June 15, 2026

The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS) is pleased to announce the signing of a program transfer agreement with Fuller Seminary that will sustain and advance the mission, legacy, and vision of IWS for future generations.

After 27 years of faithful ministry, IWS will conclude operations as an independent institution at the end of the current academic year. Through this agreement, the Institute’s core academic mission, educational resources, and worship studies initiatives will transition to Fuller Seminary, ensuring the continued development of worship leaders, pastors, and theologians around the world.

The agreement provides a comprehensive teach-out plan for current IWS students, enabling them to complete their degrees through Fuller Seminary. It also establishes a pathway for preserving and advancing the distinctive worship philosophy and educational methodology pioneered by IWS founder, Dr. Robert E. Webber.

For more than two decades, IWS has championed Webber’s ancient-future vision, equipping Christian leaders to renew worship by drawing upon the rich resources of Scripture, church history, and liturgical tradition. This approach bridges the wisdom of the historic church with the needs of contemporary faith communities, cultivating worship leaders who serve as pastors, theologians, and practitioners. IWS is confident that this unique educational model will not only be preserved but expanded through Fuller’s scholarly excellence, creative innovation, and global influence.

Rev. Dr. Constance Cherry, President of IWS, reflected on the significance of this milestone:

“For the past 27 years, the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies has faithfully stewarded the inheritance entrusted to us by our founder, teaching and modeling his vision for the renewal of corporate worship in the church today. I am delighted that this Spirit-led partnership with Fuller Seminary creates new opportunities for worship formation rooted in the ancient-future paradigm and relevant to the whole church. Fuller will not only preserve the Webber legacy but also extend its impact to future generations, reaching ever wider for the sake of Christ and his church. It is a privilege to entrust the IWS mission to partners who will shepherd it well.”

As part of the transition, Fuller Seminary will also provide ongoing stewardship and engagement opportunities for the IWS alumni and donor communities, while honoring scholarship funds and other resources dedicated to the formation of worship leaders.

IWS recognizes Fuller’s longstanding commitment to worship studies through its Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts and its renewed institutional emphasis on worship education. This partnership creates new opportunities for the ancient-future vision to flourish within both formal theological education and the wider ministry of the global church.

To mark the conclusion of this historic chapter and celebrate the future of worship studies, Fuller Seminary President Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley will serve as commencement speaker for the final IWS Commencement Service on June 21, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida.

“We are deeply grateful for the exceptional leadership and collaborative spirit that have made this agreement possible,” said Dr. Goatley. “While this marks the conclusion of IWS as an independent institution, it is also a significant opportunity for the broader church. We look forward to honoring the remarkable 27-year legacy of IWS and carrying forward its commitment to deep, biblically grounded worship studies.”