Two More Cents

New Addition

Before I return to our discussion concerning Faith & Finances, the foundation of not only this blog, but of my company Ecclesiastical Consulting as well, I want to use the space in this week’s column to introduce a very special new addition to our brand.  While Stewardship, Capital Campaigns, Unique Giving Strategies, and all types of Church Finance happen to be my expertise and passion, they are by no means the only area in which the Church needs help.  In an effort to be more holistically Orthodox, open up new avenues of consulting, and meet the Church’s expanding need, we will now offer assistance in the area of Liturgical Music.  Within the Worship arena, there is nothing as varied as the musical tradition in the Orthodox Churches in this country.  Byzantine Music, Western Notation, Chanters, Choirs, Organs, Bells, and Recordings are just some of the issues that Clergy and Laity have to contend with on a weekly basis.  In order to help you sort it all out, and make your Worship Music the best that it can possibly be, I have found someone that I believe brings the very same passion and expertise to Church Music, as I do to Church Finance.  His name is David Walker.  David is a professional musician and music teacher.  He is currently completing his Masters Degree in Performance at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.  He is trained in both the Byzantine and Western music traditions of the Orthodox Church.  He is currently the Director of the Byzantine Choir at Saint John the Baptist in Euless, Texas.  David’s grandfather is retired Priest, Father Gordon Walker, who came to Orthodoxy along with Father Peter Gillquist (former Campus Crusade for Christ & the Evangelical Orthodox Church) through the Antiochian Archdiocese.  David is married to his lovely wife Hilary, an accomplished Interior Designer and Social Media Strategist for principals in the industry.  Hilary’s own father is a Greek Orthodox Priest in Nashville, Tennessee, Father Parthenios Turner.  Aside from his qualifications and pedigree, David brings a passion for Orthodox Hymnography and an understanding of Liturgical Worship rarely seen today, especially in someone so young.  Beyond this, he has learned how to train the various groups involved (Priest, Chanters, Choir) to work together, rather than pursuing their own agendas, resulting in a stark improvement in terms of both music and worship.  David will begin a (yet un-named) blog very soon on this website (www.ecclesiasticalconsulting.com), in order to help you get to know him, and exactly what he can do for your Church’s music situation.  I welcome David to the Ecclesiastical Consulting family, and I look forward to witnessing first hand the impact of his ministry on the Church, but for now, that’s My Two Cents!