ELCIC 2012 Companion of the Worship Arts Recipient Announced

Winnipeg, 18 June 2012 — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canadas (ELCIC) Program Committee for Worship is pleased to announce The Reverend Dr. Jann E. Boyd has been chosen as recipient of the 2012 Companion of the Worship Arts Award.

The Companion of the Worship Arts Award is presented biennially in recognition of significant contributions to the national worship life of the ELCIC.

Rev. Boyd is Professor of Worship and Homiletics and Dean of Chapel at Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon. For 18 years she has taught, mentored, and profoundly influenced and shaped seminary students and others in the sacred arts of worship and preaching, and modelled a gracious presence and evangelical fervour as a presider and preacher. She served on the ELCIC national Program Committee for Worship from 2001 2004, as a participant in the inaugural Renewing Worship Consultation, and as a project consultant, writer, and review committee member for the Renewing Worship project from 2001 -2006. She served as lead author for the rite for the Ordination of Bishops of the ELCIC, presented a paper on The Implications of the New Perspectives on Paul for Homiletics to the Convocation of the Association of Teaching Theologians of the ELCA and ELCIC in 2009 and has made presentations at ELCIC Synod Study Conferences and the National Worship Conference.    

In letters of nomination, Rev. Boyd is recognized by colleagues and students as …one of the ELCICs greatest, although often unsung, influencers of the worship life of the church in the western Canadian context in particular, but also throughout North America. Rev. Boyd inspired us to try new things, to incorporate the arts, and invest ourselves in the worship life of our communities.

Rev. Boyd is not only a fine teacher and scholar, she is also a pastor. She listens. She is open and ready to share advice and engage discussion. This has been invaluable for me and many others. She was a master at nurturing the creative efforts of her students, gently provoking us to explore new ways to proclaim by word, action, sight, sound, and taste the immeasurable grace of Christ.

Rev. Boyd holds a BA with Honours from the University of Pennsylvania, MDiv and STM with Honours from Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia, and a PhD in English from the University of Saskatchewan. She has published numerous articles, book chapters and papers, and served four congregations before beginning her seminary teaching.

Rev. Boyd is married to Rev. Dr. Kevin Ogilvie and together they have four children.    

The 2012 Companion of the Worship Arts Award will be presented to Rev. Boyd by ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson at a public ceremony during the National Anglican Lutheran Worship Conference at St. Johns College, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, on July 1.