Bill Carter will present a workshop at "Jazz for the Journey," a national symposium in Cleveland from October 24 to October 26. The symposium will be held in the home of the United Church of Christ's national office. It will bring together pastors, worship leaders, jazz musicians and music lovers from across the country to celebrate, share and explore the creative possibilities of jazz — and its power to speak to our existential situation and transform Christian worship. For details on the symposium, visit the website by clicking here.
The focus of the gathering – to give people the tools, resources and inspiration to bring jazz music into their congregations, and provide attendees with the opportunity to network with each other as they learn more about the history of jazz music.
The Rev. Geoffrey Black, president of the UCC, will deliver the keynote address for the symposium on Thursday evening, Oct. 24, at the UCC's Amistad Chapel. Other presenters include the Rev. Henry T. Simmons, pastor of St. Albans Congregational UCC in Queens, N.Y.; the Rev. Dwight Andrews, senior minister of First Congregational Church UCC in Atlanta; and the Rev. Ozzie Smith, senior pastor of Covenant UCC in South Holland, Ill. Among the topics that will be discussed in their presentations are the ways liturgical music transforms worship in the church, the ways in which jazz is right in worship, and how jazz improvisation acts as prayer.