Upcoming Events

Music for Worship that Matters
Monday, February 6, 2012

A workshop for pastors, musicians and lay leaders

Brite Divinity School
Ft. Worth, Texas

For more information click here.

About Us

The Church Music Institute is dedicated to the practice, advancement, and stewardship of the best of liturgical and sacred music for worshipping Christian congregations. The Institute offers educational courses, workshops, on-site and online resources, fosters conversation among musicians, pastors and laypersons, and sponsors research in the field of church music.

Our Vision

CMI acknowledges music as one of God's greatest gifts, deserving of our best understanding and care. The work of the Institute is thus based on the following assumptions:

  • music in worship should be chosen for its capacity to approach holiness, beauty and transcendence in the worship of God
  • music in worship is a vehicle for prayer and praise, serving the gathered community of all ages and backgrounds
  • leaders of music in worship must first be equipped with the finest skills as musicians, and further with the theological and musical skills to enable congregational song as prayer and praise
  • leaders of music in worship must have available resources that reflect the best of literature and practices available from current and past contributions to the music in Christian worship
  • pastors/priests must be equipped to work together with musicians so that together they can combine word and music to the glory of God and as a vehicle for the worship of the congregation

Why CMI is Important

Church Music Institute is the one venue in the United States for pastors/priests and musicians to address the music of worship in an ecumenical, non-commercial setting. Plus, the Institute provides workshops, conferences, a library/resource center and online resources where musicians can browse for music and plan music for worship.

Who is Behind CMI?

The Church Music Institute began in December 2006, with a group of musicians, clergy, and laypersons interested in strengthening the music of Christian worship. Three Presbyterians gave initial funding to begin the work and have been joined by one hundred others from a variety of denominations to continue its work. The Institute is now serving a broad range of Christian denominations. CMI is incorporated in the State of Texas and has IRS 501(c) (3) non-profit status.

A board of directors guides CMI. The board includes Kim Warner, Chair (V.P., Texas Presbyterian Foundation), Enika Schulze, Vice President (publisher), Diana Warner, Recording Secretary (Texas Presbyterian Foundation), George Morey, Treasurer (lay musician and retired corporate financial executive), Mary Ruth Caldwell (church musician), Ruth Ann Ernst (lay musician and business owner), Jim Finley (lay musician and organizational development consultant), Dr. Michael Hawn (Perkins/SMU professor), Hal Hopson (composer/church musician), Martha Hopson (church musician), Jeanne Johnson (civic leader), Dr. Robert Mann (professor emeritus- organ/church music), Nesha Morey (music educator), Terry Price (church musician). A group of nationally prominent advisory board members assist the organization from their areas of expertise.

Executive Director is Dr. Charlotte Kroeker who came to Dallas from the University of Notre Dame where she held a faculty research position in church music. She is the editor of Music in Christian Worship, Liturgical Press, 2005, and author of The Sounds We Offer: Achieving Excellence in Church Music, Alban Institute, forthcoming in 2011. Dr. Robert Mann is Resource Library Director.

Resource Library of CMI