Dr. Warren Anderson

DCWPA Director, Professor

Dr. Anderson, a Judson alumnus (’86), serves as Director of Judson’s Demoss Center for Worship in the Performing Arts, with responsibilities that include directing the Judson University Choir and teaching in the Worship Arts and Music departments.

 A Judson “lifer,” Anderson also has served his alma mater as Dean of the Chapel, Dean of Men, Director of Housing, Director of Christian Ministries, Lecturer in Communication Arts, houseparent, admissions counselor, summer-ministry-team director, and assistant men’s basketball coach during his 30+ years as a Judson faculty/staff member.  He has been married to Lea since 1991, and they have two children.  

  • 2010, Doctor of Worship Studies, Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Jacksonville, FL.
  • 1992, M.A. in English, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
  • 1986, B.A. in Communication Arts (English concentration), Judson College, Elgin, IL.

Contemporary worship; rock, pop, jazz, and choral music; writing

Numerous articles and reviews for Worship Leader magazine, Contemporary Christian Music magazine, Act 3 Review, the Elgin Daily Courier-News, and the Wheaton Daily Journal, a sampling of which appears below:

“The 3 Deadly Sins of Blended Worship” (Worship Leader Magazine’s Song Discovery, September 2005)  

“8 Tips to Making Your Team Portable” (Worship Leader, June 2008)       

“The ABC’s of Avoiding Burned-Out Church Workers” (Worship Leader, September/October 2000)       

“Beyond Rock: Petra Finds New Purpose in Putting a Heart/Beat to Josh McDowell’s ‘Why Wait?’ Campaign” (CCM, June 1990)               

“Beyond the Lip Service: To Obey Is Better Than . . . Everything” (Worship Leader, May/June 2001)       

“Children Are Lay People, Too: Orchestrating a Kids’ Choir” (Worship Leader, March/April 1999)       

“Choirs: Why Bother?” (Worship Leader Magazine’s Song Discovery, October 2005)       

“Church Choirs: The Quest for Cultural Relevance” (Worship Leader, May 2007)       

“Fostering Beauty in Worship” (Worship Leader, Spring 2018)     

“God of Sorrow: The Unique Relationship between Suffering and Worship” (Worship Leader, September 2008)         

“Home & Heart: Sandi Patti Balances Motherhood & Ministry” (CCM, April 1988)       

 “Joy to the World: Truth and Grace in the Midst of Worship Wars” (Worship Leader, November/December 2010)  

“Killing Worship” (Worship Leader, November/December 2011)    

“Martin Luther: The Champion of Spiritual Song” (Worship Leader, January/February 2014)     

 “Organic Liturgy as the Cure for Bible-Absent Worship in the Contemporary Church” (Act 3 Review, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2006)

“Pop Music, U.S.A” (www.cliftonhillspress.com)    

“Renewing Worship: The Positive Payoff of Messing with Convention” (Worship Leader, July/August 2012)       

“Speak the Language: 3 Keys to Directly Addressing & Welcoming Nonbelievers or Visitors” (Worship Leader, May 2013)  

“The Musical Imperative” (www.cliftonhillspress.com)  

“’There is a Fountain’: The Story of William Cowper” (Worship Leader, June 2010)  

“Worship in Our Everyday, Ordinary Life” (Judson Today, Summer 2013)  

Having been encouraged to begin writing a blog for years, I have finally embarked upon this mission with Emmaus Road Worshipers, weekly thoughts on the idea that our Lord, as He did for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, has surprises for us in worship.   

www.emmausroadworshipers.com   

Ongoing studies in congregational song