Aotearoa’s voice rings out at US music conference

The LCANZ’s Pastor Mark Whitfield had the ‘immense joy and honour’ of leading worship at a conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) in the US last month.

With the theme ‘For All That Is to Be’, the conference in Raleigh–Durham, North Carolina, marked the beginning of ALCM’s 40th anniversary celebrations, and brought together more than 450 church musicians, pastors and worship leaders from across North America and beyond.

Pastor Mark, bishop emeritus of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand and pastor at St Paul’s Lutheran Church Christchurch in Aotearoa/New Zealand, led the opening worship in the chapel of Duke University in Durham in Te Reo Māori and English. His participation at ALCM’s 19th biennial national conference was made possible by funding from the Lutheran Church of New Zealand’s Gateway Gift Trust Board.

‘The experience was immense and set a majestic tone, combining the beautiful gospel-focused liturgy of the church rooted in history, yet with a contemporary tone, with organ grandeur, brass and choir, and vibrant congregational song,’ Pastor Mark said.

The five-day event, held from 4 to 8 August, featured daily worship in various liturgical styles and several concerts, including a performance by the internationally acclaimed ensemble VOCES8. One musical highlight was the conference hymn festival at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, where more than 1,000 voices joined in rich harmony.

‘At times, [we were] singing in unaccompanied four-part harmony – something Lutherans do very well,’ Pastor Mark shared. ‘These musical experiences were not simply concerts, but communal acts of worship.’

The conference also included more than 25 workshops, exploring topics such as congregational song in the digital age, pastoral care through music, techniques for children’s choirs, handbell ringing, creative liturgical planning and the theology of improvisation.

The conference, Pastor Mark said, was a powerful reminder that music is not merely an accompaniment to worship but a living, breathing proclamation of the gospel. ‘Music is not ornamentation but proclamation,’ he said. ‘[It’s] a way the word of God takes flesh in sound, shaping hearts and forming communities.’

Pastor Mark also took the opportunity to share his vision for music ministry at St Paul’s Christchurch, particularly his hopes to establish a Bach Cantata Vespers ministry – a project he believes will draw on the richness of the uniquely Lutheran musical heritage as a vehicle for proclaiming the gospel.