Third Baptist

I spent the afternoon working at Third Baptist Church with a group of students from the SLU John Cook School of Business.

Third Baptist is blessed with an incredible facility. Our building is significant, but seems almost small relative to Third's. Third Baptist works hard to invite and welcome the community into their space. (They have a tutoring program two days each week - staffed by volunteers from the Service Leadership program at SLU. They plan to expand to four days each week next year.) One of the projects in the works is a large music program for children - with free piano lessons! The facility is filled with pianos - just waiting for little fingers!

Such music programs are especially important for the church. The number of degree-pursuing organ majors is in decline. During the 1985-86 academic year, 728 students were enrolled as organ majors. By 1999-2000, the figure had fallen to 527. The American Guild of Organists (AGO) has a number of programs designed to stimulate interest in the organ and careers in sacred music. Churches can play a vital role in supporting the long-term supply of church musicians. Sacred music programs and strong support for present day musicians are particularly important. Without support today, we are likely to see fewer and fewer young people pursue careers as church musicians.

Here is the AGO's Official Position Statement on the Shortage of Organists in America.

As we worked throughout the afternoon at Third Baptist, I could hear the sounds of the organ. It is too quiet at Second these days. Once a 30 hour per week musician is again on staff, it will be wonderful to hear our Schantz being played and practiced upon throughout the week.