The Caedmon Conference
A statement by the Most Rev. Dr. Ray R. Sutton, Presiding Bishop REC, Dean of the Province ACNA.
Anyone familiar with the Bible knows that its largest book is the Psalms. This body of Scripture consists of 150 pre-composed prayers. I often point this out to help people understand worship as a set liturgy of prayers in antiphonal response to God. But what consistently astonishes me is that even the best of Biblical students often gloss over the glaring fact that the Psalms were given by God to be sung. The singing of the Psalms creates a dialogue of choral worship of God.
The “how” of God’s revelation to the human author is all part of the mystery of inspiration. But it seems to me that God Himself probably chanted His revelation of the Psalms to the psalmists. Why should we assume that God simply “told” the psalmist what was to be sung? Rather, it seems more likely that He Himself would have musically inspired His inerrant and infallible Holy Scriptures, modeling how His Word would be chanted back to Him.
For that matter, why would we assume that God’s special revelation is always simply “telling,” when the largest Book of the Bible is sung? The early church fathers did not make that assumption. Perhaps other portions or parts of Scripture could have been revealed with some kind of chant. Some church fathers even believed that God chanted the world of creation into existence. If choral singing is at the heart of worship, then perhaps the repeated line “Let there be…” was sung as God chanted the first six days of creation into existence. When God rested on the seventh day, he stopped singing by Himself so that Creation could express its song of love to Him in antiphonal worship.
These Biblical realities are some of the main reasons why I’m so supportive of the Caedmon music conference. It serves a critically helpful role in the life of Christians. It will teach you how to sing back to God with the antiphonal worship that He intended and revealed. I encourage you to make the upcoming Caedmon conference a priority, and not only to send musicians, but clergy and laity from your parishes as well.
Sincerely in Christ,
+Ray
Meet the Organizers
A few words about the musicians behind the Caedmon Conference and why they do what they do.
Andrew Dittman
Choirmaster, Chapel of the Cross (REC)
Andrew Dittman serves as choirmaster at The Chapel of the Cross (REC) in Dallas, Texas and its parochial school, the Saint Timothy School, where he, along with his wife, also directs the string orchestra program. He also finds himself teaching a myriad of other subjects, which vary from year to year, including math, physics, computer science, drama, and P.E. From 2019-2024 Andrew served as artistic director for the Denton Bach Society, and he frequently sings professionally as a soloist and chorister in Dallas’ professional choirs. He earned his M.M. in choral conducting from the University of North Texas as well as a B.A. in music and computer science. As a composer and arranger, Andrew has written several pieces which have been performed by various professional, church, and school ensembles. He resides in Richardson, Texas with his lovely, ever-patient wife, Ashley, and their four children, John, James, and Catherine, and Lucy.
Christopher Hoyt
Organist, Good Shepherd Church (REC)
Christopher Hoyt currently serves as choir director and organist for Good Shepherd Church (REC) in Tyler, Texas. He is Adjunct Professor of Sacred Music at Cranmer Theological Seminary (REC). Mr. Hoyt holds a Master of Sacred Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Composition from the Royal College of Music in London, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the University of North Texas in Denton. He was educated in the classical Christian model at Good Shepherd School, where he now has returned as a teacher and music minister. He and his wife, Emily, have three children: Jubilee, Joshua, and George. Mr. Hoyt was the first-place winner of the 2007 Hall Organ Competition in San Antonio and has performed as a member of the Dallas Bach Society. He served as general editor of the Reformed Episcopal hymnal, The Book of Common Praise (2017). An accomplished composer, he has written for a broad gamut of instruments, ranging from solo violin to symphony orchestra. His pieces have been published in several hymnals, and a volume of his organ voluntaries has been published by Paraclete Press. You can learn more about his music at HoytComposer.com.