23rd Annual Music & Worship Conference

Explores worship as missional discipleship

The opening session of the Music & Worship Conference took place in the Seminary chapel. (Photo by Eben Espinosa)

The 23rd annual Music & Worship Conference took place Feb. 12–14, 2026, at Andrews University, bringing together students, faculty and church leaders to explore the theme of worship as missional discipleship.

Hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, the annual conference continues a more than two-decade tradition of fostering thoughtful dialogue and meaningful worship experiences. Originally founded by Nicholas Zork, the conference has consistently combined dynamic worship gatherings with theological reflection. Since 2020, the event has included an academic component with a call for papers, highlighting interdisciplinary scholarship on worship.

David Williams, conference organizer and associate professor of worship and sacred music, explained that this year’s theme sought to deepen the connection between worship and the mission of the church. “There’s not a lot of conversation about worship and mission together,” Williams says. “We wanted to help move that conversation forward.”

Throughout the weekend, presenters examined how worship shapes discipleship and informs the lived experience of faith. “If liturgy is the work of the people,” Williams notes, “then it’s not just what happens in public worship. It’s also the work believers do when they are sent back into the world.” Rather than focusing solely on proclamation, the conference emphasized worship as a way of life expressed through daily work, service and community engagement.

The program featured academic papers, pastoral presentations, and practical sessions on worship planning and church leadership. Organizers intentionally structured the conference to bridge theory and practice, allowing participants to experience the theology being discussed. “We learn theology not only by writing about it, but by doing it,” Williams explains. “The action of worship forms us.”

Attendees experienced a range of musical expressions, including traditional hymnody, contemporary worship, gospel styles, Latino and Korean contributions, and orchestral arrangements. “One of the gifts of worship,” Williams says, “is recognizing that the church is bigger than any one culture or preference.” The varied expressions underscored the global nature of the church and the importance of cultural sensitivity in mission.

For many participants, the highlight of the conference was a communal worship meal, designed to create space for prayer, reflection and shared praise. Organizers described these experiential moments as central to the conference’s purpose. “We always include worship around a meal,” Williams shares. “It teaches that there are many ways to encounter God together.”

According to organizers, the Music & Worship Conference was designed not only for scholars but for church members and leaders seeking renewal in their local congregations. By combining scholarship, practical training and immersive worship, the event aimed to encourage meaningful transformation in the church’s public worship and mission.