2013-2014 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

22 CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMCENTER FOR SACRED MUSIC23CENTER FOR THE STUDYOF RELIGIOUS FREEDOMCENTER FORSACRED MUSICIn the fall of 1996 a diverse group ofsupporters from the college and the largercommunity came together to create the Centerfor the Study of Religious Freedom at VirginiaWesleyan College. The Center is grounded in thecollege’s United Methodist heritage, which has longrecognized religious freedom as a basic human rightfor persons of all faiths. From its beginning, theCenter has been a vehicle for fostering education,respectful dialogue, and mutual understanding.Mission: The Center’s mission is threefold:• Education—to provide Virginia Wesleyanstudents with an informed understanding ofreligious freedom as a basic human right;• Scholarship—to engage in sustained study ofthe legal, social, and theological conditions ofreligious freedom;• Engagement—to combat religious intoleranceby constructively engaging our society’s broadreligious pluralism.Educational Programs: Each year the Centersponsors several interdisciplinary programs that offerunique opportunities for student enrichment. Theseprograms support the college’s commitment to arigorous liberal arts education. Courses offeredthrough the Center affirm the value of diverseperspectives and methodologies. Faculty membersfrom across the college’s academic divisionscontribute to the Center’s work through theirparticipation in Center programs.Since its founding, the Center has sponsored morethan 200 public educational events, includingsemester-long symposia on issues of religiousfreedom, lectures by renowned scholars, presentationson music and the arts, panel discussions, plays, andfilms. Center events have been attended by more than10,000 people, including Virginia Wesleyan students,faculty and staff, and members of the largercommunity.Center Library: The Center’s academic resourcesinclude a collection of nearly 2,000 books. Thesematerials are available to Virginia Wesleyan students,faculty and staff, and other interested users. TheCenter’s library emphasizes topics related to itsmission, including constitutional law, religiousfreedom and church-state relations, religion and law,the role of religion in public and political life, and theglobal dimensions of religious freedom, includinginternational human rights law. The collection alsoincludes books on many of the world’s religioustraditions, as well as books on theology and religiousstudies, philosophy, history, and education. AllCenter books can be searched on the college library’sonline catalog, and most can be checked out.★ ★ ★ ★ ★The Center for the Study of Religious Freedomdoes not advocate any particular political or religiousperspective. Rather, it promotes deeper understandingof religious freedom through academicresearch, interdisciplinary study, informal discussionwith students and community members, andinterfaith dialogue. We need not be afraid of ourreligious differences. Instead, we can see them asopportunities for mutual understanding and growth.The Center for Sacred Music at VirginiaWesleyan College offers opportunities forall students to broaden their awareness of themusic and ritual that have been part of humankind’svarious faith expressions for thousands of years. Inaddition, it offers theoretical and applied instructionas preparation for careers in church music ministry ascontinuing education for those already active in theprofession.Monumental Moments: The Centercollaborates with the Chaplain’s Office and theDepartment of Religious Studies to offer two specialworship services in Monumental Chapel during theacademic year. Students lead the service, and theVirginia Wesleyan College Choir and/or WesleyanSingers present special music, with a faculty memberas guest speaker. In addition, during the Sacred MusicSummer Conference, the Center presents a service ofworship in Monumental Chapel on the openingevening. This service is open to all.Church Music Certificate Program: TheChurch Music Certificate Program offers practicaland theoretical career preparation for church musicministry. The course of study includes academiccourses, attendance at symposia, critical observationsof area church music programs, and participation inthe college’s annual Sacred Music SummerConference. The program has been recognized by theCollege Board for its excellence in training churchmusicians in a liberal arts setting.Three semester-length courses are offered: SacredMusic History, Directing Church Choirs, and Psalms,Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (offered as MUS 310,Topics in Sacred Music). These courses are requiredfor the certificate program, but may also be taken tosupplement other curricula.Sound and Symbol Lecture Series: TheCenter offers an annual lecture series to fosterunderstanding and to encourage appreciation fordiversity in the sacred music and ritual of various faithcommunities. Offered during the campus cocurricularhour on occasional Tuesdays andThursdays throughout the academic year, programsare designed to appeal to students in all disciplines.Past topics have included “Sacred Sounds:Cultural Unity and Diversity,” a four-part series;“Then Sings My Soul,” on the four streams of