Church Music Certificate Program

Mission Statement: To train bi-vocational and volunteer music directors to proclaim the Gospel and equip believers through music ministry in their local churches.

The Church Music Program Certificate is a pilot project and a cooperative effort between Bluefield College and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to train volunteer and bi-vocational music directors. Each course offered will run for eight weeks and will be taught on Monday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM. All eight courses must be completed in order to receive a program certificate. A student may enter the certificate program at the beginning of any class. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. Payments are due before the course begins. There will be three class sites: Roanoke, Bluefield and Franklin, utilizing video conferencing technology. Cost for the first class will be $100 per person (text will be included).

Courses Offered

• Class I: Understanding and Energizing Worship
  • January 22—March 12, 2007 (Mondays only)
  • Instructors: Jake and Kim Roudebush (taught from Roanoke)
  • Text: Barry Liesch. The New Worship: Straight Talk on Music and the Church. Baker Books 2001
• Class II: Reading Music: Translating What You See Into Sound
  • April 16—June 11, 2007 (Mondays only, except no class on May 28th)
  • Instructor: Susan Allen (taught from BC)
  • Text: TBA
• Class III: Organizing for Music Ministry
  • September 17– November 5, 2007 (Mondays only)
  • Instructors: Bryant and Lisa Moxley (taught from BC)
  • Text: Bob Burroughs. Church Music in Today’s World.
• Class IV: Survey of Resources for the Church Musician
  • January/February/March 2008
  • Instructor: TBA
  • Text: Resources from Various Publishers

Tentative Topics for Future Classes

• Song Leading and the Choir
• Using Your Voice
• Working with People
• Congregational Songs

Scholarship assistance is available thanks to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Clergy and lay leaders who have a financial need and are endorsed by a BGAV church may apply for a scholarship for up to one-third the cost of an educational offering sponsored by a ministry partner. Download the application.

Mail registration with payment to:

Bryant Moxley
Assistant Professor of Music
3000 College Drive
Bluefield, VA 24605