About the Church Music Institute

Purpose

The Church Music Institute is dedicated to the advancement and stewardship of the best* liturgical and sacred music for Christian worship, serving clergy, musicians and congregants. Offerings include educational workshops and courses, inspirational festivals of church music, newsletters addressing current issues in church music, and online and print resources.

CMI sponsors research in the field of church music and hosts an online library of choral and organ music that contains professionally selected, non-commercial sacred music from all historical periods. Creating a home for the best music of the church, CMI provides a place in which proven practices that govern good music-making can operate. This work proceeds in a theological context where music serves the liturgy and is a vehicle for congregations to worship. At CMI, our goal is to equip clergy, musicians and congregants for the glory of transcendent and transformational worship.

Definition of "Best".

Assumptions

At the Church Music Institute, we believe music is one of God’s greatest gifts, deserving of our best understanding and care. The following tenets guide our work:

Music in worship should be chosen for its capacity to approach holiness, beauty, and transcendence in the worship of God
Music is a vehicle for prayer and praise, serving the gathered community of all ages and backgrounds
Leaders of music and worship must be prepared with the finest musical and theological skills to enable congregational song as prayer and praise
Clergy and musicians must be equipped to work together so they can combine word and music to the glory of God as a vehicle for the worship of the congregation

As a congregation needs a pastor, as the liturgy needs voices, as the two or three in worship need each other, so the church needs music and music needs the church.

— Paul Manz, 1919-2009

Beginnings

In December of 2006, a group of clergy, laypersons, and musicians gathered to form an educational and resource entity to craft a worthy future for the music of the church and to the glory of God. With funding from three donors, one in Connecticut and two in Dallas, the Church Music Institute was born and continues today with the support of many generous donors across the United States. CMI serves Christian churches nationally and continues to uphold the highest standards in sacred music.