Ethnodoxology is one of the most exciting aspects of the mission field today,
yet few are aware of its incredible potential for evangelism, discipleship, literacy,
and cultural preservation! On this page you will find a bit of what it is about, my own experience in ethnodoxology in Ghana in 2002, and links to further resources, organizations, and training in ethnodoxology. Check it out and be inspired!
Ethnodoxology (literally "ethnic worship") is the Christian mission's take on the scientific field of ethnomusicology (literally "the study of ethnic music"). Ethnomusicology itself is a relatively new scientific field, gaining credence and interest in the last century as interest in world music has increased. Ethnomusicologists study the music in the field through recording, transcribing, and analyzing ethnic music, song, and dance. As Western music rapidly encroaches into the most remote parts of the world, ethnomusicology is often the last means of preserving unique and often ancient indigenous music.
The Christian version of ethnomusicology has only formally existed for about forty years. For most of the past two hundred years, ethnic music was disparaged or exterminated by missionaries. Because such music was often applied to demonic worship, and Western music was considered neutral or even superior, the music itself was banned, and missionaries forced new converts to stand in pews and sing Western hymns to makeshift organs or pianos. This effectively conveyed to new Christians that only the White Man's cultural form of worship was acceptable to God - a tragic perception that persists in many places of the world to this day.
In the 1960s, missionaries like Vida Chenoweth and one of the original Von Trapp children (Maria F.) began to encourage the peoples they evangelized to create worship music in their own style of worship, accompanied by their traditional instruments. The results have been profound, as people groups all over the world realized for the first time, "Jesus accepts ME. The music that makes my heart beat fast can please God too!" Ethnodoxologists commission local musicians to set scripture to their indigenous tunes, record them, and disperse the music through that language group on cassettes, CDs, mp3 players, and radio. These audible formats have spread the gospel among oral societies far more quickly than any translation work, which often takes twenty years to complete (not counting the time to teach them how to read!) Pagans, animists, and Muslims are captivated by this new music in their beloved styles and listen, often memorizing scripture before they even accept Christ. Believers worshipping God in their own unique way attract people walking by. Creating songs as "audio billboards" can also teach life-saving hygenic practices, encourage literacy, and legitimize and preserve unique forms of music that are rapidly dying out.
yet few are aware of its incredible potential for evangelism, discipleship, literacy,
and cultural preservation! On this page you will find a bit of what it is about, my own experience in ethnodoxology in Ghana in 2002, and links to further resources, organizations, and training in ethnodoxology. Check it out and be inspired!
Ethnodoxology (literally "ethnic worship") is the Christian mission's take on the scientific field of ethnomusicology (literally "the study of ethnic music"). Ethnomusicology itself is a relatively new scientific field, gaining credence and interest in the last century as interest in world music has increased. Ethnomusicologists study the music in the field through recording, transcribing, and analyzing ethnic music, song, and dance. As Western music rapidly encroaches into the most remote parts of the world, ethnomusicology is often the last means of preserving unique and often ancient indigenous music.
The Christian version of ethnomusicology has only formally existed for about forty years. For most of the past two hundred years, ethnic music was disparaged or exterminated by missionaries. Because such music was often applied to demonic worship, and Western music was considered neutral or even superior, the music itself was banned, and missionaries forced new converts to stand in pews and sing Western hymns to makeshift organs or pianos. This effectively conveyed to new Christians that only the White Man's cultural form of worship was acceptable to God - a tragic perception that persists in many places of the world to this day.
In the 1960s, missionaries like Vida Chenoweth and one of the original Von Trapp children (Maria F.) began to encourage the peoples they evangelized to create worship music in their own style of worship, accompanied by their traditional instruments. The results have been profound, as people groups all over the world realized for the first time, "Jesus accepts ME. The music that makes my heart beat fast can please God too!" Ethnodoxologists commission local musicians to set scripture to their indigenous tunes, record them, and disperse the music through that language group on cassettes, CDs, mp3 players, and radio. These audible formats have spread the gospel among oral societies far more quickly than any translation work, which often takes twenty years to complete (not counting the time to teach them how to read!) Pagans, animists, and Muslims are captivated by this new music in their beloved styles and listen, often memorizing scripture before they even accept Christ. Believers worshipping God in their own unique way attract people walking by. Creating songs as "audio billboards" can also teach life-saving hygenic practices, encourage literacy, and legitimize and preserve unique forms of music that are rapidly dying out.
TRAIN!
LEARN!
GO!
To learn about the development of the secular discipline of ethnomusicology and the Christian application of ethnodoxology, read my internship paper! ( Link to the left - I promise it's not boring!)
To find organizations, magazines, books, and training contact information about ethnodoxology, download the resource document to the left or click on the website links below it!
Worldofworship.org by the International Council of Ethnodoxologists: the most complete and extensive website by and for ethnodoxologists.
Ethnodoxology.org: a quarterly release of Wycliffe Bible Translators (discontinued after 2010). A free sample issue and back issues are available by writing: EthnoDoxology, 710 Upland Lane, Duncanville, TX 75116 USA.
E-mail: EthnoDox1@netscape.net
Global Worship Report: a regular survey of events, people and issues on arts and worship from various places.
(Type “Global Worship Report” into a search engine to bring up various articles displayed by www.ad2000.org.)
To find organizations, magazines, books, and training contact information about ethnodoxology, download the resource document to the left or click on the website links below it!
Worldofworship.org by the International Council of Ethnodoxologists: the most complete and extensive website by and for ethnodoxologists.
Ethnodoxology.org: a quarterly release of Wycliffe Bible Translators (discontinued after 2010). A free sample issue and back issues are available by writing: EthnoDoxology, 710 Upland Lane, Duncanville, TX 75116 USA.
E-mail: EthnoDox1@netscape.net
Global Worship Report: a regular survey of events, people and issues on arts and worship from various places.
(Type “Global Worship Report” into a search engine to bring up various articles displayed by www.ad2000.org.)
The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL):
SIL/GIAL offer a block of semester-long courses and training in ethnomusicology/ethnodoxology in TX.
Phone: (972) 708-7517. E-mail: arts@sil.org
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia: Master of Arts in Worship Studies – Ethnomusicology track. (Online program) Phone: (434) 582-2000
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California: Certificate in Global Christian Worship. Phone: (626) 584-5279; E-mail Dr. Roberta King: rking@fuller.edu
SIL/GIAL offer a block of semester-long courses and training in ethnomusicology/ethnodoxology in TX.
Phone: (972) 708-7517. E-mail: arts@sil.org
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia: Master of Arts in Worship Studies – Ethnomusicology track. (Online program) Phone: (434) 582-2000
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California: Certificate in Global Christian Worship. Phone: (626) 584-5279; E-mail Dr. Roberta King: rking@fuller.edu
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Ethnomusicology Department: Wyliffe is probably the primary missions organization that equips and sends out ethnodoxologists all over the world.
Wycliffe Bible Translators (Canada): Phone: (403) 250-5411; 1-800-463-1143. E-mail: info@wycliffe.ca
The Jesus Film Project: Mail: Box 300, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 2X3. Phone: (604) 514-2043. Email: wesb@crusade.org. The Jesus Film effectively reachs orally/visually-oriented societies who can't read.
North American Indian Ministries (NAIM): Phone: (604) 850-3052; 1-888-942-5468. Email: office@naim.ca. Ethnodoxology can happen right in our backyard with indigenous American people groups!
The African Children's Choir: give African orphans joy and a future by helping their show tour the world, recording their songs, and assisting with choreography and classes!
I also present ethnomusicology/ethnodoxology seminars at colleges and churches. Email me to let me know if you'd like to hear more about this amazing new area of missions!
Wycliffe Bible Translators (Canada): Phone: (403) 250-5411; 1-800-463-1143. E-mail: info@wycliffe.ca
The Jesus Film Project: Mail: Box 300, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 2X3. Phone: (604) 514-2043. Email: wesb@crusade.org. The Jesus Film effectively reachs orally/visually-oriented societies who can't read.
North American Indian Ministries (NAIM): Phone: (604) 850-3052; 1-888-942-5468. Email: office@naim.ca. Ethnodoxology can happen right in our backyard with indigenous American people groups!
The African Children's Choir: give African orphans joy and a future by helping their show tour the world, recording their songs, and assisting with choreography and classes!
I also present ethnomusicology/ethnodoxology seminars at colleges and churches. Email me to let me know if you'd like to hear more about this amazing new area of missions!
Websites and Literature
Programs
Ministries
ETHNODOXOLOGY
MY EXPERIENCE IN ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
I spent an exciting summer interning with Wycliff Bible Translators in Ghana, West Africa, in 2002. With a national ethnodoxologist, I travelled to several remote villages where we held song composition workshops, encouraging and aiding local musicians to set scripture to their own music. Later that day we recorded their compositions, which we then transferred to cassettes to be dispersed in that region. Just seeing the excitement of those beautiful believers as they proclaimed the saving truths of Jesus in their own musical style was a glimpse of the heavenly worship to come. The whole village watched the recording process, and many were so moved that they even started dancing! (To listen to samples of those same recordings, go to the bottom of this page!) I also watched a guy from Vancouver, B.C. record a a voice-over by a lady from an obscure language group as Mary Magdalene for the Jesus Film project. He travels the world enabling this impacting film to be shown in every language. So ethnodoxology isn't limited to song composition workshops, but can encompass voice-over recording, sound engineering, and the visual arts!
Maaraa Yira
(recorded at Tuna, Ghana, July 2002)
(recorded at Tuna, Ghana, July 2002)
Ya Zaami Hinu Koosa
(recorded at Langbensi, Ghana, July 2002)
(recorded at Langbensi, Ghana, July 2002)
Copyright © 2011 Laura Welker. All Rights Reserved.
