Attention LCMS songwriters: first conference planned

A first-time conference for LCMS songwriters is scheduled for April 22-23 at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Mo., a suburb west of St. Louis.

The LCMS Commission on Worship is host for the conference, which has “Singing the Sacraments of God” as its theme.

The aim of the Lutheran Songwriters Conference is “to learn from LCMS songwriters and encourage them to develop sacramental and Scripture-based songs for use within our church body,” said Rev. David Johnson, the commission’s executive director.

He added that the conference will “include opportunities for songwriters to connect with each other, Lutheran educators, and Lutheran agencies, so that participants can collaborate, share, and grow as Christian artists and songwriters for The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.”

Johnson said that the conference program will include “witness, testimony, and conversations from established LCMS recording artists, songwriters, and worship leaders who continue to shape the musical life of our congregations.” Visit www.lcms.org/songwriter for a list of LCMS artists who will serve as conference panelists, discussion leaders, and presenters.

According to a news release from the commission, “ideal candidates for this conference are songwriters, lyricists, poets, and composers who are members in good standing of an LCMS congregation and are actively writing songs; have a fervent desire to develop and publish songs for use within the LCMS; have a desire to connect and communicate with like-minded writers; [and] are willing to share their God-given gifts with the church at-large.”

A grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will provide full scholarships for 35 participants who register online at www.lcms.org/songwriter by March 10. The scholarships cover all conference costs, including travel, lodging, and meals.

Along with an online registration form, other documentation must be submitted through that site by March 10, including:

letters of recommendation from an LCMS pastor and an LCMS layperson.

an MP3 audio file of an original song, not to exceed three minutes. The file’s name should include the writer’s first and last name.

lyrics of that song.

a lead sheet for the song.

For forms and more information, visit www.lcms.org/songwriter.

Submitted songs will be reviewed by an editorial committee. Scholarship recipients will be notified by phone or e-mail by March 15.

“Every effort will be made to protect the creative property of each songwriter,” Johnson said. He explained that submitted files will be safeguarded for the purposes of the conference and will be “appropriately deleted” if they are not selected. He added that the Commission on Worship will not assert copyright or distribution privileges for submitted songs, and that all copyrights throughout that process will remain with the songwriters.

For answers to questions about the conference, send an e-mail to songwriter@lcms.org.

“It is our prayer that this conference will be a blessing to all who attend and will be another step in the ongoing process to provide additional resources for congregational worship in the LCMS,” Johnson said.

Posted Feb. 3, 2010