Home
Events
Studio Info
Links
Contact Us
What's New?
Staff
Newsletter
Specials
Contest
Image
Gallery


About Dr. Chris Alford...

This page contains a biographical sketch, a resume, and some thoughts about worship ministry....

Click to go to Resume

Click to go to Thoughts about Worship and Ministry

Biographical Sketch

The Worship Pastor at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Fair Oaks, California, Chris is married to Sheila, who is a full-time, stay-at-home mom. Sheila has a heart for missions, discipleship, prayer ministries, and is an avid reader. Chris and Sheila have two children, Noah (below left), age 12 (who loves basketball, his lizard "Bob", and listening to his IPod), and Anna (below right), age 9 (who loves to bug Noah and singing and art, but mostly bugging Noah).


Before his call to full-time music ministry (he was ordained in 1992 and served for 13 years as Music Minister at Smithwood Baptist Church), Chris was the Artistic Administrator of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, a fully-professional, regional orchestra performing more than 300 diverse programs each season.

While there, Alford was responsible for coordinating artistic planning, including repertoire and artist selection, all creative and technical aspects of special productions, and writing the orchestra's program notes.

Alford also created, produced, and hosted the Symphony's local cable TV news magazine, "Symphony Scene", and wrote and produced the orchestra's popular educational programs for kids (left). A member of the American Symphony Orchestra League, Alford was invited to be a guest speaker at that organization's 1992 national convention in Washington D.C. He is also a member of the American Choral Director's Association, the Chorister's Guild, and the Hymn Society.

Alford completed undergraduate studies in music history/music literature at both the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and overseas at the Victoria University of Manchester, England. He later earned a Master's Degree in Musicology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (pictured at right). While working toward an additional Master's Degree in Church Music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Chris discovered a then brand-new doctoral degree program
in worship offered by the Institute for Worship Studies (IWS). He completed the Doctor of Worship Studies program and graduated with the Institute's inaugural "Alpha" class in the spring of 2002, with a thesis focus area on the church, worship, and contemporary culture.

Chris is an avid student of worship and an admirer of the late Dr. Robert E. Webber (right), whom he calls his "greatest mentor and important theological influence." Webber was noted for his numerous writings and workshops in worship and worship renewal. His books include such titles as Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, Worship Is a Verb, Worship Old and New, Ancient-Future Faith, Ancient-Future Time, Ancient-Future Evangelism, Journey to Jesus, The Younger Evangelicals, and The Divine Embrace. He served as editor of the seven-volume The Complete Library of Christian Worship and was a regular columnist in Worship Leader Magazine.

Webber asked Chris to serve as a faculty member in the IWS's new master's degree program, a post he held until his move to California. He continues to serve as the thesis form and style consultant for the Institute. More recently, Chris accepted Webber's invitation to produce a series of seminars for presentation at worship conferences and workshops. This latest collaboration began when Dr. Webber asked Chris to represent him at "Breakforth Canada," that nation's largest worship conference. You may learn more information about Chris' workshops by choosing "Worship Workshops" at the top left hand side of this page.

During the Tennessee years, Chris remained active in the artistic life of his community and state: He wrote program notes for the Knoxville Symphony after his departure, continued to collaborate with the KSO from time to time, taught a popular music appreciation course for adults at the University of Tennessee, served on the Tennessee State Arts Commission's Performing Arts Grants Advisory Panel, was an advisor for the Knoxville Arts Council's Ticket Subsidy Program, guest lectured at both Carson-Newman College and Jackson University for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, served as band director for the state's youth music week at Camp Carson, and served on the executive advisory board for the internationally-acclaimed Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble.

Two years prior to the Alford's move to California, Chris was asked to serve as music director and conductor of Knoxville Tennessee's annual Nativity Pageant (left). The 35-year-old Knoxville tradition and non-profit organization is run by a dedicated volunteer board of directors and features a choir, orchestra, cast, and crew of hundreds.

An active trumpet player and teacher with early plans for a professional performing career, Alford is a strong proponent of the use of a variety of instruments as well as orchestral musicians in the church. He is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer on the topics of worship, the church, and contemporary culture, as well as the use of professional musicians in worship. Chris was recently asked to write a chapter in a text book used by Carson-Newman ministry students on the subject of instrumentalists in worship.


From 1997-2004, Chris travelled about twice a year to Indianapolis' Aireborn Studios (right) to conduct live orchestral and choral recording sessions for Monarch Music, a division of the Lorenz Company headed up by long-time friend and well-known composer Mary McDonald, for its demonstration cassettes and performance accompaniment tracks. Chris was a favorite of both studio musicians and staff at Aireborn.

Since moving to California, Chris has continued to teach, present worship workshops, and mentor students. In the winter of 2005, he was invited to be the plenary speaker at the Sacramento regional Presbytery meeting. That same semester, he began an adjunct faculty affiliation with Fuller Theological Seminary by serving as a mentor for the M.Div. Cohort program. Chris was asked to continue the affiliation in 2006 and in 2007.

If you'd like to take a look at some of Chris's recent writings, please click this link: Go to "Articles" Page

For some reading, listening, or choral music recommendations by Chris, try out one of these:

Go to "Reading Recommendations".

Go to "Listening Recommendations".

Go to "Anthem Recommendations".

Resume

Dr. Mark Christopher Alford
Contact Me

Experience:
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church: Fair Oaks, California
Worship Pastor: 2005-

Smithwood Baptist Church: Knoxville, Tennessee
Minister of Music: 1992-2004

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
Artistic Administrator: 1987-1992

Related Experience:
Fuller Theological Seminary
Mentor, M.Div. Cohort Program: winter, 2005; winter, 2006; academic year, 2006-2007

Institute for Worship Studies, Florida Campus
Core Faculty: The Church, Worship, and Contemporary Culture: 2002-2005

Knoxville Nativity Pageant
Music Director and Conductor: 2003-2005

Monarch Music (Lorenz Company Division)
Conductor of Orchestral/Choral Demonstration CD's and Performance Tracks: 1997-2005

Camp Carson (State Baptist Youth Music Week) Band Director: summer, 1996

Tennessee Baptist Convention: Regional Music Leadership Seminars at Union University and Carson-Newman College (CNC). Visiting Instructor, Orchestral Music and the Use of Professional Players in Worship: spring, 1996

The John Ribble Singers
Interim Conductor: winter-spring, 1994-95

CNC Guest Lecturer: Orchestral Music in Worship; Postmodern Worship; Use of Hymns (one class session): 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

University of Tennessee Non-Credit Programs for Adult Students: Instructor, Music Appreciation: 1989-1994 Crawford Avenue Baptist Church: Skokie, Illinois, Interim Music Dir.: 1986-1987

Education:
The Institute for Worship Studies:
Doctor of Worship Studies: 2002

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
Master of Church Music (partially completed): 1992-1995

Northwestern University: Master of Musicology, 1988

Victoria University of Manchester, England: Continuation and Completion of Bachelor's Degree, "With Distinction": 1986

University of Tennessee: Bachelor of Music History/Literature,
"With High Honors": 1982-1985

Activities and Honors:
Plenary Speaker: Sacramentor Regional Presbytery Meeting: spring, 2005.
All-Day Workshop Presentation and Break Out Sessions: Break Forth Canada, 2005: winter, 2005
Workshop Presentation/Choir Retreat: First Baptist Church, Grass Valley, California, fall, 2004.
Workshop Presentation: Renew Your Worship: Bethlehem Church (host), Randolph, New Jersey, winter, 2004.
All-Day Workshop Presentation and Break Out Sessions: Break Forth Canada, 2004: winter, 2004
Conductor: Knoxville Symphony Orchestra July 4 Festival Chorus: summer, 2003
Keynote Speaker: National Conference, In-service Guidance Association for Baptist Colleges and Universities: summer, 2002
One-time contributor to Liturgy Magazine: summer, 2001
Author of one chapter in music ministry text for CNC, "Hiring and Working with an Orchestra": winter, 2002
Vice-President, Northeast Region, Tennessee Church Music Conf.: 2000-2001
Music Director, Knox County Association of Baptists: 1998-1999
Seminar Host: Ancient-Future Faith, Dr. Robert Webber, Knoxville: 2000
Seminar Attendee: Renew Your Worship, Dr. Robert Webber, Knoxville: 1998
Conductor, Premiere: "Art of the Hymn", Monarch Music, Music Florida: 1998
Symposium Presentation: Church Music in the 21st Century, CNC: 1997
Conductor, Premiere: "Jesus Shall Reign", Monarch Music, Music Florida: 1997
Guest Instructor, Canadian Baptist Seminary: Tennessee Music Ministers on Mission: 1996
President: Knox Metro Area Music Ministers' Association: 1995-1996; 2001-2002
Writer, Producer, Director: Smithwood Baptist Church Historical Video Documentary: 1995
Seminar Attendee, On the State of Church Music: CNC, 1995
Chaplain Corps: Knoxville Police Department: 1994-1999
Panelist: Tennessee State Arts Commission Performing Arts Advisory Panel: 1991-1994
Knoxville Arts Council Ticket Subsidy Advisory Panel: 1991-1994
Producer and Host: Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Cable Television Show,
"Symphony Scene": 1992-1993
Program Note Author: Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: 1988-1993
Citation "Who's Who" Registry of Rising Young Americans: 1993
Guest Speaker: American Symphony Orchestra League National Conference,
Washington, D.C.: 1992
Seminar Attendee: American Symphony Orchestra League Management Symposium, Los Angeles: 1989
Northwestern University Graduate Assistant: 1986-1987
Northwestern University Music Appreciation/Theory Teaching Assistant: 1987
International Student Exchange Fellow: Manchester, England: 1985-1986
Editor and Producer: "Comprehensive Music History Timeline": 1985
University of Tennessee Music Dept. Curriculum Review Panel: 1984-1985
Roy Acuff Music Scholarship, University of Tennessee Music Dept.: 1982-1985

Memberships:
American Choral Director's Association
American Symphony Orchestra League
The Chorister's Guild
Gamma Beta Phi National Scholastic Honor Society
The Hymn Society
Phi Mu Alpha National Men's Music Fraternity



A Personal Statement of Ministry and Music...

Early on in ministry, I developed three basic goals for music ministry: 1) That all things undertaken and accomplished in the Church's worship will honor and glorify our Triune God. Worship is the Church's singular purpose and there is more to worship than music; 2) That with excellence and the highest of standards, the program will provide a vital, challenging, and relevant ministry through worship to the Church and community. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all people to myself"; and 3) That the music staff, ministry participants, and minister alike will strive together for the deepest level of discipleship, both personally and corporately, because God deserves our whole persons as living sacrifices.

The church of the 21st century needs pastoral musicians, and this, with God's help, is what I am becoming. In the words of one of my mentors, a church musician is someone who takes musical skills and development seriously and places them in service to the church. A pastoral church musician does this as well, but frames musicianship in the context of worship. A pastoral musician is immersed in the Scriptures more deeply, understands the liturgy, the church year, the theology of worship, the prominent role of music as servant to the Word, the dynamics of pastoral care and leadership, and the importance of administering effectively.

I have embraced the 2006
Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future. The Call incorporates and expands the influential evangelical "Chicago Call" of 1977, and sets forth an Ancient-Future faith for a postmodern world. The Call was convened by Northern Seminary theologians, Phil Kenyon and the late Robert E. Webber. Over a period of seven months of crafting, more than 300 theologians and pastors participated, representing a broad diversity of ethnicity and denominational affiliation. The Call's listing of theological editors and members of the board of reference is without equal, but most remarkable is that hundreds of pastors, theologians, and lay persons across the U.S. and Canada have signed the Call, lending voice to its concerns and affirming its timely truths.

Chief among the aims of the Call is to highlight the pressing need for Evangelicals to reflect more deeply on the substance of the biblical narrative, its articulation in the historic faith, and to recover the fullness of that heritage.

In my worship and creative arts ministry, I am actively using the Call to help craft worship and shape the very way I go about my calling. If you would seek to understand part of what motivates me, I commend the Call to you.

I am absolutely passionate about worship and believe that it is the church's primary purpose. Evangelism, missions, discipleship-- all vital to a healthy, growing New Testament church-- grow out of vital, healthy worship. As my mentor and friend the late Robert Webber said it, worship is the source of a church's spirituality; discipleship, evangelism, and other of the church's important tasks are the fruit of that spirituality. I believe that God deserves my selfless worship and that worship has little to do with me and getting my needs met. I believe that worship must never be used as a tool for achieving any kind of goal, no matter how honorable, and that great worship really can't be evaluated in terms of numbers. There is a big difference between reaching people and getting a reaction out of them; my goal as a worship leader is to help connect people with the Triune God through authentic, God-directed, Christ-centered, and Holy Spirit-inspired worship.

The modern world did some damage to matters of faith and the church and her worship. As its influences now recede into the past, I'm excited and energized by the worship renewal presently occurring in our land. So many believers, especially the younger evangelicals, are finding refreshment at the deep well of classic Christianity and the ancient church and I'm convinced that many of the postmodern world's thirsts can be marvelously and even uniquely quenched there. There are rich treasures to be found in the liturgy, practice, and pattern of the ancient church and I am delighted to see congregations and leaders revisiting the foundational elements of classic Christianity. I believe that returning to these foundational elements will be crucial as we make the shift from the modern to the postmodern world. "Ancient-Future Faith" will, I am convinced, be responsible for a great refreshing of worship and a key to reaching the postmodern person. I am committed to following the Christian Year cycle and believe that sign, symbol, and vibrant, creative arts are vital parts to healthy worship. Ancient-Future worship will also be "bathed" in Scripture and prayer, and will feature more frequent and more celebratory Communion, as well as more meaningful participation by lay persons.

One of the damaging things that the modern era did to the church and her worship was to encourage the dividing up of congregations along stylistic lines. A particular desire of mine is to promote convergent worship, for convergence, which is an ancient-future approach to worship, says in part that style is not the same thing as content-- that style can no longer be the tail that wags the dog. If you'd like to learn more about convergent worship, try this recent article I wrote:
Convergent Worship.

Back to the Top

Home Page


© 2008, Chris Alford.