A ‘lifelong church musician’ appears on the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ ‘Sounding Board’ podcast

LOUISVILLE — The hosts of “Sounding Board,” the podcast of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, called the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell “one of the most influential voices in Reformed worship today.” 

“His partnership with PAM has been a gift,” Jeremy Roberts and Sarah Abushakra said introducing Gambrell, Associate for Worship in Presbyterian Life & Witness, “and his voice is one we’re always eager to hear.”

Their 47-minute conversation can be seen here or heard here or here.

Gambrell is a frequent faculty member at PAM’s Worship & Music Conference. He was an advisor developing the 2013 Glory to God hymnal, coordinated the 2017 revision of the Directory for Worship and co-edited the 2018 edition of the Book of Common Worship.

Asked to talk about his faith growing up, Gambrell traced his faith formation to University Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was active from childhood “all the way up through college years at Louisiana State University,” he told the hosts. “I like to say I am a lifelong church musician.” Gambrell recalled singing in a children’s musical about Noah and his family called “100% Chance of Rain.”

After college Gambrell spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer doing hurricane relief work. That year he played bass in a praise band at a new worshiping community.

He attended Austin Seminary, where he sang in choirs and occasionally wrote songs and hymns for chapel service. After graduating, he was ordained as an associate pastor focusing on worship and music at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin.

His doctoral degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is in liturgical studies, where he studied with the hymnist Ruth Duck. In 2007 he came to serve at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and sings in the tenor section every Sunday at Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville.

He said he sees himself “more as a groupie than a rock star” at the Worship & Music Conference held each summer at Montreat Conference Center.

“It’s a blessing to be in that number, so that’s where I want to be every chance I get,” he said. “It’s been an honor to do things like lead liturgy or offer classes now and then. Other years I get to just sing and worship.”

Gambrell brought a framed photograph to tell the hosts a story about the longtime organist and choir director at University Presbyterian Church, Lucy Hair, Gambrell’s first piano teacher “and a liturgical influence.”

When he came to work at the Presbyterian Center, he began perusing back issues of Reformed Liturgy and Music, now known as the journal Call to Worship. “I discovered to my surprise that my old piano teacher and choir director had been an editor of Reformed Liturgy and Music for years in the 1970s,” he said. “I later learned she was really involved in PAM conferences in the early years and an active participant. I hope I am honoring her legacy in the work that I do.”

In addition to participating in the big projects mentioned above, Gambrell also engages in “everyday stuff,” including helping to put on weekly online worship services for the PC(USA) national staff. In addition, “when we have national gatherings like General Assembly, I often get to help plan worship services,” he said.

“It’s clear words and language are important to you,” Roberts said, asking Gambrell, “what are the ways you think language shapes us both as a community body and as individuals?”

“I think first of all, I grew up in a church that had great preaching. I think that shaped the way that I use words, and singing hymns and anthems with great theologically poetry has shaped my use of words,” Gambrell replied. He was one who enjoyed studying Greek and Hebrew in seminary. “When the Bible is read in worship, I try to read it in the original language when I can,” he said. “Words are important to our faith and the way we do liturgy.”

“I also think we’re people of Word and sacrament,” he said. “Increasingly in my work I’ve become more interested in what we do with our bodies,” including gestures and posture. “Presbyterians sometimes over-emphasize words and language.”

“We’re definitely a wordy people,” Roberts said.

There’s both an art and a craft to hymn-writing, Gambrell said. “Just like poetry, you have to learn to do a lot in just a few words and you have to be careful and disciplined about the way you use them. It’s hard work, but rewarding.”

Gambrell’s recent article in “Call to Worship” called “Presiding in Unprecedented Times” caught Roberts’ attention. Gambrell noted that a “presider,” the worship leader, comes from the same root as “president.”

“How do we as liturgical leaders model faithful and careful oversight and care for the body of Christ, the worshiping assemblies, especially at a time when other models of leadership are not so loving and wise?” Gambrell said. “Worship leaders are called to be a mirror for God’s love for the people and Christ’s care for the church. It’s really critical we model that kind of care and concern for the people of God.”

Worship leaders are invested with plenty of authority, he said, so “it’s critical they speak the truth at all times and are really careful in the way they use that position.”

Gambrell called baptism “the great equalizer. We’re all one, and we’re all equal. Baptism is sometimes called the baptism of equality,” he said. Everyone who’s baptized “is called to serve Christ.”

Asked about liturgical renewal in recent years, Gambrell said Presbyterians have had a seat at that table for the past 75 years or so. Presbyterians were observers of the Vatican II process and were “actively involved” in developing the Common Lectionary and Revised Common Lectionary “that many of our churches continue to use. It’s wonderful to be part of this ecumenical work for the renewal of the church’s worship.”

He said that PAM “has helped us pay close attention to our theology and practice of making music together and how that’s reflected in our Book of Order.”

“It sounds like PAM was both vocal and instrumental,” Abushakra said, and all three laughed.

When Abushakra asked Gambrell what refreshes his spirit, he talked about his “great love and appreciation for jazz standards and the popular songs of the Great American Songbook.”

“I love the songcraft and the clever word play and the ways they have been interpreted and transformed by jazz musicians over the years,” Gambrell said. He said he’s also been blessed by belonging to an online community that engages in a simple act of worship twice each week.

Enjoy previous editions of “Sounding Board” here, here or here.