I’m in the process of rereading the essays by Walter Buszin in the “Music for the Church” published by the Good Shepherd Institute.  It’s a great book and the essays, though written about 40-50 years ago, are still fresh and speak to our times today.

The following selection has resonated with me over the weekend.   Buszin reminds us that the musical aptitude is not as important as the musical and theological attitudes of the church musician.

The work of communicating the Gospel should emanate, therefore, not only from the pulpit, the cathedral, and the classroom, but also from the organ and the choir loft.  All unite to serve and disseminate the Word.  The task of the organist, choirmaster, and cantor has in many respects the same purpose as that of the preacher, the missionary, the teacher of religion, and the professor of theology.  Even for this reason great care should be exercised by congregations in selecting and appointing their choirmasters and organists.  It is more important that the church musician have the mind of the church, possess the necessary liturgical knowledge, and give unquestioned evidence of a salutary approach to the problems of Christian (Lutheran) worship than that he be an organist and/or choirmaster of superior ability. (Theology and Church Music as Bearers and Interpreters of the Verbum Dei – Walter Buszin)