About Constance

The Call

Rev. Dr. Constance Cherry is an experienced professor, worship leader, musician, and pastor, having served in local church ministry and academic teaching positions for more than forty-five years (and counting!). While a young woman she received a life-time vocational call to serve Christ through serving his Church. For many years she served as a full-time minister of music in large churches where she directed multiple types of choral groups and instrumental ensembles, prepared worship services, and provided leadership for the many dimensions of the multi-faceted church music program. Her undergraduate degree in music (Huntington University) and her Master of Music degree (Bowling Green State University) prepared her well for the musical expertise required of such positions.

The Call Expands

A growing interest in formal worship studies drew her eventually to pursue a doctoral program at Northern Seminary (Chicago area). There she studied with Robert E. Webber who was not only Constance’s professor but also the supervisor for her doctoral thesis, “Discovering Your Vision for Worship: Teaching Worship in an Interdenominational Seminary Setting.” (www.tren.com). As a result, her vocational call to ministry expanded into academic teaching and pastoral ministry.

The Call Flourishes

Today Constance is Professor Emeritus of Christian Worship at Indiana Wesleyan University where for sixteen years she directed four unique programs in worship. She was named Affiliate Faculty for Wesley Seminary (IWU) in 2020. Since 2000 she has served as a founding faculty member of The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, traveling twice yearly to teach in the doctoral program of IWS. In addition, Constance is on the faculty of Sarang Global Academy (Seoul, Korea). She continues to teach as a guest professor at institutions of higher education nationally and internationally.

Constance is frequently called upon to serve as a conference speaker on matters related to worship and church music. She is a published composer (Lorenz, Hope Publishing Company, and Celebrations Unlimited) as well as the author of many hymn texts. She currently has hymns in six major hymnals. In addition to her six published books, Constance’s other publications include articles in numerous magazines such as Worship Leader, The Hymn, Reformed Worship, Worship Arts, and Firebrand. A native of Michigan, Constance enjoys traveling, playing the piano, going to the gym, and hanging out with family and friends.

The Call Continues

Rev. Dr. Constance Cherry is a sought-after speaker, teacher, and preacher. She works with each event organizer to tailor her content to suit the needs of the group. You will find her approach to be:

- Trans-denominational — she is experienced and comfortable in relating to persons of all Christian denominations and traditions.
- International — she knows how to communicate well to persons in a wide variety of cultures.
- Intergenerational — she is able to relate well to children, youth, and adults.

My Mission

My mission is to train church leaders to develop and lead corporate worship services that are biblically based, Christ-centered, pleasing to God, and engaging for 21st-century worshipers in any context.

Preaching in Estes Chapel, Asbury Theological Seminary

You’re never too young to become a worship architect!

Guest speaker at the certificate course in Worship Studies at the Chinese Graduate School of Theology (Hong Kong)

Speaking at the Global Worship Conference (Seoul, South Korea)

Songwriters and Scholars in Partnership seminar at the Worship Symposium, Calvin Institute for Christian Worship (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Praying for Hong Kong with students at The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (Jacksonville, Florida)

Baskin Robins and my Hong Kong students on break at The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies” (Jacksonville, Florida)

Interviewed for a Hillsong Creative Podcast (Sydney Australia)

Constance is guest of Hillsong College professors and Hillsong Church worship leaders, Adam and Katie Dodson, with a few of their college interns to “talk worship” before an evening service (Sydney, Australia)

Aodhan King of Hillsong Young and Free with Constance at Hillsong Church service (Sydney, Australia)

Attendees at the Worship Seminar for the Chinese Methodist Church of Australia (Perth, Australia)

Speaker at Worship Seminar (Hong Kong)

Constance leads a pastors’ meeting for the west district of the Chinese Methodist Church of Australia (Perth, Australia)

Leadership in the Chinese Methodist Church of Australia (Melbourne, Australia)

Fashionable Worship Architect gear 🙂

Bookstore display testimonial at Baker Book Store (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Constance speaks at the Alleluia Conference sponsored by Baylor University (Waco, Texas)

Constance preaches in chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)

Chinese Methodist pastors – Communion at the Singapore Conference

A workshop at Campbell Divinity School, Buies Creek, North Carolina

Preaching in chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY

Workshop attendees at the National Worship Leader Conference, Leawood, KS

Students at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium

Speaking at a pastor’s conference at Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama)

With song writer Jennie Lee Riddle and band member at Kingswood University, Canada

Delivering the keynote address at the Worship Symposium (Singapore)

Guest instructor for the Doctor of Ministry class in Wesleyan Liturgical Practices, Ashland Theological Seminary (Ashland, Ohio)

Delivers the Northcutt Lectures address, Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies (Waco, Texas)

Leaders at the “Texts and Tunes” Church Music and Worship Conference: Paul Clark, Graham Kendrick, Constance Cherry, Noel Tredinnick, Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, TN

• Newly inducted National Patrons of the Delta Omicron Fraternity, Constance Cherry and Graham Kendrick

Preaching at the outdoor service of the Conference for Church Musicians, Green Lake, Wisconsin

Deep in thought during a panel discussion at Carson-Newman

Guest instructor for the Doctor of Ministry class in Wesleyan Liturgical Practices, Ashland Theological Seminary (Ashland, Ohio)

Master’s class in worship at Evangelisch Theologische Faculteit (Leuven, Belgium)

Preaching in Judson University Chapel (Elgin, Illinois)

Gives a workshop at Calvin Worship Symposium

The French Mennonite Hymnal Committee (Paris 2011)

Workshop Leader for the French Mennonite Hymnal Committee (Paris, France)

Delivers Inaugural Address at the Judson University Worship Arts Lectures Series (Elgin, IL)

With some graduating worship majors at Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)

Speaker for the Samford University Worship Arts Ensemble (Birmingham, Alabama)

Dr. Phillip Chan and Constance at the release of the Chinese translation of The Worship Architect