asking? “Ethnodoxology is the theological and anthropological study and practical application of how every people group might use their culture’s unique and diverse artistic expressions appropriately to worship the God of the Bible.” A long sentence that boils down to “play something we know!”

Back in July Andy and Jo (NZ and Canadian couple based in the Middle East) went to London to gather with other like-minded people from WEC to meet and dialogue on this topic. They commented “While it was definitely good to meet these folks, it's a pity there aren't more of us!”. 

This was the very first music conference of its kind to be held by WEC.  Worship songs were heard from West Africa, the Himalayas, South Asia, Southern Europe and the Caribbean, including songs by several of WEC’s songwriters.  This first-of-a-kind conference drew singers and instrumentalists from seven countries with ministry experience in twelve countries. Eight came hot-foot from a 5- day Global Music Summer School at All Nations Christian College, a colourful event co-sponsored by the college and WEC UK and taught by three tutors including two of WEC’s cross-cultural musicians. They brought African and Asian instruments and songs from several nations, sung in original languages and some in singable English. Perfect? Perhaps not, but a taste of eternity was had by all!

This stimulating context left Andy and Jo challenged, they asked “With WEC’s main focus as church planting, what more can we be doing to see ethnodoxologists recruited to our church planting teams to make worship feel more like home - instead of just being a clone of what the foreigners do? It also made me start thinking about churches in the West too where increasing numbers of people from different cultures are arriving.  What can we do even back in NZ churches to make our church music more "homey" to non-Westerners...?”  There’s a challenge there for us too!