Fuller Theological Seminary
About Brehm Center
Founded in 2001 and named after Fuller Seminary Board of Trustee members William and Delores Brehm, the Brehm Center’s mission is to integrate worship, theology, and the arts for the renewal of church and culture.
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What We Believe
We believe that God is the original artist, the first Creator.
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Who We Are
We engage expert faculty, world-class artists, and visiting scholars to investigate the theory and practice of making art in worship and ministry.
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What We Do
We inspire a new generation of thoughtful, creative, and culturally engaged worship and arts leaders who can wisely speak into the church as well as beyond its walls.
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Jennifer Ackerman
DIRECTOR OF BREHM PREACHING: A LLOYD JOHN OGILVIE INITIATIVE
Assistant Professor of Preaching
jenniferackerman@fuller.edu
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Erin Brockway
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR OF BREHM PREACHING: A LLOYD JOHN OGILVIE INITIATIVE
Finance Manager, The Brehm Center
erinbrockway@fuller.edu
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Kutter Callaway
WILLIAM K. BREHM ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF WORSHIP, THEOLOGY, AND THE ARTS
Director of Brehm Film
Assoc. Dean of The Center For Advanced Theological Studies
kuttercallaway@fuller.edu
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May Kytonen
DIRECTOR OF COHORTS AT THE BREHM CENTER
Lead Designer
maykytonen@fuller.edu
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Grace Lee
GRANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR IMAGINING WORSHIP FOR CHILDREN: A LILLY ENDOWMENT PROJECT
Part of the Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative
gracehlee@fuller.edu
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Shannon Sigler
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BREHM CENTER
Affiliate Professor of Theology and Culture
shannonsigler@fuller.edu
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W. David O. Taylor
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AND CULTURE
The Brehm Center
davidtaylor1@fuller.edu
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Ed Willmington
DIRECTOR OF IMAGINING WORSHIP FOR CHILDREN: A LILLY ENDOWMENT PROJECT
Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative
edw@fuller.edu
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Christina Yen
EVENTS AND OFFICE SPECIALIST
The Brehm Center
christinayen@fuller.edu
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Jordan Poblete
MARKETING & STRATEGY
The Brehm Center
jordanpoblete@fuller.edu
Key Events in Our History
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September 11–15, 2000
“Reel Spirituality: Cinematic Wisdom and the Book of Ecclesiastes,” Peterhouse Theater, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England (part of “Sounding the Depths: An International Festival of the Arts”).
Fall 2001
Fuller’s Theology News & Notes issue titled “Art for Faith’s Sake.” The integrator of the issue was Clayton Schmit (Brehm’s Academic Program Director) and the magazine’s articles were authored largely by the Brehm Center Steering Committee.
2001
The Brehm Center came into being due to a generous gift from William and Delores Brehm.
2001
Founding of the Visual Faith Initiative and incorporation of Reel Spirituality into the Brehm Center
April 14, 2002
Service of Worship and Dedication, Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts, Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Music by the Fuller Vocal Ensemble, mime by Todd Farley, moving images curated by Craig Detweiler and Garrett Lambert, solo by Christopher Holloway, and sermon by Clayton Schmit
2005
Brehm Chair and Director of Bock Institute hired
Spring 2005
Fuller’s Theology News & Notes devoted its entire issue to “Re-Visioning Theology and Film.” The contributors were chosen from those who participated in a two-year consultation funded by a grant from the Luce Foundation. Professor Robert K. Johnston was the lead investigator.
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Spring 2006
Symposium on Seminary Chapel Results in book Common Worship in Theological Education, Johnson and Garrigan, eds.
2007
Brehm Chair Installed
Spring 2009
Staged Man of La Mancha at La Cañada Presbyterian Church, Long Beach Playhouse
Fall 2009
First Ogilvie Chair of Preaching and Director of Ogilvie Institute Installed
November 2009
The Brehm Lectures featured the premiere performance of Jubilate!, an Ancient-Future Concert Mass composed for the occasion by Ed Willmington, Director of the Fred Bock Institute of Music. The mass featured pre-recorded sounds in addition to the Fuller Vocal Ensemble and instrumental ensemble. https://jubalhouse.bandcamp.com/album/jubilate-an-ancient-future-concert-mass
Fall 2010
Brehm Lectures: John August Swanson and Robin Jensen
October, 2010
Reel Spirituality Screening: Secret Sunshine (U.S. debut)
2010
Opening and Closing Worship Design and Leadership at the 3rd Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa,
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April 2011
Reel Spirituality Conference, “Death of the Critic.” Speakers included critics Mark Pinsky, Elvis Mitchell, Claudia Puig, Justin Chang, Jeffrey Overstreet, and Gareth Higgins
Spring 2011
Micah Groups from Brehm Preaching launched in Pasadena, San Francisco, Orange County, Seattle, Phoenix, Houston, and Colorado Springs
Fall 2011
Brehm Lectures: Mako Fujimura and Ellen Davis
Spring 2012
Brehm 10th Anniversary Celebration
Fall 2012
Brehm Lectures Eugene Lowry and Bobette Buster
November 2012
Ogilvie Institute Conference—“Preaching in a Visual Age,” featuring Pete Doctor, Bobette Buster, Ralph Winter, Shane Hipps, John Chan, Ralph Watkins, and more
2012–2015, 2017
Festival of Worship at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels featuring significant composers and conductors including John Rutter, Mack Wilberg (Mormon Tabernacle Choir), Tim Sharp (Executive Director of American Choral Directors Association), composer and conductor pair Rosephanye and William Powell, composer Mark Hayes, and composer Craig Courtney
November 2014
Reel Spirituality Screening: The Tree of Life with Justin Chang
2015
The Brehm Residency launches with its first cohort convening
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January 2017
Reel Spirituality Film Screening: Silence with Martin Scorcese
February 2018
“Consolation for the Suffering”: The Fred Bock Institute of Music at The Brehm Center hosted two concert performances of Consolation for the Suffering, a full-length work for choir and orchestra
Fall 2018
Micah Intensives from Brehm Preaching launch, in partnership with The Justice Conference
April 2019
Reel Spirituality Film Screening: First Reformed with Paul Schrader
October 2019
Reel Spirituality Film Screening: Sinister with Scott Derrickso