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Expert Inquiry

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Fundamentals of Data Research Fellowship

Completion of the Teaching Capstone in Higher Education (TeaCHE)

Outstanding Dissertation Award (Humanities)

Worship Leader Research

Society for Christian Scholarship in Music

Chapter 10: “There is a Cloud”: The Holy Spirit in Contemporary Worship Songs

“Do It Again”: Chart-Topping Worship Songs and the Churches Behind Them

A typology of ad-libbing: Performing authenticity in contemporary worship

"Seas of crimson": A biblical analysis of elemental imagery in Bethel music's lyrics

The musical rhetoric of charismatic revival: continuity and change in the songs of the Toronto Blessing and Bethel Church

The Worship Pastor: A Call to Ministry for Worship Leaders and Teams

My fellow Worship Leader Research teammate Dr. Shannan Baker takes a minute to chat about the WLR project, her hopes as a researcher, and what animates her ongoing care for the contemporary worship phenomenon as a researcher.

Dr. Shannan Baker: Worship Leader Research Miniseries pt. 1!

Guest Bios


							
										Show Transcript


Hillsong Church has been embroiled in a steady stream of scandals, exposing sexual and financial misconduct—and a toxic and exploitative leadership culture. So, should we still be singing their worship songs? Or should we re-think our song selection and worship sets?
In this podcast, Julie continues her dialogue with two collaborators of a groundbreaking new study on modern worship.

The Megachurch Worship Monopoly, Part II

How has worship music shifted in the last ten years in the USA?
Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo as he hosts Dr. Shannan Baker, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Music and Digital Humanities at Baylor University. Their discussion focuses on the musical, theological, and market shifts of CCLI's Top 25 songs from 2010-2020.
Topics include lyrical theology, Trinitarian worship, the rise of collaborations, different types of adlibs, increases in repetitive bridges and tags, and a few rounds of “Which CCLI song would you use.”

Musical, Theological &amp; Commercial Shifts in Worship Songs with Dr. Shannan Baker

Dr. Shannan Baker is the Senior Associate for Contemporary Worship Programs.  She is co-PI and manages the Worship Lab Initiative Grant, funded by the Lilly Endowment.  This grant focuses on equipping youth for worship ministry and learning more about youth worship ministry models.  A major component of the grant is the training of youth at the summer camp, Worship Lab, and through one-day workshops throughout the year.  Additionally, her position includes directing the 40 Collective, a student touring worship ensemble.  This ensemble provides instruction and leadership experience for Church Music students.

Dr. Baker endeavors to find ways to connect contemporary worship research with the practice of the church. Primarily, this has occurred through the creation of contemporary worship workshops where students are encouraged to connect their classroom learning with practical applications in a band-led worship style. Dr. Baker has experience playing multiple instruments, including drums (her emphasis for her BA), piano/keys, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar, which allows her to communicate with the various band members. Dr. Baker is a Michigan native, who now lives in Waco and serves the local church through the many gifts with which God has blessed her.

Youth Worship

Contemporary Worship Music

Contemporary Worship Practice

Worship Theology

Faculty Profile

Google Scholar Profile

LinkedIn

Centered In Song Blog

Christian music surges into the mainstream, fueled by young streamers

New song resurrects the world’s oldest known hymn

Baylor University Awarded Second $1 Million Lilly Endowment Inc. Grant To Expand Youth Worship Initiative

Musical, Theological & Commercial Shifts in Worship Songs with Dr. Shannan Baker

Almost All Top-25 Worships Songs Are Linked to 5 Megachurches

Few Worship Leaders Avoid Hillsong, Bethel Songs — Despite Controversies and Scandal

Our Worship Is Turning Praise into Secular Profit

There's a reason every hit worship song sounds the same

Join Dr. Jeremy Perigo and guest theologians, scholars, musicians, and Christian leaders as we bridge faith and ministry praxis. WorshipTheology is a podcast to fuel and nurture vital discussions on worship, music, and theology. Join us as we think deeply about Christian worship.

Conversations connecting contemporary worship research with contemporary worship leaders for the life of the church.

The Worship Nerds

Reporting the Truth. Restoring the Church.

The Roys Report

Vital Worship Teacher-Scholar Grant

The Worship Lab Initiative

Senior Associate for Contemporary Worship Programs

Originally released as part of the 2020 Worship Lab summer music camp for high-school students. Learn more about Worship Lab at http://www.baylor.edu/worshiplab

Worship Lab CONNECT - Devotional 2: Shannan Baker

Learning to Be "Bilingual": Establishing Communication between Pastors and Music Leaders

Communication is vital for a ministry to be successful. Pastors and music leaders need to have effective communication, but unfortunately they speak in different "languages." This presentation will present research showing the lack of training in theology for music leaders and music/worship training for pastors. If church leaders can learn to speak in the "language" of the other, then they can develop a deeper respect for the role of the other and thereby create a more effective ministry.

2021 Alleluia Conference - Shannan Baker: Pastor and Music Minister Communication

How Do We Sing the Lord's Song (When We Know Who Wrote It)

Have you ever considered not including a song in your church gathering because of the artist who wrote it? If not, you know someone who has! With controversies and differing theologies, worship pastors have struggled with whether to plan songs by specific artists. After multiple documentaries were released about the Hillsong scandals, should we never sing a Hillsong song again?  Yet, we still sing lyrics authored by King David, despite his many moral failings.  How do we make wise decisions to avoid making mistakes, such as singing a hymn to Haydn's tune “Austrian Hymn" which was used by the Nazis.  With these growing concerns, this session will discuss how we continue to sing the Lord's song while addressing the complexities of known authorship of congregational songs.

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